Here I am in the Sunday, Des Moines Register today 10/30/11 with my 5 Things article about creating a great coupon deal! Here’s the article:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111030/BUSINESS/310300029/Five-things-you-should-know-to-create-a-lucrative-coupon-deal
And here’s the text:
1 Make the offer stand out.
Consumers see coupons everywhere these days. Ten, 15, even 20 percent isn’t as enticing as it once was. Your deal has to have value for customers, enough for them to try something new, travel out of their way or take a chance. If the coupon isn’t worth my time to cut out, I’m not going to use it.
2 Grab their attention and state your intention.
The headline should be attention-grabbing: Free, save $25, or buy one and get one. Tell customers exactly what the deal entails and how they benefit. Make clear what product you are promoting. Some coupons I use don’t have specific size restrictions, so couponers use these on travel or trial sizes to get the items for free – be as detailed and specific as you can when describing the product or service the coupon is for.
3 Keep the expiration date timely.
Give customers enough time to get the item, but not so much that they put the purchase off and eventually don’t use the coupon. Shorter expiration dates also promote urgency; they tell consumers that these are special deals.
4 Take advantage of social media.
You’ve gone to the trouble of creating a coupon, so show it off! The goal is to generate traffic and sales in your store, so make sure everyone knows the deal is available. Online coupons make up about half of my coupons. I “Like” companies on Facebook, and then receive notifications when new coupons are offered. Many companies are also offering coupons on Twitter and their websites for customers to print at home.
5 Change it up.
If you’ve taken these steps but haven’t seen any changes, don’t be afraid to change it up! Alter the wording, discount, or pick a different product. Sometimes a $1-off coupon can be more enticing than “buy one, get one half off.” Make sure your deal is perceived as having value.
Thanks so much for reading and be sure to join my facebook group- Iowa Couponing for more deals, tips and coupon class information!
