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Unlock the Full Potential of Your Gift Cards
Elevate your brand, increase consumer trust, and get media exposure with a comprehensive gift card review.
SHELLEY HUNTER
Consumer Advocate and Gift Card Expert
Increase Profits
Boost Engagement
Enhance Visibility
THE PROBLEM
are you struggling with...
- 1Visibility vs. Profitability: While having your gift cards available in multiple locations increases visibility, it often comes at lower profit margins due to third-party fees and commissions.
- 2Competition and Choice Overload: In a sea of options, ensuring your gift card stands out in grocery stores and online marketplaces can be daunting.
- 3Risk Management: Selling through external vendors introduces risks like improper card activation and increased opportunities for fraud, potentially compromising the customer experience.
- 4Brand Experience Control: When sales occur outside your direct channels, it isn't easy to ensure a positive purchase experience, brand alignment, and superior customer service.
- 5Measurement Misalignment: When management focuses on gift card sales and breakage, they overlook how redemption drives sustained revenue growth and builds lasting customer loyalty, limiting the strategic potential of your gift card program.
I’m not saying, "ditch the gift card malls," but there's MORE OPPORTUNITY closer to HOME.
THE VISION
What If Your Gift Cards Delivered 5x Results with Minimal Effort?
Picture this: Your gift cards are flying off the shelves, but it doesn't stop there. Customers are redeeming them, overspending, and returning for more. Your brand is the go-to choice for gift cards, and fraud is less of a concern because customers trust buying directly from you. You're driving traffic to your website, increasing customer engagement, and boosting profits--all while providing an exceptional gift card experience.
THE SOLUTION
Gift card certification
SHELLEY HUNTER, the most recognized CONSUMER ADVOCATE in the gift card industry, helps businesses like yours increase PROFITS, strengthen customer LOYALTY, and gain more EXPOSURE through our gift card certification program.
Here's what CERTIFICATION looks like
Shelley thoroughly reviews your program--from gift card purchase to redemption, in stores and online, leveraging her expertise to provide insights, actionable strategies, and information needed to transform your gift cards from a basic transactional product to a dynamic growth engine.
Following the review, Shelley shares certification results with consumers and the media, elevating your visibility as a trusted brand. Joining this effort positions your business as one that stands firmly behind its gift cards, noted for ease of use, robust security, and committed customer service. (Believe it or not, not every business does.)
And the best part? You already have the foundation necessary for incredible success.
What We Evaluate
In an era where consumers rely on authentic reviews, my approach differs from typical influencers. I test your gift card experience from purchase to redemption, looking for three things:
Easy to Use
Is your gift card simple to purchase, redeem, and manage across platforms?
Security
Are security measures in place, such as covered card numbers and secure locations?
Support
Is there customer service in place to handle issues that arise, giving peace of mind to the user?
Along the way, I also highlight features I love—things I know customers will enjoy, such as fun designs, convenient delivery options, and unique touches that enhance the overall gifting experience. You can count on me to provide a balanced, fair, and overall positive review, focusing on the best aspects of your gift card program while offering constructive insights.
Detailed Benefits of Gift Card Certification
Here's what you get when you join:
Front Page Listing
Visibility Guaranteed: Your gift card will be prominently displayed on "Gift Cards You Can Trust", ensuring it catches the eye of every consumer and media visitor.
Featured Blog Post
Rich Content Exposure: We craft a detailed blog post about your gift card experience with a video and high-quality images highlighting what we like best. (Here's an example.)
Direct Customer Referrals
Incoming Sales: We send visitors directly to your site. This referral (not an affiliate link or sponsored post) gives you traffic, sales, and a high-quality backlink, boosting your SEO and credibility.
Media Outreach
Enhanced Media Presence: We announce your certification and mention certified brands during interviews for continuous and favorable presence in national news outlets throughout the year.
Digital Promotion
Maximized Exposure: Your gift card's visibility is amplified on social media and in our newsletter, reaching a broad audience of gift card enthusiasts and potential buyers.
Yearlong Placement
Continuous Promotion: Enjoy the benefits of having your gift card featured on our website during peak holiday periods and throughout the year.
