Different types of coupons can attract different types of customers.
For example, if you offer a coupon for free shipping, you may attract more customers who are price-sensitive. On the other hand, if you offer a coupon for a percentage of your total purchase, you may attract more customers who are looking for a good deal.
Offering different types of coupons allows you to reach a wider range of customers and increase sales. Gaining a better understanding of the many types available can make it easier to choose the one that will bring you the most success.
In this post, we’ll briefly discuss the benefits of offering coupons for your store. Then we’ll provide you with 39 types of coupons you can offer and provide some tips and tools for doing so. So, let’s jump in!
The Benefits Of Offering Different Types Of Coupons For Your Store
There are many reasons why you should consider offering coupons to your shoppers. Some of the biggest benefits are that they can lead to:
- Increased traffic: Offering coupons can help increase traffic to your store as people are more likely to visit your site if they know they can get a discount.
- Higher conversion rates: Coupons can also lead to higher conversion rates as they provide an incentive for people to buy from your store.
- Improved customer loyalty: By offering coupons, you can improve customer loyalty. They can be an effective way to show your appreciation to your existing customers.
- Greater brand awareness: Offering coupons can also help boost brand awareness. It can help you reach new markets and generate new leads.
- Increased sales: Ultimately, offering coupons can lead to increased sales as people are more likely to buy from your store if they have a coupon.
These are just a few of the advantages. Some of the more specific benefits will vary depending on the types of coupons you decide to offer.
39 Types Of Coupons Your Store Should Offer And When
Now that we understand more about the benefits of offering coupons, let’s dive into your options. Below are 39 types of coupons you should offer and when.
1. Percentage-based coupons
Percentage-based coupons offer a certain percentage off the total purchase price. For example, if you offer a 10% coupon, the customer will get 10% off their total purchase price. Percentage-based coupons are a great way to attract customers who are looking for a good deal.
They are also incredibly easy and flexible. You can use them when you want to offer a store-wide sale to attract new customers.
2. Fixed-price coupons
Fixed-amount coupons offer a fixed discount on the total purchase price. For instance, if you offer a $5 coupon, the customer will get $5 off their total purchase price.
Rather than a percentage-based discount, this amount does change based on the price of the product. This can be an excellent option no matter what type of online store you have.
3. BOGO coupons
BOGO coupons (Buy One Get One) offer a free item when the customer buys a certain item. For example, if you offer a BOGO coupon for a shirt, the customer will get a free shirt when they buy one shirt. BOGO coupons are a great way to increase sales of certain items.
BOGO coupons are ideal when you are looking to get rid of inventory. When you want to clear out older stock that’s been sitting around for a while, offering a deeper discount on these items can help motivate customers to buy them.
Our Advanced Coupons plugin lets you create BOGO deals with ease. You can upgrade to the premium BOGO features to offer these coupons in a variety of ways:
For example, you can set up BOGO coupons for single products, a group of products that the customer can choose, or a product category or categories.
4. Free shipping coupons
Free shipping coupons offer free shipping on all orders. This can be an effective way to attract price-sensitive customers.
Free shipping coupons can also help increase conversion rates as people are more likely to buy from your store if they know they won’t have to pay for shipping. This type of coupon can be wise to offer on orders a specific amount of money.
This can help encourage people to spend more to qualify for free shipping.
5. Advanced shipping coupons
Advanced shipping coupons offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount. For example, if you offer an advanced shipping coupon for orders over $100, the customer will get free shipping on their order if it is over $100.
Advanced shipping coupons can help attract customers who are looking to make a large purchase. This can be a strategic way to encourage more sales without sacrificing your profits.
Advanced Coupons Premium comes with a variety of advanced shipping options.
You can easily create the discounts, and then tailor them to apply certain restrictions and conditions that shoppers must meet to be eligible.
6. Automatic coupons
Automatic coupons are coupons that are automatically applied to the customer’s purchase. For example, if you offer an automatic coupon for 10% off, the customer will get 10% off their purchase without having to enter a code.
Automatic coupons help make it easy for customers to get a discount on their purchases. They are convenient and prevent shoppers from missing out on potential savings.
These coupons can be ideal to use when you have a loyalty program or require users to sign in to make a purchase. For instance, you could automatically apply a coupon whenever a new shopper registers an account with your website.
With Advanced Coupons, you can enable automatic coupons on nearly any type of discount. You simply need to turn on the auto-apply feature on the coupon you want to enable it.
7. Loyalty points
Loyalty points are points that are earned based on the amount of money spent at a store.
For example, if you offer a loyalty point for every $1 spent, the customer will earn 1 point for every $1 they spend at your store.
