How to Set Up a Coupon Code in WooCommerce 2018 (A Step-by-Step Guide)
Introduction:
In the competitive world of e-commerce, attracting and retaining customers is crucial. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by offering discounts through coupon codes. WooCommerce, a popular WordPress plugin for building online stores, makes creating and managing coupon codes straightforward. While this article is focused on the 2018 version, the core principles remain largely the same even in newer versions. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a coupon code in WooCommerce 2018, ensuring you can easily offer discounts and boost your sales. Understanding the setup process from this era provides a solid foundation, even if you are currently working with a more modern WooCommerce installation. Let’s dive in!
Accessing the WooCommerce Coupons Section
First things first, you need to access the coupon management section within your WooCommerce dashboard.
1. Log in to your WordPress admin area.
2. In the left-hand menu, hover over “WooCommerce” and click on “Coupons”.
This will take you to the Coupons page, where you can view existing coupons, add new ones, and manage their settings.
Creating a New Coupon
Now, let’s create your first coupon code.
1. On the Coupons page, click the “Add Coupon” button. This will open the new coupon creation page.
2. You’ll be presented with several fields to configure your coupon:
* Coupon Code: This is the actual code customers will enter at checkout (e.g., “SAVE10”, “SUMMER2018”). WooCommerce can also generate a random coupon code for you if you prefer. Choose a memorable and relevant code for better customer recall.
* Description: This is an optional field where you can add a description for internal use. Customers won’t see this. Use this field to keep track of the coupon’s purpose.
Configuring Coupon Settings
This is where the magic happens. The “Coupon Data” meta box contains the core settings for your coupon.
#### General Tab
* Discount Type: This determines the type of discount applied:
* Percentage discount: Discounts a percentage of the total cart value (e.g., 10% off).
* Fixed cart discount: Discounts a fixed amount from the total cart value (e.g., $10 off).
* Fixed product discount: Discounts a fixed amount from specific products (e.g., $5 off each product X).
* Coupon amount: The value of the discount. For example, if you selected “Percentage discount” and entered “10”, the coupon would provide a 10% discount.
* Allow free shipping: Check this box to grant free shipping when the coupon is applied.
* Coupon expiry date: Set a date for when the coupon will expire. This is crucial for limited-time offers.
#### Usage Restriction Tab
This tab allows you to restrict how the coupon can be used.
* Minimum spend: The minimum cart value required to use the coupon.
* Maximum spend: The maximum cart value allowed to use the coupon.
* Individual use only: If checked, the coupon cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons. This prevents stacking discounts.
* Exclude sale items: If checked, the coupon will not apply to products already on sale.
* Products: Specific products to which the coupon applies. This is useful for targeted promotions.
* Exclude products: Specific products to which the coupon *does not* apply.
* Product categories: Specific product categories to which the coupon applies.
* Exclude categories: Specific product categories to which the coupon *does not* apply.
* Allowed emails: A list of email addresses allowed to use the coupon. This is useful for rewarding loyal customers or running private sales.
#### Usage Limits Tab
This tab controls how many times the coupon can be used.
* Usage limit per coupon: The total number of times the coupon can be used across all customers. Use this to control the overall budget for the coupon.
* Usage limit per user: The number of times a single customer can use the coupon. This prevents abuse.
Publishing Your Coupon
Once you’ve configured all the settings, click the “Publish” button to activate the coupon. Your customers can now use the coupon code at checkout!
Example Use Case
Let’s say you want to offer a 15% discount on all clothing items for a week to celebrate the summer. Here’s how you would configure the coupon:
* Coupon Code: SUMMERCLOTHING15
* Discount Type: Percentage discount
* Coupon amount: 15
* Coupon expiry date: (Set to a date one week from today)
* Product categories: (Select your “Clothing” category)
This will give customers a 15% discount on any item in the “Clothing” category when they use the code “SUMMERCLOTHING15” at checkout within the specified week.
Code Example: Programmatically Applying a Coupon (For Developers)
While most coupon setups are done through the admin interface, you might occasionally need to apply coupons programmatically. Here’s a basic example of how to do that (though keep in mind this example may need adjustment based on your specific WooCommerce setup):
<?php /**
- Example of applying a coupon programmatically.
- **IMPORTANT:** This is a basic example and may require adjustments for your specific needs. */
- This code snippet applies the coupon ‘SPECIALOFFER’ automatically to the cart.
- Remember to replace ‘SPECIALOFFER’ with the actual coupon code you’ve created in WooCommerce.
- This code includes checks to prevent the coupon from being applied multiple times.
- Use this code snippet with caution and thoroughly test it in a staging environment before implementing it on a live site.
- Modifying core WooCommerce functionality requires a good understanding of PHP and WooCommerce hooks. Consider hiring a developer if you’re not comfortable with code customization.
add_action( ‘woocommerce_before_calculate_totals’, ‘apply_coupon_programmatically’ );
function apply_coupon_programmatically( $cart_object ) {
if ( is_admin() && ! defined( ‘DOING_AJAX’ ) )
return;
if ( did_action( ‘woocommerce_before_calculate_totals’ ) >= 2 )
return;
$coupon_code = ‘SPECIALOFFER’; // Replace with your coupon code
if ( WC()->session->get( ‘coupon_applied’ ) != true ) {
WC()->cart->apply_coupon( $coupon_code );
WC()->session->set( ‘coupon_applied’, true );
}
}
?>
Important notes about the code:
Conclusion:
Setting up coupon codes in WooCommerce 2018 is a powerful way to boost sales and engage customers. By understanding the various settings and options available, you can create targeted promotions that drive results. Remember to carefully plan your coupon strategy, track performance, and adjust your approach as needed. While the WooCommerce interface may have evolved since 2018, the fundamental principles of coupon management remain relevant. Happy selling!
