How to Create the Best Gift Guide

Not only does a gift guide offer inspiration, but it can also introduce shoppers to unique items they might not have found otherwise. But what makes a gift guide truly stand out? In this post, we’ll delve into the key elements that make a gift guide exceptional, whether you’re a brand looking to showcase your products or an influencer aiming to provide value to your audience. Let’s dive in and start crafting the ultimate gift guide.

Brands and influencers can create gift guides for anything — partners, coffee lovers, foodies, tech lovers, etc. Gift guides also provide a way for influencers and brands to use customized URLs that can be tracked to better understand where your followers are coming from, per Insider Intelligence.

Key elements of a gift guide

Ready to make a helpful gift guide? Here’s what it should include:

Include personalization

The most important part of a great gift guide is the personalization. Create gift guides that make sense for the intended audience. If you’re not sure what they’re looking for, ask them. Create a poll or question box on Instagram Stories and analyze the responses. Create a gift guide for each type of customer or gift recipient persona.

Use high-quality images

High-quality images can make or break your guide, influencing the viewer’s first impressions and engagement. Clear, well-lit images highlighting the product’s features can help potential buyers visualize the item, increasing the likelihood of them purchasing.

Include multiple images showcasing the product from different angles or in various settings. This helps the potential buyer imagine how the product would fit into their lives or the life of the person they’re gifting it to. 

Plus, a well-designed, attractive gift guide is more likely to be shared on social media, expanding your reach and potentially increasing conversions.

Evoke emotion

Another essential goal of a gift guide is to evoke emotion. Maybe you’re marketing to mothers who love gifts that remind them of their children or hitting pet lovers right in the heart with sweet pet gifts. Getting people excited about gifts — whether buying them for themselves or someone they love — is the best way to get people to click on your links.

Incorporate customized links

Make sure you’re customizing your links in the gift guide. If you’re a brand, include tracking links, like those offered in the IZEA Flex influencer marketing platform, to see where your customers are coming from and which creators drove sales. If you’re an influencer, use affiliate links to make a commission on your recommendations.

Consider various budgets

If you’re creating gift guides, you’ll want to include options for all budgets. Maybe you have a few high-ticket items, a few in between and some stocking stuffer options. This gives viewers the largest window of opportunity, no matter their budget. Also, keep a timeline in mind. If your gift guide is for last-minute shoppers on a budget, make sure the gifts you link will make it to them in time.

Include detailed product descriptions

Detailed product descriptions are a crucial component of a compelling gift guide. They provide potential buyers with essential information about the product, helping them understand what it is, what it does, and why it could be the perfect gift.

A good product description should highlight the key features of the product. This could include its size, materials, functionality, and any other unique characteristics that set it apart.

Feature testimonials or reviews

Including testimonials or reviews in your gift guide enhances its credibility and impact. They offer a form of social proof, demonstrating that other people have purchased, used, and appreciated the product.

When including testimonials or reviews, it’s important to ensure they are genuine and unbiased. Authenticity is key in building trust with your audience.

Update it regularly

If you publish your gift guide online, update it regularly to remove out-of-stock items and add new ones. There’s nothing more frustrating for a potential buyer than finding the perfect gift only to discover it’s unavailable. On the other hand, regularly adding new items to your gift guide keeps it fresh and interesting. It gives your audience a reason to come back and explore your guide again, especially if they’re looking for new gift ideas. This is particularly important if you’re an influencer or a brand, as it encourages repeat visits and helps maintain engagement with your audience.

Don’t forget a call-to-action

Each product listing should have a clear CTA (like “Buy Now” or “Shop Here”), directing readers to the online store where they can purchase the product.

Make it shoppable

With the rise of on-platform shopping, it’s now easier than ever to turn your gift guide into a one-stop-shop for your audience. Instead of just listing items, provide direct links to where they can be purchased. This could be through tagged products in social media posts, clickable items in an online guide, or even QR codes for physical guides. You could also use affiliate links, which can help you track sales and earn a commission.

Brand-influencer collabs on gift guides

Brands and creators can and should work with each other on gift guides.

• Brands: Work with influencers to create gift guides that include your products. You can even offer exclusive discounts to the influencers so their audience is more apt to purchase from you.
• Influencers: Reach out to your favorite brands to share their products and tag them in your gift guides. You might even be able to connect with brands on a partnership for a gift guide on your blog or Instagram using only their products.

Gift guides are most popular around the holiday season but can be helpful throughout the year. Don’t be afraid to throw out a gift guide for other holidays throughout the year, birthdays or special occasions.

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Marketers:

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