Loyalty points can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases. They are excellent discounts to offer existing customers as a way of encouraging repeat business. Plus, they are effortless to implement when you use our Loyalty Program plugin:
You can easily set up a rewards program and then determine what type of loyalty points you want to offer, to whom, and when.
8. Gift cards
Gift cards offer consumers the opportunity to give the gift of choice. By offering a gift card, you can allow the recipient to choose their product or service.
Gift cards are also a great way to build relationships with your customers as they will need to provide their contact information to receive the discount.
Our Advanced Gift Cards plugin lets you easily set up and customize your gift cards:
You can create gift cards as a product, determine the price and value, and then easily display them to visitors. Your customers can send them straight to recipients, then they can be redeemed during checkout.
9. URL coupons
URL coupons are codes that can be entered into the URL to get a discount on the purchase. This type of coupon is convenient because once a user clicks on the coupon URL, the discount will be automatically applied. They can also be easily shared on various platforms, including text, email, and social media.
10. One-click coupons
One-click coupons are coupons that can be applied with just one click. If you offer a one-click coupon for 10% off, the customer will get 10% off their purchase without having to manually enter a code.
One-click coupons make it seamless for customers to get a discount on their purchases. There is a small difference between one-click coupons versus auto-apply ones, mainly having to do with the cart conditions you set.
However, they can work together to help create an effortless experience for your customers.
11. Gift with purchase coupons
Free gift with purchase coupons offers a free gift with the purchase of a certain item.
For example, if you offer a free gift with a purchase coupon for a free shirt when a customer buys something, they will get a free shirt.
These can be ideal when you have excess inventory. You can clear our old inventory while also encouraging customers to make a purchase.
There are multiple ways to offer free gifts in WooCommerce. However, Advanced Coupons makes implementing all of them quick and easy.
12. After purchase coupons
After purchase coupons are codes that can be entered after the purchase is complete to get another discount. Let’s say that you offer an after-purchase coupon for 10% off.
The customer will need to enter the code “10OFF” the next time they buy from you after they have completed their initial purchase to get the discount.
This is an excellent strategy if you want to offer store credit. You can configure the coupon to apply store credit or loyalty rewards to existing customers for them to use on future purchases in your store.
13. Mystery or spin-the-wheel coupons
If you want to add a fun and exciting element to your coupon strategy, you can also incorporate gamification by offering a mystery or spin-the-wheel coupon. These types of coupons can help add a level of competition or playfulness to your marketing initiatives.
OptinMonster offers a spin-the-wheel feature that involves users spinning the interactive wheel to land on a certain discount or reward:
They can be perfect for contests and giveaways. They also work to help boost and grow loyalty programs.
14. Influencer coupons
Influencer marketing has become increasingly popular and effective across social and online platforms. By working with influencers who have large followings, you can help reach a wider audience to promote your products.
Influencer coupons are coupons that these influencers can offer their audiences as a discount for your products or services. These are ideal if you want to build trust and expand your word-of-mouth marketing initiatives.
15. Usage-limited coupons
Usage-limited coupons are coupons that can only be used a certain number of times.
For example, if you offer a usage-limited coupon for 10% off that can only be used 5 times, the coupon will then be invalid after 5 uses.
These coupons are important to use to prevent customers from abusing them. Offering unlimited usage can hurt your profits.
16. Time/schedule limited coupons
Time/schedule limited coupons are coupons that can only be used during a certain period. For example, if you offer a time/schedule limited coupon for 10% off that can only be used between 9 am and 5 pm, the coupon will then be invalid after 5 pm.
Setting date and time limits are effective when you want to instill a sense of urgency. Customers may feel compelled to use the coupon faster than they otherwise might.
17. Printable coupons
Online coupons are convenient and popular. However, they’re not the only option you have.
You can also create and distribute printable coupons. These involve placing unique codes in physical advertisements, including those in newspapers and magazines.
These can be ideal for targeting audiences that prefer print materials over digital. They can also be useful for customers who prefer carrying and using tangible coupons over electronic ones.
18. Cashback/rebate coupons
Cashback/rebate coupons are coupons that offer a rebate on the purchase.
For example, if you offer a cashback/rebate coupon for 10% off, the customer will then receive a rebate for 10% of the purchase price.
19. Spend over an amount of coupons
Spend over an amount coupons are one of the most simple yet effective ways to increase sales in your store. With these deals, your coupons get a certain discount once they reach a minimum amount.
For instance, you could offer free shipping coupons on orders over a certain amount. You could also offer a free gift or percentage-based discount.
20. Welcome/first order coupons
One of the best times to offer shoppers a reward or coupon is when they place their first order. First order coupons, also known as welcome coupons, are an excellent way to demonstrate your appreciation for your customers and incentivize them to continue to shop in your store.
