There is no doubt that gift guides are one of the hottest things on the internet.
Of course, they are common during the December holiday season, but you might notice them throughout the rest of the year.
Whether the items are from one business or an assortment from various companies, gift guides can affect sales of featured goods.
So let’s talk about how to create your own gift guides to drive more sales for your online or brick-and-mortar store.
Create gift guides for different holidays and occasions
Who says gift guides have to only be for the December holidays?
There is always another upcoming holiday or occasion for which you can offer a gift guide for specific products from your store, regardless of what you sell.
For example, if you sell clothing, you could place a Bella+Canvas crewneck sweatshirt bulk order and put a custom saying on them for Valentine’s Day.
Those who sell chocolate can create a small edible gold-dusted chocolate collection as guest favors for a wedding-themed gift guide. Therefore, consider which products you sell that would most resonate with your audience.
Highlight limited-edition products
Many people love limited-edition products, but customers can only buy them if they know about them.
So ensure to include these products in gift guides so you can (hopefully) have them flying off the shelves. Describe what makes the limited-edition item unique and how long you plan to sell them.
Creating a sense of urgency among your customers is more likely to encourage them to purchase the products sooner rather than later.
Look into what items are trending
Do an internet search to find the currently trending items before making up your gift guide. For instance, if you sell candles, search for “trending candle scents,” or if it is hats, then “trending hat styles for 2023.”
Social media sites are also great places to research trending items and presents.
Be as specific as possible while you are searching so you know what types of items you can include that would appeal to your current and potential new customers.
In addition, this research can also provide insight into other ideas for new items for your brand.
Include a variety of products
Create a gift guide that is cohesive while still offering enough variety
. For example, you sell clothing ranging from hoodies to t-shirts to joggers.
You do not want to include all t-shirts in a gift guide geared toward general Father’s Day presents (unless you are doing a niche t-shirt Father’s Day gift guide).
Instead, try to offer as many options as possible that would be appropriate for the holiday or occasion without looking like you are promoting random products.
Explain the why and for who
It is not enough to tell customers that your products would make good gifts for a particular holiday or occasion.
Instead, be specific about who a product would be great for and why.
Let’s say you make adult coloring books and want to incorporate them into a Christmas gift guide. Include the age range they are specifically for, such as “Recommended for ages 21+.”
You can also describe how it can be excellent for those who love being creative and want a fun way to try and reduce stress.
Be descriptive without going overboard. Chances are you have more than a few products to include, but ensure the gift guide is brief, or some might want to read it only partially.
Prepare your gift guide in advance
Creating a gift guide for a specific holiday or occasion would be worthwhile if you post it early enough for customers to get to your physical location or receive an online order in time.
However, posting it too late would risk losing on sales and product attention.
So instead, publish it at least a few months ahead and then again one or two more times leading up to the date to reach people who initially missed it.
Establish an easy-to-read format
The gift guide needs to be as easy to read as possible.
It includes adequate spacing, properly-sized photos, and descriptions of approximately one short paragraph each rather than multiple paragraphs for every product.
Consider what you would want to see as a neutral party if you were looking at the gift guide and considering buying some items.
The entire list needs to be easy to scroll through and attention-grabbing. Therefore, have a trusted individual review it and provide feedback that you would be willing to take constructively.
Include high-quality photos
Blurry, off-center, oversized, undersized, and cut-off photos will not do your products justice.
If you are putting in the work to create a gift guide, each image needs to be high-quality and be an accurate depiction.
Rather than including numerous pictures for each product, use the best one to showcase the item attractively. Put a link to the product (if the item is online), so readers can see additional photos if they desire.
Include inventory you already have
It is best to provide products out of your gift guide that you already possess. Yes, this also pertains to products you already ordered that are in process or transit.
You never know what could happen, even if you think nothing terrible actually will.
For example, say you make a holiday gift guide, including a shirt you anticipate receiving soon, and know many customers seem interested.
What happens if the clothing arrives with a misspelt word, the entire order gets lost in transit on the way to you, or replacements arrive late?
Chances are you will have some unhappy customers, which is unsuitable for any business.
However, refrain from making promises to your customers that you 100% are not sure you can keep, even if it involves products in a gift guide.
It will not help with building trust.
Start creating your gift guide several months in advance and take time putting it together.
It must be a carefully-curated collection that will resonate with your customers rather than something prepared haphazardly together in an hour.
The more effort you put into it, including considering everything from the layout to the featured items, the higher the chances are it could mean great things for your online or brick-and-mortar store.