If you are on Groupon or other “couponing” sites, you get an offer almost every day for a 50% off deal. Are your customers going to start expecting that every business has a deal? Think about what kind of 50% offer fits your business.
But, how much off is too much off. I saw a golf swing offer that was 72% off. A personal training offer that was 92% off. With discounts that high, how real can “list” pricing really be? As long as offers can be referenced against a menu or price list, discounts will work. But sometimes with personal services, it can get silly.
If you are considering an on line coupon, think about how it fits your marketing strategy. Who do you want to attract? What will you do with them, once they have redeemed the offer? Will you really attract new customers, or are you just giving a discount to current customers? How can you condition the offer keep your business in control?
If you are not sure if you should do the deal, run some numbers. What will happen if you sell more “coupons” than you expect? Can you afford it? If you have concerns, think twice.
