Cómo realizar campañas eficaces de promoción de ventas al consumidor con recompensas

A todos nos gustan las grandes promociones de rebajas. Ya sea un 30% de descuento, Buy one & Get one free (compre uno y llévese otro gratis) o una oferta por tiempo limitado, a todos nos encantan las buenas ofertas. El placer de comprar algo nuevo y la gratificación de ahorrar dinero es lo que hace que las promociones de ventas sean muy eficaces. 

No matter how successful a brand is, it needs to boost sales. This could be when sales are super low or when they are trying to build a solid customer base. That's when the need for strategizing effective sales promotion campaigns comes into the picture. 

What is a sales promotion campaign? 

A sales promotion campaign is a short-term marketing strategy designed to boost sales, attract new customers, and increase brand awareness. It typically includes discounts, limited time offers, coupons, free samples, cashback, or bundled deals to create urgency and drive conversions.  

These campaigns aim to influence buyer decisions, enhance customer engagement, and improve revenue within a specific timeframe. 

Sales promotions are one of the best marketing devices ever designed and one of the most used advertising channels to scale a business. 

Por eso el mercado de la publicidad digital crece a un ritmo increíble. Las primeras estimaciones de gasto en publicidad digital se han superado, y las proyecciones actuales le dejarán boquiabierto. El espacio publicitario digital ocupa hoy el 67,8% del gasto total en publicidad en medios. 

Things to consider for running promotional sales campaigns 

Para garantizar que una venta sea bien recibida y proporcione un alto ROI (Retorno de la Inversión), toda empresa debe seguir las mejores prácticas que se indican a continuación. 

• Keep things simple and clear: Stay away from creating anything complicated for your customers to understand. The easier the promotion, the more the interaction. Be it the offer or the design, keep it simple. 
• Think like a customer: The mindsets of sellers and buyers are different. As a seller, what might seem effective to you might not be appealing to a buyer (or customer). While brainstorming your sales promotion campaigns, put yourself in the customer's shoes. 
• Be cautious of the time zones: Keeping a check on time zones is crucial if you have customers worldwide. You don't want your promotional emails to reach your customer in the middle of the night. For example, if your target audience is working professionals, the chances are that they won't open your email during work hours. So it's best to send your promotions late evening. Experiment with multiple time schedules to see what works best for you. 
• Keep your terms and conditions watertight: Before publishing your promotion, make sure there are no loopholes in the terms and conditions. Keep them precise so that you don’t face any problems in the future. Moreover, ensure that the terms and conditions are communicated to the customers. 
• Offer real value: For promotional campaigns to work, they should provide real value. Your customers will invest if they find the offer valuable enough for their time and money. 
• Create a sense of urgency or scarcity: ‘Urgency’ is one of the best-selling techniques and creates FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) in a customer. The sense of urgency or limited options makes customers take action instantly. To make a significant impact, generate FOMO. Nike is known for the simplicity and directness of its advertisements. 
• Test different ways of presenting sales promotions: What might work for someone else might not work for you. The key is experimenting with ideas and coming up with different ways to present your sales promotions better than before. 

CRED’s Mega Jackpot: A masterclass in sales promotion 

CRED’s 2020 IPL Mega Jackpot campaign is a prime example of how a well-executed sales promotion can drive massive engagement. By leveraging the excitement of the IPL season, CRED managed to boost app downloads by an incredible 700%. 

Their Mega Jackpot campaign offered customers the chance to win luxury prizes—including iPhones, gold, and even Harley Davidsons—simply by paying their credit card bills through the CRED app. 

Did CRED’s Mega Jackpot promotion follow the best practices? 

CRED’s Mega Jackpot campaign showcases how a well-timed, high-value promotion paired with digital advertising can create exponential growth. The campaign’s success underscores the power of social media, strategic incentives, and FOMO-driven marketing in today’s hyper-digital world. 

How to run successful consumer sales promotion campaigns using rewards 

Consumer promotions are successful only if they are exciting and engaging because these two factors trigger customers to make a purchase. 

Cuando se hacen bien, las promociones de consumo ayudan a adquirir: 

• New customers 
• Convert potential customers 
• Get your current customers to buy more 
• Boost sales and increase revenue 

Su público no va a interactuar hasta que obtenga algo a cambio. Por eso las "recompensas" han demostrado ser la mejor estrategia de marketing. 

