A whopping 63% of today’s shoppers actively seek coupons and discounts when making online purchases. With countless stores competing for customers’ attention, you need a strategic way to deliver your promotions so they won’t go unnoticed. That’s where email coupons can help!
Email coupons provide a direct and effective way to bring your offers right to shoppers’ inboxes. They make it easier for customers to redeem rewards, take advantage of exclusive offers, and complete their orders. The result? Happier customers and better conversions!
Sounds exciting, right? This guide will help you get started! We’ll break down:
- The most effective types of email coupons to boost conversions
- Best practices to boost engagement
- Tips to implement these strategies effortlessly with Advanced Coupons
So, let’s dive in!
What Are Email Coupons?
You’ve probably received email coupons–they’re promotional offers or exclusive discount codes delivered straight to a customer’s inbox. Take a look at this simple example below:
Click to zoom Image Source Agoda
For store owners, email coupons are a powerful tool to grab attention and drive sales. Unlike other general forms of promotions (such as social media posts or website banners), emails can be highly targeted and personalized, making them more impactful. In fact, 95% of marketers agree that email is the most effective marketing channel to drive business results.
Best part? You can customize email coupons to serve different marketing goals! This is what we’ll dive into in the next section.
10 Effective Email Coupon Types To Boost Sales
Not all email coupons serve the same purpose. Some types work best for attracting new buyers, while others can help win back abandoned carts. Choosing the right type of email coupon can help you boost your store’s bottom line and foster stronger customer relationships.
In this section, we’ll explore some of the most common email coupon types and how you can use them to maximize your store’s potential.
1. Welcome email coupons
Welcome coupons are typically sent out right after a customer signs up as a subscriber on your list. Since they’re already expressing interest in your brand, why not give them a small incentive to place their first order? An exclusive discount or free shipping offer can be what nudges them to take action!
These types of coupons can help foster better relationships with new subscribers. It’s an excellent way to create a good first impression. A well-crafted welcome email sets the tone for future engagement, which makes it more likely for subscribers to open your emails down the line.
🎯 POWER TIP: Consider adding an expiration date (e.g., “Valid for 48 hours”) to encourage quick action. Using plugins like Advanced Coupons, you can set coupon validity based on the exact number of hours since a customer registered so you can create time-sensitive welcome offers.
2. Abandoned cart coupons
Abandoned cart email coupons are special offers sent to shoppers who left items in their cart without completing the purchase. Unfortunately, this scenario happens far more often than you might expect – 7 out of 10 shoppers abandon their carts, leaving potential revenue on the table.
According to industry estimates, sending out abandoned cart emails can recover around 10% of this lost revenue. A timely reminder, along with a discount offer or free shipping perk can be the push shoppers need to return and complete their purchase.
🎯 POWER TIP: Don’t wait too long! Abandoned cart email coupons are best sent within 1-6 hours after a shopper leaves your site. Customers are more likely to return and complete their orders while their intent to order is still high.
3. Exclusive/VIP coupons
Exclusive email coupons are sent out to your most loyal shoppers, high-spending customers, or rewards program members. Their special offers or perks are not available to everyone, creating a sense of exclusivity.
For example, you may want to offer a limited-time 20% discount to customers who have placed more than 10 orders on your website. Customers who receive these VIP coupons feel valued and rewarded for their engagement with your brand, making them more likely to continue choosing your store.
💡GOOD TO KNOW: With Advanced Coupons, you can easily create exclusive offers based on customer conditions like total product orders, customer lifetime spend, user role, and more!
4. Post-purchase coupons
All savvy store owners know this: the customer journey doesn’t end at checkout! In fact, it’s just the beginning.
Keep customers engaged and your brand top of mind by sending out post-purchase email coupons. These offers are sent after a shopper completes a purchase, typically offering an incentive to bring them back. For example, you might offer 10% off or a free shipping perk for their next order.
