Do you want to increase your sales and profits? I know that’s a no-brainer question, but are you doing anything to promote your sales? Having a great product is a start, but you have to sell it to be successful!
Discount codes and sales are a popular way to help someone go from a “maybe later” to “buy now!”
Marketing your business with discounts can really help you increase and track your sales. Offering discounts is an important part of a marketing strategy just like advertising, or posting on your blog about your new items. It’s one more way to entice them to buy right now.
20 Ways to Promote Your Shop with Discounts and Sales
-
Offer a discount on your customer’s next order by using your “note to buyer” section. Repeat customers rule!
-
Use business card with discount codes to hand out or hang on bulletin boards.
-
Promote your products on Craig’s List with a special discount code. Then you can track where the order came from.
-
Have stickers made with promotional codes and use them when you mail out an order.
-
Send out discount codes and sale information on Twitter.
-
Start a mailing list and send out specials and discounts.
-
Group promotions by Etsy Teams are an easy way to join together and promote a discount.
-
Seasonal sales could nudge your customer to buy now.
-
Free shipping might encourage that impulse buy.
-
Introduce a new item with an introductory price or limited time offer.
-
Encourage additional purchases with specials like “Buy One Get One Half Price.”
-
Support volume purchases with wholesale discounts.
-
Give a gift with purchase of a certain amount or item. Everyone loves a little something extra!
-
Spread the word of your discount on Etsy forums or blogs.
-
Reward your best customers with special discounts just for them.
-
Change your avatar to promote your sale.
-
Post a notice in your shop announcement.
-
Add SALE to your listing’s title and to your tags.
-
Start a Newsletter to send out discounts and new product information.
-
Talk, talk, talk! Tell people about your products and give them a special “friend code” to use on their first purchase.
Raegun’s has a mailing list and sends out secret discount codes, promos, and more! If you follow her on Twitter you receive weekly discount codes.
Tips on How to Apply a Discount
Right now I have a special at Flashy Fish with free shipping. I refund the shipping charges through Paypal when I mail out my customer’s order. I have the details listed in my shop information so there isn’t any confusion. If I am working with a custom order I remove the shipping charges before I list their order.
Sending a Revised Invoice
I am by no means an expert on this, but here’s enough to get you started on the right path.
If you want to be able to offer your buyer a discount code and use revised invoices, you might need to include instructions on how the customer should complete the payment process.
- They add an item to their cart from your shop and start the check out process.
- Then, they enter the code in the “notes to seller” area and the email address where the revised invoice should be sent.
- They complete the order, but they do not continue on to Paypal to pay.
- You sign into Paypal and click on the option to request money. Enter your buyer’s email address with the updated total and send the request.
- Once they receive your revised invoice they can follow the link to complete the payment process.
Repeat buyers are the best way to keep your sales moving up every month. If you find a few new long-term customers through a discount or special, it’s worth every penny.
How do you use discounts in your shop?
~Kim
Other posts you might be interested in for your Etsy business…
I just started a Free Shipping and a Buy 2 get one free in my shop today!!
SoBella Creations’s last blog post..Free Shipping
NOTE: as a buyer- free shipping gets me every time!! I always have sticker shock when I have to then add shipping to a price. I rtotally love when the price I SEE is the total price. Even if it was the same amount. Do you know what I mean? I think it’s pyschological…
gina’s last blog post..i won a prize!
thanks so much for the mention, quick correction on the raegun one though, there aren’t weekly discounts on my twitter but I do do discounts through my mailing list
Marissa’s last blog post..Retro Rufflers: Finally in Stock
These are great tips! I’ll be linking.
I have been wondering about how to do something like this. Thanks for the great info, as always!
Debbie’s last blog post..Please take a moment to check out this great Etsy shop – Sam’s Stuff
What a wonderful post! Such practical ideas here! I found the “Sending a Revised Invoice” details particularly helpful. I shared this on Twitter!
Julie – On the Dot Creations’s last blog post..More Tips for Sponsoring a Blog Giveaway
Great information. I’m so new to Etsy and love every tip I can find! Thanks!!! k
http://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/
Great advice! I have been looking for ways to boost sales and these tips have great! Thanks so much!
Thanks for this great site. Just visited for the first time and will be back.!
Thank you so much for posting this! (found you by Googling “how to give a discount on Etsy!) I have a new Etsy shop and was frustrated because obviously I can’t really buy my own stuff just to experience the process! Thanks for laying out the discount process so simply!
Hi there! I found you just like Kristina and I had to say thanks! I could not figure out for the life of me how to offer a voucher, and your post made my afternoon just a bit easier! Thanks!
I use Twitter to promote sales and want to start a mailing list. I am also running a BOGO End of Summer Sale on selected items
.-= Susan McCarthy´s last blog ..Autumn Turquoise Leaves Cupcake Wrappers and Flags =-.
Sale in the tags?! I knew I was forgetting something! Thanks! This is just what I needed!!
Thanks! I need to save this!! lol
Take care!
Chari
http://www.chariT.etsy.com
Thanks for the great posting! Some friends have been asking if I will offer gift certificates and I was wondering how I would process the sale through Etsy. I imagine this process would work fine, right?
Wooow! I love all your suggestions! I did list my shop on Craigslist, but I didn’t think about including a special code (duhh!) For September, I had a 20% off special for anyone who followed my new blog (http://niecynotes.blogspot.com). I’m thinking of having a new discount every month, especially when the big shopping season hits.
Great tips! I’ll definitely be trying out some of these in the future!
Very thoughtful post with lots to think about. I am trying out a BOGO sale right now and it has led to an increase of sales.
Lisa
Great resource. Thanks so much for sharing! I will definitely try some of these!! 🙂
Thanks for the tips. I have a great unique product I just have to get it out to those interested in jewelry that tells a story!
Very helpful to a very lost newbie at etsy! Thanks
WOW I really liked it, great post! Will try to follow everything, I have discussed many ways in the past but need to try these ones as well. Thank you!