Dicho esto, he aquí algunos consejos que debe tener en cuenta para que sus promociones sean eficaces: 

1. Realice una promoción de venta flash 

Una venta flash es una campaña de marketing que se realiza durante poco tiempo. La idea es ofrecer descuentos mayores que las rebajas habituales. Las promociones flash son una forma estupenda de generar más ventas en menos tiempo. 

Hacen que el público compre impulsivamente por el gran descuento y el límite de tiempo. A la mayoría nos ha pasado alguna vez: "¡Genial, 70% de descuento hoy! Tengo que aprovechar esa oferta pronto'. Todo lo que necesita es que su venta flash se convierta en viral, y estará nadando en ventas y nuevos clientes. 

2. Apoye sus programas de fidelización con regalos electrónicos 

La captación de clientes es cara. Por lo tanto, perder a sus clientes actuales puede convertirse en un gran problema. Por eso es crucial mantenerlos satisfechos. Puede que su producto/servicio los mantenga satisfechos, pero puede que no sea suficiente para retenerlos durante más tiempo. 

So boost your customer loyalty programs with exciting rewards and e-gifts. This hooks the customers and makes them stay with your brand for a long time. 

Un excelente ejemplo de ello es el programa de fidelización de Uber, que ofrece a sus clientes puntos de recompensa cada vez que viajan o utilizan Uber Eats. Estos puntos pueden canjearse por premios. 

It is a bit tricky to set up a loyalty program that ensures great returns on your investment. Don’t worry! We got your back. Here is an actionable guide for you: “The Anatomy of Ideal Reward Points System for Your Customers”. 

3. Ofrezca descuentos a los que sus clientes no puedan resistirse 

Nuestra bandeja de entrada se ve bombardeada cada día con varios descuentos y ofertas. Están por todas partes. Pero, ¿acabas comprándolas todas? No. ¿Por qué? Porque el timing, la oferta en sí, la presentación y el CTA juegan un papel crucial para que una promoción convierta. 

No importa lo grande que sea el descuento o la promoción, tiene que ser atractivo. Un excelente ejemplo de ello puede ser Grammarly, para convertir usuarios gratuitos pero comprometidos en usuarios de pago: 

4. Dar vales de descuento en las compras para aumentar las ventas futuras 

Dar vales de descuento para la próxima compra puede aumentar considerablemente las ventas futuras. Si un cliente sabe que recibe algo a cambio mientras compra, seguirá comprando más en el futuro. Así de sencillo. 

Para hacer las cosas más emocionantes, establece escalas de compra. Por ejemplo, el siguiente vale regalo de Desigual ofrece 30 $ de descuento en la próxima compra de al menos 150 $. Establezca límites de tiempo y cree FOMO para persuadir a los clientes a comprar aunque no lo tuvieran previsto. 

5. Dar cheques regalo como recompensa 

Las promociones al consumidor no siempre van ligadas a más ventas. A veces, puede haber beneficios indirectos asociados. 

For instance, SaaS companies need a lot of reviews for their products on listing platforms. They can incentivize their users with gift vouchers to write reviews. For example, SEMrush offers a $25 Amazon gift card for an honest review on G2. 

Delight your happy customers by going beyond the traditional monetary perk. Our rewards infrastructure can help you send out points, payouts, benefits, personalized to your customers’ needs. Turn your loyal customers into your brand advocates. 

6. Ofrecer pequeños regalos 

Just like giving vouchers, providing pre-decided gift offers can nudge your customer towards making a purchase. The offer might not play a central role, but it will stay at the back of their minds. It creates excitement. It makes the customers think they are getting more than they are paying for. That small gift is what will differentiate you from your competitors. 

We also recommend that you go digital with rewards and gifts. By the way, digital gifting is not just vouchers. Digital gift vouchers aren't just a piece of paper or a line of code. Here are some experiences gifting ideas that change their perception. 

Going digital with gifts and rewards can further help you with hassle-free scaling. Here is how - “Physical vs Digital Gifts: A Thorough Competitive Analysis and Beyond”. 

7. Las muestras gratuitas son la clave para conseguir nuevos clientes 

How many times have you not purchased something because ‘god knows how it might turn out?’ Many. It is very often that customers are curious about the product/service but not confident enough actually to buy it. 
 