Set a reasonable expiration date (e.g., valid for 30 days) that creates a sense of urgency without making the offer too restrictive. This gives customers enough time to redeem the reward while keeping your store on their radar.
5. Flash sale coupons
These types of email coupon offers are valid only for a very limited time window. They leverage scarcity and FOMO (fear of missing out) to encourage customers to act fast. Sending out flash sale coupon emails can help you boost sales fast and create buzz around your brand.
Click to zoom Image Source SHEIN
For maximum impact, try keeping the sale period short and strategic. Most flash sales run only from a few hours until a day, giving customers just enough time to act. You can use plugins like Advanced Coupons to specify exact date and time ranges when coupons will be active to automate the process.
🎯 POWER TIP: Pair your email campaign with a push notification announcing the flash sale offer. Advanced Coupons’ latest integration with PushEngage allows you to send coupons directly as push notifications.
Learn more here. 👉
6. BOGO email coupons
What could be more exciting than BOGO (Buy One Get One) offers? Receiving them directly in your inbox!
BOGO offers are one of the most irresistible types of promotions. Customers love the idea of getting something for free (or at a discount, depending on your BOGO offer). You’re free to experiment with different BOGO structures to match your marketing goals or check what resonates with your audience.
For instance, you might offer:
- BOGO (Buy One Get One): The most common type of BOGO.
- Buy Two, Get One Free: Perfect for moving inventory.
- Buy X, Get Y at 50% Off: Works well for cross-selling or promoting specific product categories
7. Seasonal/holiday email coupons
Shoppers are actively on the prowl for the best deals during holidays and major shopping seasons like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. Your goal as a store owner is to make it as easy as possible for them to find and redeem your offers.
By sending out seasonal and holiday email coupons, you capitalize on this shopping frenzy and motivate customers to buy while they’re in a shopping mindset. Consider pairing email coupon offers with curated gift guides or product lists. This can help customers find the perfect gifts to buy while making your promotions feel more thoughtful and personalized.
🎯 POWER TIP: Create your coupons in advance! Planning ahead can save you a lot of time and prevent small mishaps during big shopping seasons. With Advanced Coupons, you can create and schedule coupons in advance to automate your holiday sales.
8. Re-engagement email coupons
Sending email offers to customers you haven’t heard from in a while can be what nudges them to come back. This is how re-engagement coupons work: they’re targeted discounts or perks (such as a free shipping code) sent to inactive shoppers who haven’t engaged with your store in a while.
Here’s a great re-engagement example from the productivity app Todoist:
After a period of inactivity, they send users a re-engagement invite offering 3 free months of Todoist Pro. It was a compelling offer, paired with a clear deadline to create urgency.
You can create the same effect on your ecommerce store by sending a re-engagement email like, “We Miss You! Here’s 15% Off Your Next Order!”
9. Birthday and anniversary coupons
A birthday or anniversary coupon can go a long way in making your customers feel special. These email offers are sent around a customer’s birthday or when celebrating special milestones with your brand. For instance, you can send a special coupon to mark their 1-year anniversary as a loyalty program member, or their first order from your store.
These offers are great for building emotional connections with your shoppers because they feel personal and timely. When shoppers receive a celebratory message paired with a compelling reward, they’re more likely to return and make a purchase.
🎯 POWER TIP: Need inspiration for your next email coupon? Check out our ready-to-launch coupon templates! These templates are designed to help you create promotions faster, featuring options across different categories like seasonal offers, customer appreciation, product deals, and more!
10. Referral coupons
You can also use email coupons to encourage shoppers to share your brand with others. Referral email campaigns reward customers for inviting their friends. Typically, these offers reward both the referrer and the new shopper.
Check out this great example from Foodpanda:
Their email invites subscribers to share their referral code through the app and offers a reward for both parties. It’s short and easy to understand, making it easier for customers to take action.
