The American Express Business Gold Card offers a unique bonus category for cardholders who spend on „advertising in select media.“ This category allows cardholders to earn up to 4 points per dollar on their advertising purchases, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to maximize their rewards. According to information available on Amex’s website, eligible merchants include popular platforms such as Google, Facebook, Yahoo, NBC National Broadcasting, and CBS Radio. However, it’s important to note that direct mail services, including list/lead generation, are not eligible for additional rewards under this category.
Online advertising has become increasingly popular among businesses of all sizes, making it likely that most cardholders will focus on maximizing their rewards through platforms like Facebook and Google. With the Business Gold Card, cardholders have the opportunity to earn extra points on their online ad spending, providing a valuable incentive for businesses looking to grow their online presence.
In comparison, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, issued by Chase, also offer bonus categories for advertising purchases. Chase’s terms and conditions are more explicit, defining eligible merchants as social media websites and online search engines that directly advertise a business, brand, products, or services. Purchases made through third parties, such as ad agencies or web designers, may not qualify for bonus points, and non-advertising purchases from social media websites or online search engines will also not qualify.
With the Ink Business Preferred card, cardholders can earn up to 3 points per dollar on advertising purchases made directly with merchants like Facebook and Google. This clear definition of eligible merchants helps cardholders understand how their purchases will be rewarded and allows them to make informed decisions about their advertising spending.
If there is uncertainty about how a particular advertising purchase will code with a credit card issuer, it may be helpful to make a small test purchase to see how it is categorized. This can provide valuable insight into how different types of advertising spending are treated by the issuer and help cardholders make the most of their bonus categories.
Overall, the bonus category for advertising spending on business credit cards offers a valuable opportunity for businesses to earn extra rewards on their marketing efforts. By understanding the specific terms and conditions of each card issuer and making strategic decisions about where to allocate advertising spending, businesses can maximize their rewards and benefit from the incentives offered by these cards.