They need a little nudge that will make them take action. That nudge is a free product/ service. If they like it, they’ll buy it. If they love it, they’ll buy more of it and probably tell others about it too. Providing free samples is an excellent way of building trust and a new customer base. 

8. Organizar concursos y sorteos para generar expectación. 

Organizar concursos y sorteos es beneficioso para aumentar la notoriedad de la marca y generar entusiasmo. La realización de este tipo de ofertas promocionales suele mantener a sus clientes vinculados a usted. Si se quedan un tiempo, es posible que acaben comprando algo. 

Las redes sociales son una forma estupenda de llegar a los clientes para los concursos; la interacción es más fluida y fácil. Otra ventaja es que puedes pedir a la gente que introduzca sus datos de contacto al participar. De este modo, serán más accesibles en el futuro. La próxima vez que envíes un correo electrónico, tendrás una audiencia mayor, lo que equivale a más ventas. 

9. Ofrezca regalos de marca que hagan felices a sus clientes 

No one wants a gift card from a who-knows-where salon for a free haircut. It isn’t exciting enough. If a customer makes a big purchase, show them that it means something to you. Give a branded gift that will make them happy, and they will want to come back. As a brand, this also makes you stand out from the crowd. 
 
Plum has an extensive catalog of branded gift cards that will leave your customers content. They’ll be happy and excited to buy from you again. 

10. Ofertas de temporada 

Las rebajas de temporada son quizá el tipo de campaña de ventas más popular. ¿No esperamos todos las rebajas de fin de año o las de verano para conseguir las mejores ofertas? Estas rebajas tienen el poder de influir en las decisiones de compra de los clientes en función de sus deseos. 

A person wants to buy a TV but then realizes that there is a sale two weeks later, which will give them a heavy discount. Will they buy it? No. They will put the purchase on hold unless there's a dire need. Seasonal offers are the best way to get as many sales as possible. 
 
The customers acquired during this stage will stay with you because they know you keep offering these fantastic seasonal discounts often. 

11. Realizar ventas y promociones hiperdirigidas 

El hipertargeting es una forma de publicidad dirigida a un público concreto. Puede seleccionar el público en función de su edad, nicho, lugar u otros factores que puedan contribuir a aumentar las tasas de conversión. 

Estas promociones son personalizadas y sólo las puede ver un público seleccionado. Realizar campañas hiperdirigidas significa una mayor probabilidad de que su público se convierta. Personalizar y elegir a las personas adecuadas es la clave del éxito. 

12. Dar códigos promocionales por tiempo limitado 

Nothing is more satisfying than seeing the tag of "price drop" or applying a "discount code" on your favorite products. The person knew the price before, which was higher. 
 
That reduction in the price just before checking out gives a sense of achievement and excitement. Running these promos for a limited time creates a sense of urgency to boost the campaign. 

13. Gamify promotion  

No importa la edad que se tenga, la emoción de ganar algo en un juego no se puede explicar con palabras. Por eso vemos a menudo esas promociones de "Gira y gana" que se utilizan en la mayoría de los sitios web de compras para evocar la emoción de "jugar y ganar". 

It doesn't matter if a person doesn't want to buy anything from your website; if they see something similar to the Spin-the-Wheel, they will click on it. This serves as a perfect opportunity to impress them with gamified rewards. Give them a significant discount or a gift on their purchase, and there's a big chance they'll buy from you then and there. 

14. Ofrecer descuentos 

Las rebajas son otra forma de contentar a sus clientes. No ofrecen un descuento inmediato, sino una devolución al cabo de un tiempo determinado. Incluso personas que no hubieran querido comprar tu producto podrían adquirirlo porque les devolverás el importe. 

Now how is this beneficial for business? You might get sales because of the rebate, which you wouldn’t have obtained otherwise. If they like the product, they’ll buy it in the future, even if there is a rebate or not. 

15. Anime a sus clientes con promociones de rebajas navideñas 

Al igual que las ventas de temporada, puede impulsar sus ventas organizando campañas promocionales únicas para las fiestas. Puede añadir un toque especial siguiendo la temática de las fiestas para sacar el máximo partido. Lo creas o no, al cliente le encanta ver que una marca pasa el control de las vibraciones. Le da a la marca o empresa un toque humano. Además, el descuento va a atraer a los clientes, lo que automáticamente significa más ventas. 