After placing their first order, the discount can be a great way to bring them back and ensure they place a second order. You can easily enable this using the OptinMonster optin box success screen.
21. QR coupons
If you want to modernize your coupons, we recommend using QR coupons. QR codes are scannable images that users can use the camera on their mobile devices to be directed to another website, send a message, dial a phone number, etc.
These are perfect when you want to add a digital element to print marketing materials. You can also use them on digital coupons to provide users with a quick and convenient way of applying the discount. You can generate a QR code using a QR generator tool:
Then you can link that QR code to your coupon. For example, you can use the Advanced Coupons URL coupon link.
22. Support coupons
Customer service and support play an important role in customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention. When shoppers reach out to your company with a question, concern, or inquiry, your support teams’ response can affect their attitudes toward your brand
This is why you might want to consider offering support coupons. These types of coupons are discounts or rewards that your reps can provide customers when they reach out to them for support or assistance.
These are great offerings for when you want to remedy a relationship with a dissatisfied customer. They help show your genuine concern and appreciation of their feedback and needs.
23. Affiliate coupons
Somewhat similar to influencer marketing, affiliate marketing is also becoming an incredibly powerful and popular tactic for leveraging social proof to increase sales and brand awareness. If you start an affiliate program, you can offer affiliate coupons to users who learn about your products through your partners.
These discounts can be a great way to incentivize people to promote your product or service. By offering discounts to people who refer others to your business, you can generate more leads and sales while also building up your brand awareness. Affiliate coupons also help to create a sense of community around your business as people share their referral codes with friends and family.
24. Members-only coupons
Members-only coupons are a great way to give your loyal customers a little extra incentive to keep using your product or service. They can also create a sense of exclusivity that can attract more customers to your rewards or loyalty program.
By offering a discount to members of your email list or people who have purchased from you in the past, you can create a sense of loyalty and encourage people to keep coming back for more.
25. Prelaunch coupons
Prelaunch coupons are a great way to get people excited about your upcoming product or service. By offering a discount on your product or service, you can generate buzz and drum up some interest around the launch. It can be a helpful and effective way to spread awareness about the upcoming release and spark promotions across various channels.
26. Holiday/seasonal coupons
Some types of coupons are better for certain times of the year. That’s when you can use holiday or seasonal coupons.
These offers can vary depending on your inventory and stock levels, as well as whether you sell seasonal items. Many stores offer discounts and sales around certain holidays, such as Christmas, New Year’s, etc. However, you can also incorporate other seasonal periods, such as Back to School.
27. Abandoned cart coupons
As an e-commerce store owner, one of the most challenging things to deal with is abandoned carts. Whether it’s because you have a complicated checkout process or because the shopper simply got distracted before completing their purchase, it’s important to offer incentives that get them back.
One way to do that is by offering abandoned cart coupons. These types of coupons can help you recover lost sales and encourage people to complete their purchases.
By offering a discount to people who have started but have not completed their purchase, you can create a sense of urgency and encourage them to finish checking out.
28. Coupons after entering a giveaway
Giveaways and contests can be incredibly effective in drawing people to your stores. They can be a fun, engaging way to promote your brand or launch a new product
By offering coupons after entering a giveaway, you can increase the number of participants who sign up. This can help you generate leads and build out your email list for future promotions.
RafflePress can be a helpful tool for creating these types of discounts:
You can create the raffle or giveaway, determine the reward or coupon for entry, and then easily share and promote the contest on your website and social media channels.
29. Retargeting coupons
Retargeting coupons are strategic to use to encourage people who have visited your site but have not made a purchase to come back and buy your product or service.
By offering a discount to people who have viewed your product page or added an item to their cart, you can create a sense of urgency and encourage them to complete their purchase.
These coupons can also offer an incentive and reminder about products they may have forgotten about. For example, if a shopper was browsing an item on your store, but then got distracted, they may leave your website to go to a new window or platform.
With retargeting, you can tailor ads to consumers on platforms other than your website.
30. Event attendance coupons
Event attendee coupons are a way to motivate people to attend your events, such as tradeshows or other business gatherings.
By offering a discount to people who register for your event, you can increase attendance and help draw attention to your products or promotions. Event attendee coupons can help build up your email list as people will need to provide their email addresses to receive the discount.
31. Wholesale coupons
Wholesale coupons are discounts that you offer to wholesale customers only, rather than your retail shoppers. They’re a great way to encourage people to buy your product or service in bulk. By offering a discount to people who
Additionally, Advanced Coupons and Wholesale Suite are ideal tools for creating coupons specifically for wholesale audiences:
You will be able to completely control and configure your pricing models for both retail and wholesale consumers. You can customize your coupons based on which category they fall into.