Certification Marketing
Trust and Authority: Get our digital certification badge and a powerful testimonial from Shelley Hunter to use in marketing materials as you see fit.
Consultation Services
Continued Partnership: Whether you're launching a new gift card design, refining your strategy, or needing expert insights, Shelley will provide feedback and answer questions throughout the year. Just ask.
Elevate Your Gift Card Program Today!
Join our certification program and transform your gift card into a powerful asset for your business.
Wow! You did a great job on that article. The images you created are excellent and your writing is great. Thank you for the review. I'll share the report and go over the areas for improvement with the team.
Tim BENTLey
What Makes Gift Card Certification Different?
"This is not an affiliate model or a sponsored post--I don't link to gift cards to earn a percentage of sales. I genuinely 'live' the gift cards I certify, testing everything from online to in-person, purchasing to redemption. I publish an honest assessment, giving consumers the authenticity they trust and leveraging my position as a thought leader with the media.
The more I know about your gift card, the better I can speak to the benefits and represent modern, reputable, consumer-first gift card programs."
~ Shelley Hunter, Consumer Guide to Gift Cards
Recent Media Coverage
Widely recognized as the go-to expert on gift cards, Shelley Hunter has been quoted and featured in countless interviews on TV, radio, live stream, podcast, and various other platforms—from local to national.
Don't Wait TO SIGN UP!
Faq
Did we miss a detail? Here are some answers to help.
Brands that choose to get certified will enjoy the following benefits:
- Independent Evaluation: You'll get an impartial and objective assessment of your brand's gift card. The honest review can enhance credibility, as consumers often trust unbiased evaluations. Plus, information allows you to make changes that will give your loyal customers a more enjoyable gifting experience.
- Transparency and Trust: Paying for certification underscores your brand's commitment to improving your gift card program and a willingness to be transparent.
- Marketing and Promotion: Not only will your company be listed on our website as a brand striving to create a positive gifting experience, but you can also leverage certification in your marketing efforts to enhance your brand's reputation, attract new customers, and drive sales.
- Targeted Improvements: Our reviews help your team pinpoint areas where your gift card experience could improve to create a more positive gifting experience for your customers. The cost of this investment is minimal compared to the potential reward.
As this service grows, certified brands will also be the first to have access to reports, PR opportunities, webinars, and other opportunities.
Our consumer team will review and rate the gift card experience based on the following criteria:
Is the gift card easy to use?
- Are your gift card policies consistent across all locations nationwide?
- Do you charge fees?
- Expiration dates?
- Can you cash out a small remaining balance nationwide?
- Can the gift card be used online and in stores? Are there any exceptions?
Does the gift card appear to be fraud-free?
- Did the cashier confirm that the card, screen, and receipt numbers match?
- Is the gift card packaging secure with a CVV, PIN or other security device?
- Are there limits on large or repeated gift card purchases?
- Are gift card purchases anonymous?
- Is redemption anonymous?
Is the gift card guaranteed?
- Is there a clear place to call or email for customer support?
- Will customer service respond and help resolve issues?
Did you have a positive gift card experience overall?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States has guidelines and regulations regarding sharing honest reviews online, particularly when there is a relationship between the reviewer and the product or service being reviewed. As such, our consumer team will post honest feedback about the gift card experience. There is also a disclosure statement about our relationships with brands on the list of certified gift cards.
Brands are not permitted to review or approve the results. However, they can submit requests for corrections in cases of inaccurate information (e.g. misspelled brand name, number of locations, etc.) to ensure data accuracy and fairness in the evaluation process.
Gift cards are reviewed objectively, ensuring that the results accurately reflect the real experiences of your potential customers. Since this is a new program, few (if any) gift cards will check every box. What we're asking is new and will require change. But when you sign up to get certified and listed here on GiftCardReform.com (and GiftCardsYouCanTrust.com), it’s a show of goodwill and your commitment to improving the gift card experience for your customers. And in return, we will provide constructive feedback and suggestions for ways you can improve the gift card experience for your customers.
Visit our list of GiftCardsYouCanTrust.com to see what brands are striving to restore the intended function of gift cards and create a more positive gifting experience for their customers.
Get Certified TODAY and give your customers the BEST POSSIBLE GIFT CARD EXPERIENCE.
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