A very easy way of showing that you care about your customers is giving them a nice gift that they can actually enjoy. Of course sending them a virtual rose is sweet, or giving them some rare sword on a Facebook game is nice, but when it comes down to it, giving them something actually useful will really open them up to you.
Facebook has this great system where you can actually purchase items and have them sent to some of your Super Users or loyal customers. The best thing is you don’t even need to know their address! Facebook takes care of that. Below is a quick how-to about sending real gifts on Facebook. Step 1: Buy Facebook Credits You need to first buy Facebook credits under the “Payments” tab in “My Account”.
You can use most credit cards, PayPal, or a cell phone. One credit costs 10 cents, so 50 is $5 and 100 is $10. 1,000,000 is $100,000. That’s some serious spending. Good thing it’s not an option.
Step 2: Head to the Gift Shop When you get your credits you then go to the Facebook store, where you can buy MP3s, virtual gifts, charity items, E-Cards, sports memorabilia, and real gifts.
Enter the name of the person you want to send the gift to and you can then choose from toys, flowers, candy, baked goodies from Mrs. Fields, jewelry, consumer electronic items, Fandango movie tickets, and more.
You can even choose the delivery date. If you’re organized and know your friend has a birthday coming up in the next few weeks, you can get the gifting sorted ahead of time.
`If you do know the address of the person you want the item sent to, you can add it. But the system works on the basis of the giftee confirming a delivery address once they get the wall notification (with a message personalized from you) that you want to post them a present.
That’s everything. The receiver has the option of rejecting the gift, and your money will be refunded.
Once you know your customers this tool can be highly effective in winning their hearts. It also increases the chances of them sharing their positive opinion with others. They’ll be like walking talking billboards for your brand!
Other Facebook Gift Services
There are also a few other services on Facebook for purchasing gifts for others. Each of these has their own Facebook page, and all of them are great apps!
1. DashGift
This company only offers a limited service at the moment, but is certainly one to watch if they sign up more partners. The process is easy: You post a gift on your friend’s wall with the Facebook app. Your friend hits a link to get a DashCode and then goes to the local store/venue to redeem it for the item.
At the moment, some elements of the service are limited to the Boston area, such as SWEET cupcakes, a beer voucher for Tommy Doyle’s Bar, and Finale Desserts. But Fandango movie tickets and the $10 global giving donation are open to all users. Expansion into other local areas is planned this summer, so be sure to bookmark this app.
2. Friendgiftr
Friendgiftr has had no trouble signing up partners. Its social gift card service currently works with around 150 companies, many of which are major names. You can buy a gift card from any of the stores and present it to a friend on Facebook. Your friend can then either shop online with a card code, request a hard copy version to be mailed to them, or — and this bit is cunning — swap the card for one from another retailer.
So if you send someone a Lands’ End gift card, but they’re really more of an L.L. Bean kinda guy, they can do a switcheroo without you ever knowing.
3. Parcel Genie
ParcelGenie is a fantastic resource for small, affordable and fun gifts, such as candy, buttons, key rings and the like. Via the Facebook app, you can chose a gift, select a friend to send it to, and personalize a message that will be posted on their Facebook wall, after which they need to let ParcelGenie know where to mail the item. The app cleverly displays Facebook friends’ upcoming birthdays, so you may end up sending more than you expected to.