From you get one and the second you get it for free, at 50% off, there are different types of offers and millets discount code that buyers go crazy for. But what types of offers are best for your business?
In this guide, you can find out which promotions are right for you and your business in order to attract new customers.
What are sales promotions and why offer them?
Sales promotions is an umbrella term that describes the situation where a seller offers their products or services at a lower cost – as a free sample or something additional (extra). Promotions usually last for a limited time and are effective for promoting the brand regardless of whether you are a vendor or a restaurant.
A brief history of sales promotions
In the late 1800s, a relatively unknown beverage brand began issuing coupons that allowed people to get a free glass of drink. By 1913 it had already offered 8 million free drinks. That brand was Coca-Cola and we know how it ended 1 .
Benefits of sales promotions in the digital age.
The rise of the Internet in the 2000s made paper coupons (such as those created by Coca-Cola in the early 20th century) superfluous. Today, thanks to smartphones and social media marketing, we are in the golden age of digital sales promotions.
Small businesses should consider using it because it allows you to:
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- Promote the digital brand. Once upon a time promotions meant expensive billboards. Today, your social channels and sites with offers like Groupon are your digital billboards.
- Easily reach customers. Digital advertising platforms make it easier to achieve the goal of your offers. Promote specific ads for certain demographics and customer types.
- Monitor campaigns. Through detailed analysis and advertising technology you can monitor your promotions in real time and update your prices, products and promotional campaigns with ease.
- Show key products. Increase the knowledge of your products or services by offering them at a discounted price to present them to a new audience.
- Make customers happy. Offer customers the products they want at a price that will make them happy and gain their long-term loyalty.
- Challenge and win. Matching prices is a major headache for large retailers. If your small business has a chance to beat its rivals for the price on a product, why not give it a try?
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Sales promotion ideas and examples
There are tons of types of sales promotions that you can try. Below you can find our overview and evaluate the option that might work best for you and your business.
Discount percentages
Discount percentages are regularly used in online retail, thanks to the ability to add digital codes to payment carts. Common examples include student discounts and “10 extra discount” promotions, as well as time-limited seasonal discounts.
You take one and the second you get it for free
Get one and get the second for free is another popular type of offer. This kind of offer can be found in food stores, but also on items such as socks and underwear in clothing stores, or even for various treatments in beauty salons.
Multi-Purchases
Like the previous offer, the many-purchases offer discounts when a customer purchases more than one product. It is applied for food and drinks but also for essential daily purchases such as deodorant, toothpaste and jogging pants.
Free shipping
Amazon Prime allowed free next day shipping for a small monthly fee. While you’re unlikely to implement free shipping as standard, with cleverly promoted discount codes, you can make free shipping an advantage over a competitor charging for delivery.
Free samples
Coca-Cola has made its brand one of the most famous in the world thanks to a campaign of free samples from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. If your products are good but people don’t know your brand, maybe try offering them some free samples.
Cashback promotions
Cashback promotions offer your customers a profit when they pay full price. It has become prominent among the major brands in recent years. It works by rewarding the customer with a part of the payment, after he has made the purchase at full price.
Flash promotions
A flash sale in an online store can offer huge discounts or promotions for a short time. Some important periods taken from the calendar: Christmas, spring, summer, back to school, Black Friday. Bring energy to your business and gain a competitive edge over the competition with easy-to-execute lightning-fast sales.
Voucher e Coupon
Paper coupons dominated 20th century promotions. But their digital relatives have blossomed, too, in the smartphone world. With Groupon Merchant , you can market your vouchers and coupons directly into the inboxes of millions of people looking for these types of offers.
Loyalty cards
All large retailers offer loyalty programs. Because? Because customers love getting rewards for sticking with you. For 50% of people, earning rewards on purchases is the main reason they join a loyalty program 2 . Why not consider implementing a similar project for your small business?
Social Media Giveaways
In commercial parlance, the key word is “free”. Grab attention, whether it’s on an advertising poster or on your Facebook page. Additionally, social media giveaways have been helping businesses gain new customers since the early 2010s 3 .
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Top Promotions Sales Tips
- Set deadlines. Make sure your customer knows that if they want an offer, now is the right time. Set deadlines on offers and show a countdown to their expiration by reminding customers via social media posts
- Follow the seasons. Focus your promotions based on seasons and calendar events. For example, everyone knows about a Black Friday, Back to School or Valentine’s Day promotion .
- Choose your battle. Modern marketing calendars are filled with awareness days. Create promotions that are more relevant to your business. For example, National Cookie Day is a great day to celebrate your pastry shop.
- Double offers. If everyone loves doing business, they’ll go crazy for a double deal. Go on the attack with combined promotions. For example, if you are getting 15% off why not add free shipping as well?
- Set a solid foundation. Your promotional periods are critical to your business. Make sure you get them correctly by advertising your offers on a trusted platform like Groupon’s marketplace.