32. Customer milestone coupons
Customer milestone coupons are an effective way to show your appreciation to long-time customers. By offering a discount to people who have been customers for a certain amount of time, you can facilitate loyalty, increase retention, and encourage them to continue doing business with you.
There are plenty of ways and opportunities to offer customer milestone coupons. For instance, you could do so on the anniversary of their first order or their birthday. You could also make them a reward for reaching a certain number of orders, especially if you have a loyalty program.
33. Excess inventory/end of financial year coupons
Excess inventory or end-of-financial-year coupons are a great way to get rid of extra inventory and clear out old stock at the end of a season. By offering a discount on products that you need to move, you can increase sales without letting inventory go to waste.
Finally, these coupons can instill a sense of timeliness and urgency by encouraging people to buy your product or service before it’s gone.
34. Text message coupons
Text message coupons can help you reach new and existing customers. By sending a text message with a discount code to people who opt-in to your text message list, you can increase sales and build relationships with your customers.
Text message coupons are also effective because they are convenient and easy to customize. You can, then, personalize them by applying cart conditions that help you target specific types of customers.
35. Survey submission coupons
Surveys are one of the most helpful tools that you can use for collecting customer feedback. By offering a discount to people who complete your survey, you can increase response rates and get valuable insight about your product or service.
Survey submission coupons can also help you build relationships with your customers. They will need to provide their contact information to receive the discount, so you can add them to your email list and target them with personalized promotions in the future.
36. Subscription coupons
If you run a subscription-based business, subscription plan in your offerings, or have created a newsletter, you may want to consider offering subscription coupons. These can serve as rewards for site visitors to subscribe to your service or email newsletter.
Offering discounts to people who subscribe can increase your sign-ups and encourage people to use your products/services. They can also help you communicate your appreciation to existing customers. By adding an expiration date, you can also motivate new shoppers to place their first order.
37. Referral coupons
Word-of-mouth marketing is still an effective and popular technique today. People tend to trust their family, friends, and acquaintances when they recommend a product or service.
Therefore, another type of coupon you should consider offering is referral coupons. These are used when a customer refers someone they know to your services. When the referred person uses that coupon, they can receive a special discount as can the person who referred them.
38. Groupon-style limited slot coupons
As we mentioned earlier, adding a sense of exclusivity to promotions or discounts can help generate more buzz and attention surrounding them. One of the ways that you can do that is by creating Groupon-style limited slot coupons, meaning only a certain number of people will be able to get the coupon.
Once the slots have been filled up, the deal will be “closed”. This approach can help attract both new and existing customers and encourage them to act quicker than they may otherwise.
39. Unique coupon codes
Rounding off our list of 39 types of coupons you can use are coupons with unique coupon codes.
If you want to create personalized, targeted discounts for specific kinds of customers or audiences, this is the way to go.
You can generate unique, one-time-use coupons for a wide range of reasons. For each, you can customize and define their usage restrictions, limitations, and cart conditions. To make the process as simple as possible, we recommend using our Virtual Coupons feature:
This functionality is available with Advanced Coupons Premium. It lets you easily use tons of unique codes for a single offer.
Conclusion
As a business owner, you may be wondering if offering coupons is worth the effort. However, there are some definite advantages to offering coupons that you should consider. Offering coupons can help attract new customers and show appreciation to your existing ones.
In this article, we shared 39 types of coupons your store should offer:
- Percentage-based coupons
- Fixed-price coupons
- BOGO coupons
- Free shipping coupons
- Advanced shipping coupons
- Automatic coupons
- Loyalty points
- Gift cards
- URL coupons
- One-click coupons
- Gift with purchase coupons
- After purchase coupons
- Mystery or spin-the-wheel coupons
- Influencer coupons
- Usage-limited coupons
- Time/schedule limited coupons
- Printable coupons
- Cashback/rebate coupons
- Spend over an amount of coupons
- Welcome/first-order coupons
- QR coupons
- Support coupons
- Affiliate coupons
- Members-only coupons
- Prelaunch coupons
- Holiday/seasonal coupons
- Abandoned cart coupons
- Coupons after entering a giveaway
- Retargeting coupons
- Event attendance coupons
- Wholesale coupons
- Customer milestone coupons
- Excess inventory/end of financial year coupons
- Text message coupons
- Survey submission coupons
- Subscription coupons
- Referral coupons
- Groupon-style limited slot coupons
- Unique coupon codes
Do you have any questions about the different types of coupons you can offer? Let us know in the comments section below!
