How to Boost WooCommerce Sales with a Mailchimp Signup Discount: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction:
In the competitive world of e-commerce, attracting new customers and building a strong email list are crucial for long-term success. Combining the power of WooCommerce and Mailchimp can be a game-changer. Offering a discount code in exchange for a Mailchimp signup is a proven strategy to incentivize visitors to subscribe, expand your marketing reach, and drive more sales to your online store. This article will guide you through the process of setting up a WooCommerce discount triggered by a Mailchimp signup, helping you convert website visitors into loyal customers.
Why Offer a Mailchimp Signup Discount?
Before diving into the “how-to,” let’s quickly recap the benefits of offering a discount for Mailchimp signup:
* Increased Email List Size: Grow your email list with targeted leads genuinely interested in your products or services.
* Improved Customer Acquisition: Transform casual website visitors into potential customers.
* Higher Conversion Rates: Discounts act as a powerful incentive, encouraging immediate purchases.
* Targeted Marketing Opportunities: Segmented email lists allow for personalized marketing campaigns, increasing engagement and sales.
* Boost Customer Loyalty: Show appreciation to new subscribers and create a positive first impression.
Setting Up a WooCommerce Discount for Mailchimp Sign Up
There are several ways to implement this strategy, ranging from plugins to custom code solutions. This guide will focus on using a popular and reliable plugin for ease of implementation.
Step 1: Choose a Plugin (Highly Recommended)
Using a plugin simplifies the process significantly. Many plugins offer seamless integration between WooCommerce and Mailchimp, specifically designed for this purpose. A popular option is “Mailchimp for WooCommerce”, which is a free plugin in the WordPress repository.
* Install and Activate the Plugin: Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for “Mailchimp for WooCommerce,” install, and activate it.
Step 2: Connect Mailchimp to WooCommerce
After activation, you need to connect your Mailchimp account to your WooCommerce store.
1. Navigate to the Plugin Settings: In your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce > Mailchimp.
2. Connect Your Account: Click the “Connect” button and follow the on-screen instructions to authorize the plugin to access your Mailchimp account. You might need to log in to your Mailchimp account during this process.
3. Select Your Audience: Choose the Mailchimp audience (list) where you want to add new subscribers who sign up through your WooCommerce store.
Step 3: Configure the Signup Form
Next, configure how the signup form will appear on your website. The “Mailchimp for WooCommerce” plugin typically provides options to:
* Embed the signup form on the checkout page.
* Use a popup form.
* Embed a form on specific pages using a shortcode.
Choose the option that best suits your website design and user experience. Customize the form’s appearance, including text, colors, and fields, to match your branding.
Step 4: Create a Discount Code in WooCommerce
Now, create a discount code in WooCommerce that will be automatically sent to new Mailchimp subscribers.
1. Go to WooCommerce > Coupons > Add Coupon.
2. Generate a Coupon Code: Create a unique coupon code (e.g., WELCOME10, NEWSUBSCRIBER).
3. Configure Coupon Settings:
* Discount Type: Choose the type of discount (e.g., percentage discount, fixed cart discount).
* Coupon Amount: Set the discount amount (e.g., 10 for a 10% discount).
* Usage Restriction: You might want to restrict the coupon to specific products or categories.
* Usage Limits: Optionally set a limit on the number of times the coupon can be used.
* Expiry Date: Set an expiry date to encourage immediate usage.
4. Publish the Coupon.
Step 5: Link the Coupon Code to Mailchimp Automation
This is the crucial step: automatically delivering the coupon code to new Mailchimp subscribers. You will need to set up an automated email series in Mailchimp.
1. Go to your Mailchimp account.
2. Create an Automation: Navigate to Automations > Classic Automations > Welcome New Subscribers.
3. Choose your audience. Select the same Mailchimp audience you connected to the WooCommerce plugin.
4. Design the Welcome Email: Craft a welcome email that includes the discount code you created in WooCommerce. Make the discount code prominent in the email.
