Offering a free gift with purchase is one of the most effective strategies to boost conversions, increase average order value, and build customer loyalty in your Shopify store. However, when this tactic isn’t executed properly, it can have the opposite effect: causing confusion, hurting your margins, or even leading to cart abandonment.
If you’re thinking about launching a free gift promotion, make sure to avoid these common mistakes and learn how to set it up correctly to unlock its full potential.
We also recommend reading: How to Include Free Gifts that Truly Boost Sales
Ready to get the most out of your free gift promotions?
Activate smart free gift campaigns today with Planet and turn every purchase into a loyalty-building opportunity.
1. Not displaying the gift to the customer
If customers are unaware that a free gift is available, the incentive loses its purpose. It can also confuse if the gift doesn’t appear in the order summary.
How to avoid it:
- Use a progress bar in the cart to show how much is left to unlock the gift.
- Include an image of the free product in the cart.
- Add a visual label like “Free Gift” on the product page.
2. Requiring the customer to add the gift manually
If the customer has to search for or manually add the gift, they might forget or not understand how, hurting the buying experience.
How to avoid it:
- Set up the promotion so the gift is automatically added to the cart when conditions are met (e.g., spend €30).
- Use gift selectors in the cart to make choosing the gift easier.
3. Not clearly defining promotion conditions
If the gift is applied without clear rules, your margins could be at risk. On the other hand, unclear conditions may frustrate customers.
How to avoid it:
- Clearly define requirements (e.g., “Spend €40” or “Buy at least 2 items”).
- Add messages to explain when the promotion is unlocked.
- Use customer conditions like “only for repeat buyers” or “new customers.”
4. Not managing gift inventory
If your promotion offers free gifts without controlling stock, you risk promising something you can’t deliver, which damages your brand image.
How to avoid it:
- Make sure the free gift product has inventory tracking enabled in Shopify.
- Stop the promotion when the product goes out of stock.
5. Offering a gift that’s not relevant to the customer
A generic or unhelpful gift loses its value as an incentive. It may even feel like a leftover product and cause mistrust.
How to avoid it:
- Choose complementary products that match your store’s offering.
- Use tags or purchase history to personalize the experience.
Create effective free gift promotions with Planet
Setting up your free gift promotions with Planet not only helps you avoid mistakes, it allows you to deliver a clear, attractive, and personalized experience without technical complications.
Key benefits include:
Advanced conditions
Activate the free gift only if the customer meets specific conditions, such as:
- Having a specific tag (e.g., “vip-customer” or “newsletter-subscriber”)
- Making at least X purchases
- Spending at least X€
- And many more
This allows you to offer more strategic, targeted promotions.
Gift selector in cart
Make sure the customer always sees what gift they can get. Planet’s gift module displays three states:
- Unlocked: The gift is automatically added to the cart with a confirmation message.
- Almost there: The customer sees how much is left to unlock the gift, encouraging higher spend.
- Not yet available: The gift is shown from the beginning to generate interest and motivate action.
This turns the gift into a visible, actionable incentive, not a hidden surprise.
Product page banner with editable text
Add a visible banner on the product page to promote your free gift offer. Customize the message based on the product and campaign.
Compatibility with other promotions
Combine your Free Gift with other promotional strategies to create more powerful campaigns without relying on deep discounts. This enhances the purchase incentive, raises average order value, and improves perceived value.
For example, if you offer a gift when a spending threshold is met and apply volume discounts, you can encourage bigger orders and drive loyalty, especially when the gift is relevant.
Automatic currency conversion
When you set a free gift promotion based on a minimum spend (e.g., €30), that amount should automatically adjust to the customer’s currency (like USD, GBP, or MXN).
Planet handles this for you, converting the threshold to the local currency without altering the promotion logic or user experience. This ensures all customers see fair, consistent conditions, no matter where they shop, while keeping the gift’s perceived value intact.
A well-executed free gift campaign can make a big impact on your online store: improving conversions, increasing order value, and leaving a positive impression on your customers. But to truly make it work, you must avoid common pitfalls like unclear setups, vague conditions, or irrelevant gifts.
With Planet, you can create effective promotions without the hassle. Total control, advanced personalization, and a smooth experience for both you and your customers.
Ready to offer gifts that convert?
Start today with Planet and turn every purchase into a pleasant surprise.