WooCommerce Discount Types: Which One Is Right for Your Store?

We all are aware of the incredible impact of discounts for any store, be it online or offline. But when it comes to your WooCommerce store, how do you decide which discount type to use?

It’s not just about slashing prices—it’s about choosing the right strategy that connects with your audience and meets your business goals.

Think about it: the right discount can attract new customers, keep your regulars coming back, and even help you clear out that inventory that’s been sitting for a bit too long. WooCommerce makes it easy with plenty of discount options, but knowing which one to pick is the key to making it all work.

However, with so many options available in WooCommerce, it can be tough to know where to start.

In this guide, we’ll break down the most effective WooCommerce discount types, from simple product discounts to complex coupon strategies. We’ll also share tips on how to set up these discounts, track their performance, and maximize their impact. Let’s dive in!

Common WooCommerce Discount Types

WooCommerce offers a variety of discount types to help you boost sales, clear inventory, and reward customers. Let’s dive into the most common types and when to use them.

Product Discounts

WooCommerce product discounts are applied directly to individual products. WooCommerce offers two main types of product discounts:

1. Percentage Discount:

• How it works: A specific percentage is deducted from the regular price of a product. For example, a 20% discount on a $100 product would reduce the price to $80.

• When to use it:
  • Sitewide Sales: Apply a WooCommerce percentage discount to all products during a specific period, such as a holiday sale or a Black Friday promotion.
  • Seasonal Discounts: Offer discounts on relevant products during specific seasons. For example, you could offer a discount on winter coats during the winter season.
  • Clearance Sales: Reduce the price of slow-moving or end-of-season products to clear inventory.
  • Product Promotions: Highlight specific products with a percentage discount to boost their sales.

2. Fixed Amount Discount:

• How it works: A fixed amount is subtracted from the regular price of a product. For example, you could offer a $10 discount on a product that normally costs $50.

• When to use it:
  • Price Points: Use WooCommerce fixed discounts to bring product prices to specific price points. For example, you could offer a discount to bring a product’s price down to a round number like $99.
  • Limited-Time Offers: Offer a fixed discount for a short period to create urgency and encourage immediate purchases.
  • Product Bundles: Create attractive product bundles and offer a fixed discount on the combined price.
  • Tiered Pricing: Offer a fixed discount for purchasing a certain quantity of a product.

By understanding these basic WooCommerce discount types and their appropriate use cases, you can effectively implement WooCommerce discounts to achieve your business goals.

Cart Discounts

Cart discounts are another effective discount type WooCommerce. Unlike product discounts, which apply to individual items, WooCommerce cart discounts are applied to the total value of a customer’s cart.

How it Works: Cart discounts are typically triggered when a customer’s cart reaches a specific minimum spending threshold. This threshold can be cart subtotal, cart total quantities, etc.

Once this threshold is met, the system applies a predetermined discount to the entire cart total, either a fixed amount or a percentage.

When to Use these WooCommerce discount types:

• Encouraging Larger Orders:
  • By setting a minimum spending threshold for a discount, you can incentivize customers to add more items to their cart. This strategy can be particularly effective for low-value products or during slow sales periods.
• Promoting Specific Product Categories:
  • You can create cart discounts that only apply when certain products or categories are included in the cart. This is a great way to promote slow-moving products or introduce new product lines.
• Holiday Sales and Promotions:
  • Offer sitewide cart discounts during holiday seasons or special events to attract customers and boost sales.
• Customer Loyalty Programs:
  • Reward loyal customers with exclusive cart discounts based on their purchase history or loyalty tier.

Setting Up Cart Discounts in WooCommerce:

You can set up cart discounts in WooCommerce using the built-in coupon tool or a plugin. We highly recommend you use a discount plugin to set up discounts. Currently, the best free discount plugin in the WordPress repository is Disco.

Here are the basic steps:

1. Set a Minimum Spending Threshold: Determine the minimum amount a customer needs to spend to qualify for the discount.
2. Choose a Discount Type: Decide whether you want to offer a fixed amount discount or a percentage discount.
3. Set the Discount Amount: Specify the amount or percentage of the discount.
4. Define the Discount Rules: Set any additional conditions, such as specific product categories or coupon codes, to trigger the discount.

By strategically using cart discounts, you can increase average order value, encourage repeat purchases, and boost overall sales for your WooCommerce store.

Coupon Discounts

WooCommerce coupon discount types are a popular way to incentivize purchases and drive sales in WooCommerce. They offer flexibility and allow you to target specific customer segments or promotions.

How it Works: Customers enter a unique code at checkout, and the discount is applied to their order.

Types of Coupons:

1. Individual Use Coupons:
   • Individual customers can use a coupon only once.
   • Ideal for limited-time offers or personalized promotions.
2. Multiple Use Coupons:
   • Customers can use a coupon multiple times.
   • Suitable for general promotions or loyalty programs.
3. Product-Specific Coupons:
   • The discount applies only to specific products.
   • Useful for promoting particular items or clearing inventory.
4. Category-Specific Coupons:
   • The discount applies to products within a specific category.
   • Great for promoting a particular product line or category.

5. Free Shipping Coupons:
   • Customers receive free shipping on their orders when they use the coupon code.
   • Effective for encouraging larger orders or attracting new customers.

