How a gift surprise campaign works
A gift surprise campaign is about as simple as a game can be. People open your campaign and see a wrapped gift. They fill in a short form — usually just a name and an email — and tap the gift. It opens, and the prize inside is shown on the screen.
The difference from the mystery box is the feeling. In a mystery box, people choose between several boxes and hope they picked the right one. In a gift surprise there is only one gift, and it is meant for the person playing. That makes it feel less like a gamble and more like a present from your brand.
You still decide everything behind the scenes. You choose the prizes, how many of each there are and when they can be won. Winners see their prize on the screen and can also get it by email (Email module, included on Professional or as an add-on), and every sign-up can go straight to your email tool or CRM through our integrations.
When to use a gift surprise
The gift surprise shines when you want to say thank you or celebrate:
- Christmas and holidays: give your customers a present during the busiest shopping season.
- Birthdays: send a gift to each customer on their birthday with a personal treat.
- Anniversaries: celebrate your brand's birthday by giving something back.
- Valentine's Day and Mother's Day: occasions that are already about giving.
- Welcome flows: greet new subscribers with a small gift when they sign up.
A gift surprise also works well inside a bigger campaign. Put it behind one of the doors in a Christmas calendar, or use it as the reward at the end of a quiz, so people who take part get a small present for their time.
It works for webshops, restaurants and cafés, beauty brands, hotels and event organisers — anyone who wants customers to remember them with a smile. If your goal is mainly new sign-ups, see our page on lead generation.
6 ideas for your gift surprise
- Christmas present: a gift under a tree with a discount, free shipping or a product inside.
- Birthday treat: a personal gift sent by email on the customer's birthday.
- Thank-you gift: send a gift to everyone who bought from you in the past year.
- Valentine's gift: a heart-wrapped present with a gift for two inside.
- Event goodie bag: a digital gift at your stand with merchandise or VIP access.
- Store opening gift: a QR code at the entrance that opens a gift for the first visitors.
Tips for a gift surprise that converts
Tip #1: Make the gift look the part
The gift itself is the star of the game.
- Use your own colours and wrapping paper on the gift.
- Match the gift and background to the season or occasion.
- Show a clear picture of the prize when the gift opens.
Tip #2: Let (almost) everybody win something
A gift that opens to nothing feels strange.
- Give everyone a small prize, like a discount or free shipping.
- Add a few bigger prizes to make it exciting.
- Set prize limits in prizes, so your budget is safe.
Tip #3: Send it at the right moment
- Time your newsletter so the gift lands on the special day.
- Use text messages for a short and personal touch with newsletter & SMS.
- Keep the campaign short to create a bit of urgency.
Tip #4: Keep the form short
- Ask only for what you need, often an email is enough.
- Add a clear newsletter permission, so you can keep in touch.
- Explain in one line what people get by signing up, like offers and news before everyone else.
Tip #5: Follow up with a warm message
The gift is the start of a conversation, not the end.
- Send a thank-you email with the prize and a short reminder of what your brand is about.
- Remind winners to use their code before it runs out.
- Ask a simple question in the email, like which products they would like to hear about, to learn more about your new subscribers.
For more holiday ideas, read our Christmas campaign ideas. Want more excitement? Let people spin for their prize with the spin the wheel game, or scratch it free with a scratch card.
