To stand out in today’s crowded marketplace, you have to be strategic about the promotions you run to attract customers. When it comes to irresistible offers, few can top the charm of BOGO promotions. Short for “Buy One Get One”, these offers work wonders in grabbing attention and sparking shopper excitement!
But what makes them so effective and how can you leverage them to grow your store? No worries–we’ll break it down for you. In this article, we’ll walk you through what BOGO deals are, explore best practices to implement them effectively, and show you how you can easily set them up in WooCommerce.
Let’s get right into it!
What Are BOGO Promotions?
Everyone loves a good deal, especially when it comes with something free! In a BOGO (Buy One, Get One) deal, shoppers get an additional item as a part of their purchase. It’s a simple concept with massive appeal. In fact, according to industry research, customers prefer Buy One Get One deals over other promotions like percentage discounts.
Another great thing about BOGO deals, apart from the customer appeal, is their flexibility. There are several types of BOGO deals you can run, depending on your business goals. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common types below:
- Buy One Get One Free: This is the classic BOGO offer, where customers get one item free when they purchase a certain product.
- Conditional BOGO: You can also craft BOGO deals that trigger only on certain conditions, such as reaching specific cart amounts or purchasing a specific number of items.
- Buy One Get One at X% Off: This type of deal offers a discount on the second item instead of giving it for free.
- Buy Two Get One Free: In this offer, customers get a free product when they purchase two items–perfect for encouraging higher cart higher cart values!
Plugins like Advanced Coupons allow you to set cart conditions that define when BOGO offers apply. This makes it easier for you to craft highly tailored promotions that match your store’s goals!
Best Practices When Running BOGO Offers
Running BOGO deals can work wonders for your business. However, like any marketing strategy, they work best when implemented strategically. So, in this section, we’ll walk you through best practices to help you make the most of your BOGO promotions.
1. Set clear goals
As we’ve reviewed, there are a lot of ways you can structure BOGO promotions. Since each type may suit different business goals, it’s crucial to get clear on what you want to achieve before launching a BOGO offer.
Take a quick moment to assess your priorities. Perhaps you want to move excess inventory or improve your store’s average order values? Or maybe you want to launch an exclusive offer to reward your most loyal shoppers? Here are some quick examples to guide you:
- If you’re aiming to clear out excess stock, you may want to launch special BOGO offers only on these specific products.
- If customer retention is your priority, consider offering BOGO deals exclusively for repeat buyers or customers participating in your loyalty program.
Not only does laying down your goals make your promotion more impactful–this step will also help you measure success (more on this later). Knowing what your goals are will help you identify the metrics to track to evaluate the success of your promotion.
2. Choose the right products
Here’s an important thing to remember: not every item in your store is a perfect fit for a BOGO promotion. To maximize its effectiveness, it’s crucial to be strategic in your selection. For instance, you’ll want to avoid running BOGO deals on items that already have slim profit margins, as it can hurt your bottom line.
Instead, you’ll want to focus on products that will offer tangible value for both you and your customers. Here are some considerations:
- Slow-moving items: BOGO deals offer a great way to clear out excess stock or slow moving products that aren’t selling out as quickly as you’d like.
- Seasonal items: Running BOGO promotions on seasonal items can drive urgency, encouraging customers to shop before the season ends.
- Complementary products: Make the offer relevant by choosing items that naturally go together.
- High margin items: Choose items with higher profit margins to keep your BOGO deals profitable for your business.
3. Leverage scarcity and sense of urgency
You can make BOGO deals even more enticing by adding an element of urgency. When shoppers feel like they might miss out on a great deal, they’re more likely to make quicker purchase decisions.
One easy way to do this is by setting time limits on your BOGO offers. You can use plugins like Advanced Coupons to create promotions that activate only during specific dates and times:
Use compelling visuals and countdown timers to highlight the limited-time nature of the deal. If inventory is limited, let shoppers know! Statements like “Limited stocks left” can drive fomo (fear of missing out) and motivate shoppers to complete their purchases.
IMPORTANT: Running BOGO deals too frequently can affect their perceived value for customers, so time these promos strategically! Big shopping days like Black Friday, Christmas, and Back-to-School promotions are perfect opportunities to run these offers, as shoppers are already on the hunt for the best deals.
4. Combine BOGO deals with other promotions
Combining BOGO offers with other promotions is another surefire way to make them even more irresistible! For instance, you allow customers to stack coupons for free shipping and BOGO to sweeten the deal. Using tools like Advanced Coupons, you can allow WooCommerce shoppers to combine multiple coupons in one order.
Balance is key here, as you don’t want to over-discount your offerings. To strike the right balance, you can set cart conditions such as minimum spend or cart quantity requirements before shoppers can unlock the combined deal. This way, you can craft enticing promotions that lead to higher order values and a boost in your bottom line!
