A coupon is the simplest reason to come back. The problem with most coupons is everything that happens after you send them. Paper gets left at home, email offers get buried, and when a promotion works you often can't tell which one it was or where it worked.

Text message coupons fix both. They live on the customer's phone, one tap from the register, and every redemption is tracked. Here's how to use them well.

What a text message coupon is

A mobile coupon is a digital offer sent by text. The customer opens a link to a coupon branded with your logo and colors, then redeems it in person or online:

  • In person: staff scan a barcode or QR code, or enter the code.
  • Online: a redemption link opens your store or booking page with the offer applied.

Customers can also save the coupon to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, so it's there when they walk in, with a reminder when they're nearby.

Why they work better than paper or email

  • They're always on hand. Nobody forgets their phone at home.
  • They're easy to redeem. No clipping, printing or searching an inbox at the counter.
  • They're measurable. You see views, clicks and redemptions for every coupon, broken out by location.
  • They're controllable. You decide how many times a coupon can be used and when it expires.

Five coupon campaigns that bring people back

1. The welcome offer

Attach a coupon to the welcome message new subscribers get when they join. It rewards them for signing up and gives them a reason to make the next visit soon.

2. The birthday reward

An automated birthday coupon is one of the most appreciated messages a business can send. Give it a generous window, since not everyone celebrates on the day.

3. The slow-night filler

Every location has quiet times. A coupon valid only on Tuesday nights or mid-afternoon fills those hours without discounting your busy ones.

4. The win-back

Customers who haven't been in for 60 or 90 days often just need a nudge. A "we miss you" coupon sent to a segment of lapsed customers brings back regulars who drifted away.

5. The location launch

Opening a new location? Send an opening offer only to subscribers near it, and watch redemptions to see whether the launch is drawing new customers or pulling them from an existing location.

Use the data, not just the discount

The real value of a mobile coupon for a multi-location business is what it tells you afterward:

  • Which offer drove the most redemptions, and at which location
  • Whether a promotion brought new customers in or just discounted regulars who were coming anyway
  • Which locations respond to which kinds of offers

Run the same offer across locations, compare the results, and keep the offers that earn their place. Over a few months, you'll stop guessing what to promote.

A few tips

  • Keep the offer simple. "$5 off any entrée" beats a coupon with three conditions.
  • Set a real expiration date. A clear deadline gives people a reason to act, and an honest one keeps your next offer believable.
  • Limit the redemptions for high-value offers so a coupon can't be shared endlessly.
  • Follow up automatically. Send a thank-you or next offer when someone redeems, while interest is high.
  • Don't discount everything. Coupons work best as a tool for specific goals, not a weekly habit customers learn to wait for.

Get started

Mobiniti's mobile coupons are fully customizable, work with barcodes, QR codes and redemption links, save to mobile wallets and report redemptions by location. They're included in the Marketing Suite. See how mobile coupons work, or book a demo to build your first one.