Creating effective discount codes can transform your online selling strategy. Here's everything you need to know to design promotions that drive real results!
Why discounts matter for your business
- Drive more sales: Encourage hesitant shoppers to complete purchases
- Increase order value: Watch your average cart size grow with strategic minimums
- Attract new customers: Give first-time buyers that extra push to try your products
- Build loyalty: Keep shoppers coming back with special offers they'll love
Let’s walk through how to set up discounts in your admin — and how to use them strategically to grow your business.
Heads up! Diamond sellers get access to advanced discount options like automatic discounts and multi-category targeting.
1. Go to Your Discounts Area
- From your admin, click Marketing > Discounts.
- Click Add a Discount to start creating a new offer.
2. Set Up the Basics
- Discount code: Create your own memorable code, or click Generate random code for a quick option.
- Description: Add a short description — this will appear during checkout to customers.
- Note to self: (Optional) Add internal notes only you will see.
You can also check Apply this discount automatically at checkout if you want it to apply without the customer needing to enter a code (Diamond plan users only).
Pro Tip: Automatic discounts eliminate the friction that leads to abandoned carts — a proven conversion booster!
3. Choose When the Discount Applies
Under When a customer..., pick the right trigger for your goal:
- Orders anything: Apply to all purchases without requirements — perfect for storewide sales or product launches.
- Spends a minimum amount: Encourage higher spending by setting a minimum cart value.
- Orders a minimum number of items: Great for inventory clearances and bundle promotions.
Pro Tip: Setting a spending threshold or minimum item number is an easy way to grow your average order size.
4. Select the Type of Discount
Under Give them..., decide what kind of incentive you'd like to offer:
- Free shipping: One of the best ways to reduce cart abandonment. Domestic only: Keep international shipping costs under control. International only: Attract more global customers. Anywhere (default): Appeals to your entire audience.
- Percentage discount: Offer a % off — ideal for seasonal sales or sitewide promotions.
- Set amount off per order: Offer a flat discount applied to the full cart value — simple and clear for customers.
- Set amount off per item: Discount each eligible item — great for encouraging customers to add multiple products.
Pro Tip: Offering free shipping or a flat dollar amount can often drive quicker purchase decisions than percentages, especially for smaller carts.
5. Decide What Gets Discounted
Under On..., you’ll choose where the discount applies:
- Entire order: Apply the discount storewide — easy to promote and understand.
- Specific category: Focus your offer on select product categories (Diamond sellers can select multiple categories).
- Specific product: Highlight individual items, ideal for product launches or clearing stock (Diamond sellers can select multiple products).
6. Set the Timing
Choose when your discount should start and expire:
- Starting: Now On a scheduled date
- Expiring: Never On a specific date After a set number of uses
7. Configure Additional Settings
- Limit to one per email address: Prevent repeat use by the same customer — useful for first-time buyer promotions.
- Apply free shipping to the entire order: Combine product discounts with free shipping to create an even more irresistible offer.
8. Save Your Discount
Once you're happy with your settings, click Save discount at the bottom.
Diamond discounts: work smarter, not harder
Invest in tools that deliver real results. Diamond plan's advanced discount features pay for themselves by significantly boosting conversion rates, increasing average order sizes, and building customer loyalty.
Automatic discounts eliminate the friction that leads to abandoned carts, multi-targeting capabilities let you create sophisticated campaigns with minimal effort, and combining discounts with free shipping creates irresistible incentives that drive immediate sales. It's not just an upgrade - it's a strategic investment in your store's growth!
Remember that only one discount can be applied per transaction. For orders eligible for multiple automatic discounts, the system applies the one providing the greatest value to your customer.
Ready to boost your sales with strategic discounts? Start creating your first promotion today!
Steps
- Log in at app.bigcartel.com. Click Marketing > Discounts.
- Click Add a discount.
- Create a discount code (or generate a random one) and add a description for customers to see at checkout.
- Choose when the discount applies in the When a customer... section: Orders anything, Spends a minimum amount, or Orders a minimum number of items.
- Select the discount type in the Give them... section: Free shipping, A percentage discount, A set amount off per order or, A set amount off per item.
- Decide where it applies: On the entire order ,On a specific category, or On a specific product.
- Set the start date (now or a scheduled date) and expiration settings (never, specific date, or number of uses).
- Configure any additional options: Limit one use per email address, Apply free shipping to the entire order (optional).
- Save your discount.
Start promoting! Add it to your shop banner, include it in your newsletter, or share it with your social media followers.