A gift certificate sells faster through chat than on the website, as long as the buyer doesn’t have to explain everything from scratch. Create a path with three questions: who is the gift for, what to give, and by when. Then a ready order arrives in WhatsApp, and you just need to accept the payment.
Why do certificate buyers leave the chat?
The conversation usually starts with "Hello, do you have certificates?" You ask for the amount, the person requests prices, you send the price list, they consider what the recipient would like, and somewhere around the fifth message, they get distracted. They will buy the gift, but somewhere easier.
With the path, the first message comes pre-assembled: for whom, for what, and by what deadline. You don’t ask any clarifying questions, but immediately state the cost and payment method. The decision the buyer has already made doesn’t have time to cool off.
What questions to ask along the way?
Question | Options | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
Who is the gift for? | Close one, colleague, self | Clear what to offer |
What to give? | Service or amount | Clear what to arrange |
When is it needed? | By date, urgently, no rush | See if you can make it |
Three questions are the limit. The recipient's name and congratulatory text are easier to clarify in the chat once the buyer has decided.
What does the order look like that comes in the chat?
It looks something like this: "Hello! I want a gift certificate for a manicure for a colleague. Needed by Friday." The response fits into one message: "Good day! We will arrange it. Payment via the link, the certificate will be sent here within an hour. To whom should it be issued?"
The only question in the response concerns the arrangement, not the choice. The buyer made their choice along the way, even before they wrote.
How does the certificate bring in a new client?
The recipient of the certificate is most often someone who hasn’t been to you yet. Add a link to the booking path on the certificate: the recipient goes through it and writes in the same WhatsApp with a ready application. The buyer pays for the gift, and you meet a new client without advertising. In Mate, it’s convenient to create two paths: one for purchasing the certificate, the other for booking it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When to start selling certificates before holidays?
Two to three weeks before the date. Many decide in the last days, but early orders lighten your load before the peak. Place a link to the certificate path in your profile header and stories in advance, and a few days before the holiday, remind your regular clients: it’s easiest for them to gift what they already use.
How to issue a certificate without a designer?
A neat image or PDF in your colors is enough. It needs the business name, service or amount, unique number, expiration date, and QR code for the booking path. The template is created once; after that, you only change the number and service and send the file in the same chat where the order came from.
What’s better to gift: a service or an amount?
A service looks like a ready gift and sells easier to those who know the recipient's tastes. An amount is more convenient when the buyer is unsure about their choice. Offer both options along the way: this way, you don’t lose hesitant buyers, and in a couple of months, you’ll see that you’re selling more often.
How to keep track of sold certificates?
A simple table is enough: number, sale date, service or amount, expiration date, and redemption mark. The number protects against reuse, and the order in the chat confirms payment. When the recipient comes in, find the number in the table and mark the redemption on the same day.
What expiration date to set?
One that allows the recipient to book and come in comfortably, and is also indicated on the certificate itself. A too-short expiration turns the gift into a burden and spoils the impression of your business. Before choosing an expiration, check what rules about gift certificates apply where you operate.
Is a separate path needed for certificates?
Yes, if you sell them at least before holidays. The booking path asks about the service and visit time, which don’t fit the gift buyer and confuse them. A separate link with three questions about the gift removes confusion and allows you to promote certificates without touching regular bookings.
