Instagram and Facebook are making it a little easier for South Africans to support local businesses in their communities thanks to the new gift card feature. Facebook has created this feature to help local businesses, such as restaurants, fitness studios, salons, bookshops and bakeries as they navigate their way through the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdown.
People can find offers from participating merchants through a “Support Local Businesses” ad in their Facebook feeds, a Gift Card button on merchants’ Instagram profiles or in Stories through the Gift Card sticker.
Supporting small businesses and restaurants is an important part of Instagram’s community, which is why Instagram is also launching Food Orders, making it easier for businesses to get support from their customers through food orders on Instagram.
“We know small businesses in South Africa have been deeply impacted by the local outbreak of COVID-19, and this new gift card feature is just one of the many ways we continue to support them,” says Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director for Facebook Africa.
“Small businesses will continue to play an important role in the economic recovery after the pandemic, which is why it is critical to help them keep the lights on and save jobs. We know when businesses do better, economies do better.”
With Gift Cards available through News Feed, Instagram Profiles and in Instagram Stories, this new experience not only gives small businesses the cash injection they urgently need but enables people to continue to support businesses as they reopen and start to recover from the crisis.
Businesses who are interested in promoting their digital gift cards on Facebook and Instagram can learn how here.
