Be Local NC embraces entrepreneurial enterprises in our community, providing an invaluable support to the unique and inspiring industries created locally. We are proud to be members of Be Local NC, which nurtures our own belief in the communion between audience and artist.

Online Coupons: Tips

Creating Effective Online Coupons 

There is an art to creating effective coupons…

•  If you use social media, you should be promoting your coupon and the online coupon book (i.e. landing page for Be Local Online Coupons).  Different venues for social media are Facebook, Twitter, Newsletters, etc. The more traffic we can all bring to the site, the more we will all thrive!

*You can “push” your coupons instantly to Facebook & Twitter! Promotion made easy…and free!

* Here is an example of how to promote your coupon:

Check out our coupon for [10% OFF, etc.]!  Click here [URL for your coupon*] for our coupon. And check out the other great local coupons here [BeLocalNC.org/Online-Coupon-Book].

*NOTE:
The way you get that URL is:
1) Go (as a customer would) to the Be Local Coupon Book landing page: www.BeLocalNC.org/online-coupon-book (reachable from the homepage and nav bar).
2) Find your coupon and Add to Basket (done by clicking on the red basket icon).
3) Click on your coupon name on the right side (it will be in your Favorites Basket now).
4) Only your coupon should show up now.  Copy the URL at the top of your browser and             hyperlink it to the word “here” (or whatever other word you like) in your promoting    phrase (as shown above).

** Online Coupons increase new site traffic and repeat visits, encourage more robust registration, increase email opt-ins and build customer profiles.

** It’s important to market your online coupons through multiple avenues: Email marketing (to current email lists), group advertising (via Be Local in the Coloradoan, NCBR, & The Collegian), Updating your News/Events/Specials section of your Be Local member profile, social media, etc. 

•  Discounts like “buy one get one for $5 off” encourage additional purchases while offers like “10% off total purchase” will often entice customers to buy in greater volume.

•  When you are creating your offers, remember to offer a variety of coupons at the same time that together will include everyone

1. Get new business from new customers.

 - Coupons can help to introduce and establish new customers who are then likely to become repeat customers.

            2. Build Customer Loyalty for returning customers

- Get established customers coming into the store more frequently.

- Offer deals for customers when they return, e.g. 20% off of your next visit (auto                           repair), up to $30

3. Offer a really big deal – one that is seasonal, one of a kind, or a new product/service

•  Coupons need to have value to get customers into the door.

$1 OFF is not enough of an incentive for customers to make a purchase, especially one unplanned.

•  How do we deal with customers print/using our coupons many times?

- Set shorter expiration dates

- Make stipulations specific, e.g. For first-time customers only

- Set coupon for a specific date

- Change offers frequently

•  This is what your coupons will look like:

Questions?  Contact Emma Smaldino, Business Network Coordinator:

 Emma@BeLocalNC.org

970.219.3382 (O)

516.353.2092 (C)