Take your business online in time for Valentine’s Day.

[Helen]

This year it’s expected that spending for Valentine’s Day in the US will reach $26 billion, with the majority of consumers choosing to make their purchases online. It’s an important holiday for many businesses, from retailers to restaurateurs.

In the thread below, we discuss some ways you can provide digital shopping experiences to your customers. From how to create a full online site or sell digital gift cards to marketing your special offers, we want to help you make the most of this holiday.

6 Tips to Drive More Valentine’s Day Orders with Square Online

Take your business online.

Use our Quickstart Guide for Online Stores and Websites to make a plan and build a site to sell your products online. This guide will help you understand what’s involved, what decisions you’ll need to make before you can build a great site that drives sales, and — most importantly — if you have time to achieve what you want in time for a busy season of shopping and celebrating. 💝🍫

If you’ve already started your Square Online site and you need a bit more assistance, check out this thread: New to Square Online? Look here!

Another alternative to consider is Square Online Checkout. Create pay links or QR codes to share with customers and get paid right away, or add buy buttons to an existing website. Payment links can be shared via email and text or on social media. QR codes can be printed on flyers and posters so customers can go to an online checkout page from their mobile device to complete their purchase.

Sell digital gift cards everywhere.

Not ready to build a full site but you still want to offer an item to customers who prefer to shop online? Square eGift Cards can be sold from a free eGift card order page online and from your Square Point of Sale in-store. 

Easy to set up, eGift cards are a great way to add a new seasonal item. They also provide a solution for customers who can’t make it to your store, who want to buy an experience, or who are looking to treat that special someone. Last but not least, eGift Cards satisfy customers who simply prefer to shop online. Learn more about digital gift cards here: Getting Started with Square eGift Cards: FAQs. 

Ready to get started? Learn how to set up eGift cards.

Send an email marketing campaign. 

If you’ve built a new site or you’re offering new sweet treats or unmissable discounts for an event like Valentine’s Day, it’s time to let your customers know! Square Email Marketing has templates that are easy to customize. You can build and send your campaign and track your results from your Square Dashboard in no time. Read How to Create an Email Marketing Campaign with Square: A Short Guide to get started with your first campaign.

Question of the Week: What are your tips for increasing Valentine's Day orders?

[Bronze_Palms]

I love the virtual gift card idea. I have it set up so, online, you can purchase the virtual GC at 5% off. In person there is not a discount because we pay for the plastic, but we started promoting these for valentines day and have gotten great feedback from it! I love the square physical gift cards too - they are really cute and arrived quickly.

[JUYBoutique20]

Gift cards are definitely a great option to have for Valentines Day.  My male customers love that they can just come in grab one and let their partners decide exactly what they want from our store.

[Helen]

Gift cards are well, a great gift! 

[Abigails_stl]

We have been selling a lot of Gift Cards this week! Especially in the clothing store... mostly to men who would rather be poked in the eye than pick out an outfit for the lady in their life.

[Helen]

🤣