5 Mistakes to avoid while running sales promotion campaigns 

Here are some mistakes you should avoid while running a sales promotion campaign: 

• Insufficient research: Before planning anything about your promotion, conduct thorough research around your customers and your industry. Understand the likes and dislikes of your customers and plan accordingly. Knowing your competitors and their strategies is also equally important and creating competitive battlecards help you identify any gaps between yourself and other players in the market which then allows you to plan accordingly.. 
• Not having a clear goal: Think about what you want from your consumer promotion. Is it more sales? New customers? Or something else? Defining your goals is one of the most crucial steps to making your consumer promotions successful. 
• Not keeping track of your performance: The idea is to recalibrate the promotion strategy based on each campaign's performance. Tracking the performance shall help you gauge signals about your customers' receptive or aversive to. 
• Getting stuck with one strategy: A strategy might work brilliantly the first time you use it. It might even work a second or third time. But if you are stuck with it for a more extended period, the growth will decrease. Try new marketing methods, get creative. Experiment with ideas to understand your customer psychology. 
• Ignoring the power of social media: Social media might not have been a priority ten years back, but it is essential today. Almost the young crowd and a significant part of the rest of the population are hanging out on social media platforms. Having brand awareness on social media can do wonders for your consumer sale promotion campaigns. 

Examples of sales promotion campaigns 

Ejemplos de campañas de promoción de ventas 

Veamos cómo lo han hecho las marcas en el pasado y cómo han tenido éxito. 

1. Starbucks – “Starbucks for Life” Campaign 

Every holiday season, Starbucks runs its hugely popular “Starbucks for Life” sweepstakes—a gamified promotion that rewards loyal app users. Customers earn game entries by making qualifying purchases using the Starbucks app or card. They then play an online game to collect digital game pieces and win prizes. 

Prizes range from free drinks for a week, a month, or even "Starbucks for Life"—essentially one free drink or food item every day for 30 years. Smaller rewards include bonus stars (loyalty points), free drinks, holiday merchandise, and more. 

This campaign drives: 

• Increased app usage. 
• Higher purchase frequency. 
• Stronger engagement during peak holiday periods.  

2. Agarra 

Grab’s referral programs are another excellent example of how timely promotions can do wonders for a business. One of their referral programs went viral because it included attractive rewards. The promotion was about getting both referrers & referees onboard and rewarding them with $10. These promotions helped ‘Grab’ acquire new customers while building customer loyalty. 

3. Dominos 

Dominos is another brand that saw a 10X incremental return on investment of £113,000—doubling on their targets with 4:1 returns). Through timely sales promotions and personalized digital ad campaigns in the UK, Dominos reached 3.1 million customers. 

Volviendo a la gran pregunta: ¿cómo llevar a cabo con éxito campañas de promoción de ventas? 

El tiempo necesario para planificar las promociones dirigidas a los consumidores es enorme. Eso es cuando usted podría estar trabajando en su producto o servicio real y mejorando la experiencia de sus consumidores. Y ganando dinero, por supuesto. Si la campaña fracasa, cuya posibilidad es considerablemente alta, la pérdida vuelve a ser enorme. 

Su promoción de consumo puede fracasar si no se abre paso entre el ruido de las promociones que rodean a sus clientes objetivo. Las campañas promocionales también pueden fracasar si no utiliza las herramientas adecuadas, si su público no interactúa o, simplemente, si se dirige al público equivocado. 

Elevate your sales promotion campaigns with Plum 

Running a successful sales promotion campaign requires more than just discounts and flashy offers—it demands strategic planning, customer-centric rewards, and seamless execution. Whether you’re aiming to attract new customers, boost conversions, or retain loyal buyers, the right rewards and incentives can supercharge your promotions and maximize engagement. 

However, managing rewards at scale—ensuring automation, personalization, and easy redemption—can be overwhelming. That’s where Plum makes it effortless. 

With Plum’s rewards and incentives infrastructure, businesses can: 

• Automate reward distribution to streamline sales promotions. 
• Offer diverse rewards from 21,000+ global options, including e-gift cards, cashback, and experiences. 
• Provide seamless redemption with multiple choices tailored to customer preferences. 
• Integrate effortlessly with CRM, e-commerce, and marketing platforms. 

Why settle for generic sales promotions when you can create memorable, high-impact campaigns with personalized rewards? Visit Plum today to explore our solutions and elevate your next sales promotion campaign!