5. Add the Coupon Code: Include the coupon code (e.g., WELCOME10) in the email body, along with instructions on how to use it. For example: “Thank you for subscribing! Use code WELCOME10 at checkout for 10% off your first order.”
6. Review and Start the Automation: Double-check your automation settings and click “Start Sending” to activate it.
Example Mailchimp Automation Email:
Subject: Welcome to [Your Store Name]! Get 10% Off!
Body:
Hi [Subscriber Name],
Welcome to [Your Store Name]! We’re excited to have you as part of our community.
As a thank you for subscribing, we’d like to offer you a special discount. Use the code WELCOME10 at checkout to get 10% off your first order.
Shop now: [Link to your store]
This offer is valid for [Duration].
Thanks again,
The [Your Store Name] Team
Alternative: Custom Code (For Advanced Users)
If you prefer a more customized solution, you can use custom code to achieve this. This involves using WooCommerce and Mailchimp APIs, which is more complex and requires programming knowledge. This example shows how you would do it using webhooks.
1. WooCommerce Webhook: Set up a webhook to trigger when an order has been created.
// Add the webhook add_action( 'woocommerce_order_status_completed', 'send_coupon_on_new_order', 10, 1 );
function send_coupon_on_new_order( $order_id ) {
$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );
// Only send the coupon if the customer hasn’t already been sent a coupon
if (get_post_meta($order_id, ‘_coupon_sent’, true)) {
return;
}
// Get the customer’s email address
$email = $order->get_billing_email();
// Send the coupon code to MailChimp
$api_key = ‘YOUR_MAILCHIMP_API_KEY’;
$list_id = ‘YOUR_MAILCHIMP_LIST_ID’;
$coupon_code = ‘WELCOME10’;
$data = array(
’email_address’ => $email,
‘status’ => ‘subscribed’,
‘merge_fields’ => array(
‘COUPON’ => $coupon_code,
),
);
$data_center = substr($api_key,strpos($api_key,’-‘)+1);
$url = ‘https://’ . $data_center . ‘.api.mailchimp.com/3.0/lists/’ . $list_id . ‘/members/’ . md5(strtolower($email));
$ch = curl_init($url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, ‘apikey:’ . $api_key);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, array(‘Content-Type: application/json’));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_TIMEOUT, 10);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, ‘PUT’);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, false);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode($data));
$result = curl_exec($ch);
$httpCode = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
curl_close($ch);
// Mark the coupon as sent
update_post_meta($order_id, ‘_coupon_sent’, true);
}
Important: Replace `YOUR_MAILCHIMP_API_KEY` and `YOUR_MAILCHIMP_LIST_ID` with your actual credentials.
2. Mailchimp Merge Field: Create a merge field in your Mailchimp audience to store the coupon code. You can then use this merge field in your Mailchimp welcome email to dynamically display the coupon.
Caveats of Custom Code:
* Requires programming skills.
* Requires more maintenance.
* May be more prone to errors.
Cons of Mailchimp Signup Discount Strategy
While effective, offering a Mailchimp signup discount also has potential drawbacks:
* Potential for Abuse: Some users might sign up with fake emails solely for the discount. Implement measures like double opt-in to mitigate this.
* Reduced Profit Margins: Discounts can decrease your profit margins, especially if they’re too generous. Carefully calculate the discount amount to maintain profitability.
* Devaluation of Products: Overusing discounts can devalue your products in the eyes of customers. Use them strategically and sparingly.
* Increased workload: Sending new coupon codes on new orders can add to the workload of a site admin
Conclusion:
Offering a WooCommerce discount for Mailchimp signup is a powerful marketing strategy to grow your email list, attract new customers, and boost sales. Using plugins like “Mailchimp for WooCommerce” makes the setup process relatively easy and accessible. Remember to test your setup thoroughly, track your results, and adjust your strategy as needed to maximize its effectiveness. Focus on creating a compelling offer, delivering a positive user experience, and nurturing your email list to achieve long-term success.
