Many companies offer promo codes as a part of their marketing efforts. Their goal is to get you spending money at their store by offering you an incentive: savings. Promo codes are a way for businesses to increase their bottom line while appealing to returning and new customers, creating a win-win situation for all.
But if they’re valuable to both parties, why is there so much skepticism around them? Several factors contribute to this, like the worry that finding them takes more time than they’re worth and that many people have been burned in the past trying to use codes that simply did not work.
These concerns are reminiscent of people’s attitudes towards using physical coupons. And just like with coupons, finding them may take some time, but they will help you save money and stay on budget.
How can you make the most of promo codes while mitigating how much time you spend finding them and avoiding disappointment at the checkout? You can do this by following the tips we share below.
Check the Rules and Conditions
To avoid getting all the way to the checkout process only to find out a code isn’t going to work, take a minute to review the promo code conditions before shopping. Doing this will tell you ahead of time if the items you’re considering qualify for the discount code, whether you can combine the code with another code or on-going sale, and if there’s a deadline for using it.
Sign Up for Emails
When you plan on buying from a store online, signing up for their email updates can be a great way to get a welcome promo code to use for your first order. If it’s a store you like shopping at, this is also a great way to keep track of deals and offers as they become available. Also, consider checking if the stores you frequent in person allow you to shop online; if they do, they likely have promo codes or email offers you can take advantage of, too.
To avoid overwhelming your email inbox with marketing emails, set up an email dedicated to promo codes or deal hunting. This way, you can check in on offers when you want them without feeling bombarded or annoyed by all the messages.
Sign Up for Loyalty Programs
In the same way that signing up for email notifications gets you extra promo codes, so does signing up for loyalty programs. Many stores offer them free of charge, and you can rack up points for future purchases and get exclusive promo codes in the process.
Fill Your Online Cart
When you fill your online cart but don’t check out, or in other words, abandon your cart, many stores will send out extra incentives to get you to complete the checkout process. In many cases, if you’re registered with the store, they’ll send you an email with another promo code to apply to your cart.
Sometimes, depending on your browsing settings, you might notice ads with deals being shown to you for items you added to your cart, or even for products you simply searched for online or at a specific store. While this can be unnerving, you can at least use it to your advantage by saving on something you already wanted.
Follow Brands on Social Media
When there are certain stores or brands you love shopping from, following them on social media can be another great way to find new promo codes. Sometimes special offers are made to followers, but even if they aren’t, it’s another platform where you can keep an eye out for deals.
Use Promo Code Websites
The popularity of using promo codes has led to entire websites dedicated to hunting them down and sharing them. Experienced promo code collectors recommend sites like RetailMeNot, DontPayFull, CouponCabin, and Slickdeals. These sites allow you to find codes for specific stores or categories of products and can save you a lot of time.
Use a Coupon Browser Extension
In addition to promo code websites that allow you to search through codes online, there are also browser extensions that can further streamline this process. They’ll do all the work of searching online and applying the codes that will give you the most savings when you get to the checkout. Of these extensions, two of the most popular are Honey and Capital One Shopping.
Use a Coupon Code App
If you’re the type of person who does most of their online shopping using your phone, you’ll likely prefer an app to a website or browser extension. Unsurprisingly, many of the sites mentioned here are also available as mobile apps that will save you money while shopping online and create opportunities to save in person, too.
Browse Flyers
Flyers, both physical and digital, are great places to find codes you can use online. Before buying your groceries or perusing your favorite department store online, take a few minutes to search through their flyer for what can sometimes be excellent deals.
Look for Codes Anywhere You Spend Money Online
Promo codes are offered in more than just online stores. Promo codes can be used for a range of digital products and offers, including website subscriptions or even playing at online casinos, so keep an eye out for verified promo codes anywhere you’re considering spending money.
Final Thoughts
Collecting promo codes is the coupon clipping of online shopping; with a bit of time, it can save you a lot of money and bring you the satisfaction of getting more for less. Now, who wouldn’t want that?
