The Underrated Way to Market Your Business: Printed and Digital Receipts
It’s holiday season, and if you’re like most bakery owners, your plate is full. Between limited-time offers (LTOs), catering orders, and community events, there’s no shortage of things to manage. But amidst all the chaos, there’s one incredibly underrated and often overlooked way to market what’s happening at your bakery—your receipts.
Yes, you heard that right. Whether you hand them out printed, text them to customers, or send them via email, receipts are an excellent opportunity to engage with your customers long after they’ve left your bakery.
Here are some simple but powerful ways to transform your receipts into marketing tools:
1) Add your logo to the top
Branding is everything. A professional, recognizable logo on your receipts instantly reinforces your brand. It adds a polished look and creates consistency across your customer touchpoints. This small detail makes a big difference in brand recall and can even spark conversations when customers share their experience with others.
2) Gather guest feedback
Receipts are a great channel to encourage customers to leave feedback. Include a simple prompt asking them to share their thoughts about their visit. Be mindful that platforms like Yelp and Google prohibit incentivizing reviews with discounts or rewards. Instead, make it easy for customers to leave reviews by including a clickable link or a scannable QR code that takes them directly to your review page. Simply asking for feedback can be quite effective, especially when you’ve provided a great experience.
3) Promote email marketing or loyalty program enrollment
Your email marketing and loyalty programs are two of the most effective ways to build lasting relationships with your customers. Receipts are a perfect place to ask customers to sign up for these. Add a clear call-to-action, like: “Join our VIP list for exclusive deals!” or “Earn points with every purchase. Sign up for our loyalty program today!” Make it easy for them to opt in by providing a QR code or link to join.
4) Highlight promotional messages
Whether you’re running a holiday special, promoting a community event, or offering catering for events, your receipts can help spread the word. Add a short, targeted promotional message to let customers know what’s happening at your bakery. It’s a cost-effective way to get the word out and drive additional sales, all while delivering something your customers are already expecting.
5) Include a Coupon for First-Time Customers
Coupons can be a great way to drive repeat business, but it’s important to target them strategically. Rather than offering a coupon on every order, use your POS system (such as Square or Toast) to identify first-time customers. For these customers, consider including an automated coupon on their printed or emailed receipt, like “10% off your next purchase” or “Buy one, get one free on your next visit.” Make sure to include a deadline to create urgency. This approach keeps your incentives focused on customer segments that are more likely to convert, without diluting the value of your offers by giving them to every visitor.
Maximize your real estate
With minimal effort, your receipts can be doing double duty as both transactional records and marketing tools. Every customer interaction presents an opportunity to drive engagement, increase loyalty, and boost sales. This holiday season, take a moment to rethink how you’re using receipts—and turn them into an underrated marketing powerhouse for your bakery.
Resources to get started
Want help customizing your marketing messages across receipts and beyond? Email info@donutdigest.com for help.