Best Practices When Sending Email Coupons
Now that you know the most common types of email coupons, let’s walk through some best practices to help you optimize your strategy. For the best results, don’t forget to:
1. Segment your audience
The coupon types we’ve learned about earlier serve different purposes, which means not every coupon is right for every customer. It makes sense to segment your email audience to ensure your message resonates with what they need. Remember, personalized emails drive better conversions than generic ones.
2. Craft compelling subject lines
Subject lines determine if your email offer will get opened or ignored. For the best results, make it clear, compelling, and action-driven. Here’s a quick example:
- Poor subject line: Special Offer Just For You
- Good subject line: 🎉 Your Exclusive 20% Off Coupon Is Here – Use It Before Midnight!
The first subject line example is vague, while the second one clearly states the offer, adds excitement and creates urgency.
3. Set coupon deadlines to create urgency
Without clear coupon expiration dates, shoppers might put off using it or forget about it entirely. Adding a clear expiration date on your coupon email creates a strong motivator to act fast. There are several ways you can do this, depending on the sale you’re running.
Here are some examples:
- Limited-time flash sale: “Your 20% Off Expires in 6 Hours – Don’t Miss Out!”
- Limited stock warning: “Only 50 Coupons Left – Grab Yours Before They’re Gone!” This is perfect if you’ve also set coupon redemption limits.
- Event-based urgency: “Holiday Special: 15% Off Until Dec 24 at Midnight!”
4. Add an eye-catching CTA to make redemption easier
Don’t underestimate the power of a compelling call-to-action (CTA). This is the final push that gets shoppers to redeem the coupon. Make sure that it’s visually appealing, prominent, and action-oriented. Here’s an example:
- Poor CTA: “Click Here”
- Good CTA: “📩 Use Code SAVE15 & Get 15% Off – Shop Now!”
🎯POWER TIP: Make your coupons easier to redeem by using URL coupons. Instead of requiring customers to enter a code, URL-based coupons automatically apply the discount when clicked, making coupon redemption easier for shoppers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write an email offering a discount?
Craft a clear, benefit-focused subject line that communicates your offer right away. In the email body, make sure to clearly highlight what the offer is (e.g., free shipping or 15% discount), why they should grab it now, and how to claim it. Add a strong call-to-action (CTA) that stands out visually. For maximum impact, add a deadline (e.g., Ends in 24 hours!) to create a sense of urgency and drive quick action.
How do promotional emails work?
Promotional emails are sent to subscribers to announce special offers, discounts, or events. They work by sparking interest, presenting a compelling incentive, and guiding the readers towards making an action. This can be redeeming an offer, visiting your store, leaving a review, and more. You can use email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Drip, or Klaviyo to set up and automate promotional emails.
When is the best time to send promo emails?
According to industry insights, weekdays such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays perform best for email campaigns. However, the ideal time can vary depending on your audience, industry, and campaign type.
For instance, if you’re sending out cart recovery campaigns, it’s best to send them within 6 hours after cart abandonment when intent is still high. For flash sales, you can send an email during its launch to announce the offer, followed by a reminder closer to expiration.
Conclusion
Store owners can use email coupons to bring their offers directly to customers’ inboxes. It’s a powerful way to get your deals noticed, keep your brand top of mind, and keep shoppers engaged. In this guide, we’ve uncovered effective email coupon types you can leverage to grow your WooCommerce store:
- Welcome email coupons
- Abandoned cart coupons
- Exclusive/VIP coupons
- Post-purchase coupons
- Flash sale coupons
- BOGO coupons
- Seasonal/holiday coupons
- Re-engagement email coupons
- Birthday and anniversary coupons
- Referral coupons
Plugins like Advanced Coupons make it effortless to craft coupon promotions in WooCommerce. This tool extends the default coupon features of WooCommerce, letting you set cart conditions, create BOGO deals, and schedule coupons for flash sales and limited-time promotions.
Which coupon type are you most excited to send out as an email? We’re eager to hear your thoughts!
