How to Design Effective Coupons
Keep the language simple and use minimum text:
In your copy, specify:
- Product highlights
- Deals
- Audiences targeted (e.g., families, couples, school children, pregnant women, etc.)
- Time-frames for offers
Keep the message concise and to the point, removing words that aren’t needed. As Kelly explained in her blog post Do-It-Yourself Marketing for Small Businesses is Risky Business, it takes special skill and practice to use only a few words to communicate. So getting the help of experts is a good idea.
Avoid clutter:
Coupon designs with white space attract more views as customers interpret them as premium offers. If they have too much text and loud images, it is the visual equivalent of being in a room where everybody is shouting. Present a clean look by following some simple rules:
- Use bullet points instead of lengthy sentences
- Consider white backgrounds so visuals stand out
- Choose fonts that are clear and easy to read
- Stick with a maximum of two or three font styles
- Balance the text and images by giving equal margins on the sides
- Do not highlight or underline text unnecessarily
- Pick colors that complement your logo colors
Add a sense of urgency in customers’ minds:
Coupons with expiration dates immediately get people thinking more seriously about how much they want your products for two reasons:
1. If they plan to buy, they want the best possible price—this works especially well for products with very little quality differentiation like groceries.
2. Products might be sold out if they wait too long—which is effective for big-ticket deals like spa treatments, travel discounts and so on.
This coupon by Dominos makes an irresistible offer for a Friday night hang-out with friends.
Time-sensitive coupons drive sales within specified time-frames. They also help in tracking responses generated by each promotion, interpreting their effectiveness.
