Create a Job Coupon

Overview

Coupons are a great way to drive sales in your shop. In this article, we'll review how to create a job-specific coupon, as well as some best practices for making the most of this feature.
If you are looking to create custom vouchers (i.e. coupon codes), click here.

Value

Photo jobs that use coupons generate more revenue compared to jobs that don't for a few reasons: 

• Setting a coupon creates a countdown timer in your shop to the coupon deadline. This creates a sense of urgency and drives customers to make a purchase.
  
• If you are using QR cards, coupons are clearly promoted on them. After the shoot, the cards can be sent home with your subjects and make for a handy sales push.
• Communication Profiles send emails to your customers based on certain triggers, such as the coupon deadline. For example, if your coupon expires in a few days, your customers will be notified, driving them to your shop. 

Please note: Coupons will only apply to a single access code at a time. If a customer has multiple access codes (i.e. a parent shopping for multiple children), they will need to place a separate order for each subject's photos in order to use the coupon for the full purchase amount.

Creating a Coupon

Coupons can be created from the photo job settings page under the Important Events section:

1. Coupon: Tick this box to enable the coupon.
2. Deadline: Set your coupon expiration date here. This date will be used to send out reminders via your communication profile, as well as display an incentivizing countdown within your shop. We recommend choosing a Sunday (as many customers place orders over the weekend), and giving your customers 2 weeks to use the coupon.
3. Coupon discount: Select whether you would like to use a monetary value or percentual value coupon. A monetary value lets you control the precise discount amount, while a percentual value can seem to hold better value for customers. A good rule for deciding which discount will work best is the Rule of 100: If the expected average purchase amount is less than $/£100 before the discount is applied, a percentual discount will seem larger. Please note, the highest possible procentual value is 50%.
4. Only one use per access: Ticking this box will only apply the coupon to the first purchase made via any specific access code. Consider leaving this unchecked to accommodate families with separated parents, etc.
5. Discount level: Here is where you will enter the monetary value or percentage for your discount. You can also set a minimum order value (recommended). 
6. Offer free postage to your customers: Ticking this box will include the offer of free shipping on your QR cards. We recommend enabling this when offering batch shipping.
7. Add discount level: Click this option to include additional tiers to your coupon. This allows customers to receive a discount that grows exponentially the more money they spend, incentivizing them to spend more on their orders. You want to make sure that the different tiers are of value to your customers, as well as affordable for you.
   In the following example, a photographer has four product packages with the following prices: $30, $45, $65, and $95. See the table below for a breakdown of suggested discount values and percentages:
   
   

   	Tier 1			Tier 2			Tier 3
   	Smallest Discount			Medium Discount			Largest Discount
   Minimum order value should be:	Between your least expensive package ($30) and your second least expensive package ($45)			Between your second least expensive package ($45) and your third least expensive package ($65)			Between your third least expensive package ($65) and your most expensive package ($95)
   Suggested minimum order value:	$35			$55			$80
   	Monetary Discount	Percentual Discount		Monetary Discount	Percentual Discount		Monetary Discount	Percentual Discount
   Basket Total:	$45	$45		$65	$65		$95	$95
   Discount:	$5	5% (=$2.25)		$10	10% (=$6.5)		$15	%15 (=$14.25)
   Total After Discount:	$40	$42.75		$55	$58.5		$80	$80.75

   Click here to learn more about strategizing your product packages.

The Takeaway

Boost your sales by leveraging coupons to create urgency and offer exciting discounts to your customers. Use strategic expiration dates, personalized communication, and promotion on your QR cards to enhance customer engagement and increase shop visits.