5. Promote across multiple marketing channels
How else will shoppers learn about your irresistible offer if you don’t tell them about it? Maximize the impact of your BOGO promotions by spreading the word across different marketing channels!
Let’s walk through some examples:
- Email: Consider sending out email campaigns that communicate your BOGO offer. You can make it easier for customers to claim the deal by providing URL coupons that automatically apply the offer.
- Website Banners: You can use tools like OptinMonster to create enticing banners and pop-ups that promote BOGO offers.
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are great platforms to create buzz around your deal. You can leverage carousel posts, videos, or even stories to showcase your products running BOGO offers.
- Influencers: Likewise, you can collaborate with influencers and affiliates in your niche to reach new audiences and inform them about your BOGO offers.
By leveraging multiple channels, you can increase the visibility of your offer and meet your audience where they are.
6. Manage inventory accordingly
BOGO offers can drive excitement and boost sales, but you’ll want to ensure effective inventory management to avoid potential headaches. The last thing you want is to run out of stock in the middle of your promotion–this can hurt your brand reputation and leave customers frustrated!
To avoid this pitfall, make sure to check your assess stock levels before launching your promotions. Monitor stock levels in real time to ensure you can adjust as needed. If you anticipate a surge in demand–especially during big shopping seasons like Black Friday, make sure to coordinate with your suppliers to ensure timely restocking.
7. Track, optimize, and analyze
Tracking the performance of your BOGO promotions can help you refine your strategies. After your promotion ends, take time to assess the results. Depending on your set goals, you may want to evaluate metrics like average order values, coupon redemption rates, or sales growth.
Once you’ve gathered these insights, take note of the areas that can be improved for future promotions. For instance, if certain items sold out quicker than expected, you may want to revisit your inventory management strategies to ensure you’re adequately stocked for future promotions. Likewise, if coupon redemption rates are lower than expected, you may want to double your marketing efforts to communicate your offer and improve visibility.
It’s also worthwhile to seek feedback from your customers. Leverage feedback forms, surveys, or polls to understand their experience.
Based on the results of your promotion, you can carry over what worked and make improvements on what didn’t. This approach ensures that each campaign you launch is more effective than the last!
How To Set Up BOGO Promotions In WooCommerce
BOGO deals are powerful incentives to drive customer engagement and boost sales. The good news? They’re easy to implement and set up using plugins like Advanced Coupons!
Advanced Coupons is the #1 WooCommerce coupon plugin. It extends the default coupon functionality of WooCommerce, allowing online store owners to set up Buy One Get One deals, shipping discounts, URL coupons, and so much more. With this plugin, you can easily craft any type of BOGO promotion and set cart conditions to ensure deals apply exactly as you intend.
Want to learn how to set up BOGO deals in WooCommerce? Check out our detailed tutorial here!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bogof in marketing?
BOGOF means “Buy One, Get One Free” – it’s one of the most popular forms of BOGO promotions. When availing of this offer, customers receive a free product when they purchase a specific item.
What is the meaning of BOGO promotion?
Short for “Buy One, Get One”, BOGO promotion is a marketing strategy where shoppers receive an extra item for free (or at a discounted price) when they purchase a certain product. This type of deal comes in different forms, such as “Buy One Get One Free”, “Buy One, Get One at X% Off” or “Buy Two Get One Free.” They’re excellent tools to encourage customers to buy more, clear excess stock, or reward loyal shoppers.
What is a BOGO coupon?
BOGO coupons are digital codes or vouchers that activate a Buy One Get One deal. Typically, customers can redeem these codes upon checkout. Plugins like Advanced Coupons make setting up BOGO coupons easy in WooCommerce. With this plugin, you can create BOGO deals, enable them to be auto-applied, and even set cart conditions to determine when they can be availed.
Conclusion
Few deals can top the charm and appeal of BOGO promotions. These types of deals work wonders in attracting and engaging customers–they elicit fomo (fear of missing out) and are incredibly versatile! In this comprehensive guide, we walked you through what BOGO deals are, their most common types, and best practices to ensure their effectiveness.
To summarize, let’s review these key tips below:
- Set clear goals
- Choose the right products
- Leverage scarcity and sense of urgency
- Combine BOGO deals with other promotions
- Promote across multiple marketing channels
- Manage inventory accordingly
- Track, optimize, and analyze
Best part? Plugins like Advanced Coupons make it easy for your to set up and implement BOGO deals in WooCommerce. This powerful plugin extends the default coupon functionality of WooCommerce, allowing you to create BOGO promotions and set conditions when they apply.
Ready to take your promotions to the next level? Got questions?
Let us know in the comments!
