Promo codes are a valuable tool in modern marketing strategies, enabling businesses to offer unique discounts and incentives to their customers. In this article, we’ll delve into the concept of promo codes and explore how they function within the context of Altegio’s feature set.
What is a Promo Codes feature?
The Promo Codes feature provides a powerful way for managers to create and manage promotional campaigns. These campaigns are centered around promo codes, which serve as the foundation for generating individualized promotional offers. A promo code can be thought of as a “promo code mask,” an alphanumeric template that defines the structure of the code. For instance, a promo code mask like MY_LITTLE_PROMO????## consists of both fixed characters and placeholders.
When a manager sets up a promo code mask, the system leverages it to generate unique individual promotional codes. These codes are specific to each customer or user and can be used to provide discounts, special access, or other incentives.
Manager’s workflow for “Promo Codes” usage
To create individual promo code type, managers initiate the process by crafting an individual promo code mask within the Marketing – Promo Codes section.
To add an individual type of promo code click the Add button in the right corner of the section. This mask establishes the format for the promotional codes to be generated. The manager’s defined mask appears in the license_promo_codes section.
From the dropdown list select the “Personal” type.
The system then creates a connection between the generated individual promo codes and the respective affiliates. This linkage is stored in the Database, establishing a relationship between the promo code and the affiliate.
Depending on the chosen “Use case” options, such as “Use in presets” and “Automatic generation,” various events trigger the creation of connections between promo codes and locations.
These events can include the creation of a location by a supervisor from the Back Office, onboarding completion, or adding a new location by an existing user.
Once the connection is established, the system displays the individual promo codes to users through the window for creating individual promo codes. Users can click the “Generate” button to create the codes.
Users, often location-based, can apply the generated individual promo codes while making transactions. They can either input the code manually or select it from a drop-down list of available codes.
The applied promo codes, like the generated individual codes, appear in the Billing section under the Subscription information. This ensures transparency in tracking the usage of promotional offers.
Key Details and Technicalities
• Promo codes aren’t generated when a location is created if the promo code settings specify a certain number of days after location deactivation (> 0).
Each promo code generated can be used a specific number of times (e.g., 3), allowing it to be applied to a single location multiple times.
• Promo codes cannot be generated again for the same location.
• Essential fields like “Segments” and “Use case” must be defined for individual promo codes, ensuring accurate targeting.
Technical Insights
• The system logs relevant information in individual_promo_code.log for auditing and troubleshooting purposes.
• Promo codes can be tailored for specific customer segments, expanding the customization options for businesses.
Handling Errors
• Regeneration attempts are prevented if a promo code has already been generated for a specific location.
• Errors can occur if promo codes are altered or removed from the database, leading to messages like “Promo code for preset not found.”
• Deactivated promo codes cannot be applied, resulting in a “Promo code not active” error message.
• If conditions change, such as segments or promo code validity, errors like “The location does not meet the conditions of the segments in the promo code” may arise.