Creating Effective Coupons:

• Setting Expiration Dates:
  • Set a specific expiration date for your coupons to create urgency and limit the duration of the promotion.
• Limiting Usage:
  • You can limit the number of times a coupon can be used per customer or per order.
  • You can also set a maximum discount amount to prevent excessive discounts.
• Targeting Specific Customer Segments:
  • Use customer segmentation to target specific groups with tailored coupons.
  • You can create coupons for first-time buyers, returning customers, or customers with specific purchase histories. You can even automatically apply coupons at checkout with the help of a plugin or custom codes.
• Using Clear and Concise Coupon Codes:
  • Create easy-to-remember coupon codes that are relevant to your promotion.
• Promoting Your Coupons:
  • Use email marketing, social media, and on-site promotions to advertise your coupons.

By understanding the different types of coupons and how to create effective WooCommerce coupons, you can leverage this powerful tool to boost your WooCommerce store’s sales and customer engagement.

Sales and Promotions

Sales and promotions are broader discount strategies often tied to special events or seasons. You can apply them to individual products, categories, or even the entire store.

Scheduled Sales

Scheduled sales involve setting specific time periods during which discounts are active. This is a popular strategy for seasonal promotions, holidays, or special events.

How to Set Up:

1. Choose a Start and End Date: Determine the specific dates when the sale will begin and end.

2. Select Products or Categories: Decide which products or categories the Sale campaign will include.
3. Set the Discount: Choose a percentage or fixed amount discount.
4. Configure the Sale: Set any additional parameters, such as minimum order values or coupon codes.

When to Use It:

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Offer significant discounts to attract customers during these peak shopping periods.
• Holiday Sales: Create holiday-themed promotions to encourage gift purchases.
• Seasonal Sales: Offer discounts on seasonal products, such as winter clothing or summer apparel.
• Inventory Clearance: Use sales to clear out excess inventory or slow-moving products.

Bulk WooCommerce Discount Types

WooCommerce bulk discounts encourage customers to purchase larger quantities of a product by offering a discount on the total order.

How it Works: WooCommerce applies a discount to the total order value when a certain quantity threshold is reached.

When to Use It:

• Wholesale Discounts: Offer discounts to businesses or retailers who purchase large quantities of products.
• Loyalty Programs: Reward loyal customers with bulk discounts based on their purchase history.
• Inventory Clearance: Encourage customers to buy multiple units of a product to clear inventory.

Buy One, Get One (BOGO) Deals

BOGO deals are a popular promotion where customers receive a free product or a discounted product when they purchase a specific item.

How it Works: In this WooCommerce get discount type​, customers purchase one product at full price and receive another product at a discounted price or for free.

When to Use It:

• Inventory Clearance: Move excess inventory by offering BOGO deals on slow-moving products.
• Product Promotion: Introduce new products or promote underperforming products with BOGO deals.
• Customer Acquisition: Attract new customers by offering BOGO deals on popular products.

By effectively using scheduled sales, bulk discounts, and BOGO deals, you can boost sales, clear inventory, and enhance customer satisfaction in your WooCommerce store.

Advanced WooCommerce Discount Types

To take your WooCommerce store to the next level, you can explore advanced discount strategies that go beyond the basic product, cart, and coupon discounts. These strategies allow you to create unique and personalized offers that can drive sales and customer loyalty.

Custom Discount Types

Custom WooCommerce discount types offer the flexibility to create tailored promotions that meet your specific business needs. WooCommerce custom discount type can be implemented using plugins or custom code.

Creating Unique Discounts:

• BOGO (Buy One, Get One) Deals:
  • Offer a free or discounted product with the purchase of another.
  • Ideal for clearing inventory or promoting new products.
• Tiered Pricing:
  • Offer discounts based on the quantity a customer adds to the cart.
  • Encourages larger orders and rewards bulk purchases.
• Quantity-Based Discounts:
  • Provide a discount when customers buy a specific quantity of a product.
  • Useful for clearing inventory or promoting bulk purchases.
• Mix-and-Match Discounts (Combination Bundles):
  • Offer a bundle discount when customers purchase a combination of products from different categories.
  • Encourages cross-selling and upselling.

By creating custom WooCommerce discount types, you can tailor promotions to your specific business goals and customer preferences. This can lead to increased sales, improved customer satisfaction, and stronger brand loyalty.

Post-Checkout Offers

WooCommerce post checkout offers discount type is a powerful strategy to increase customer satisfaction, encourage repeat purchases, and boost overall sales. By presenting customers with additional discounts or incentives after they complete their purchase, you can drive upsell and cross-sell opportunities and create a more personalized shopping experience.

How it Works: Post-checkout offers are typically displayed on a thank-you page or in a follow-up email after a customer has placed an order. You can present these offers in various formats, such as pop-ups and banners, or embed them directly into the thank-you page or email.

Types of Post-Checkout Offers:

1. Percentage Discounts:
   • Offer a percentage discount on the customer’s next purchase.
   • This can be a great way to encourage repeat business and reward customer loyalty.
2. Free Shipping:
   • Offer free shipping on the customer’s next order, regardless of the order value.
   • This can be particularly effective for customers who are hesitant to make another purchase due to shipping costs.
3. Store Credits:
   • Provide customers with store credits that they can use towards future purchases.
   • This is a flexible option that allows customers to choose how they want to use the credit.
4. Upsells and Cross-sells:
   • Offer related products or complementary items that the customer may be interested in.
   • This can increase average order value and provide additional revenue opportunities.

By strategically implementing post-checkout offers, you can create a seamless and personalized shopping experience that drives customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Dynamic Pricing WooCommerce Discount Types

WooCommerce dynamic pricing is a strategy that involves adjusting product prices in real-time based on various factors. This approach allows businesses to optimize their pricing strategy and maximize revenue.

How it Works: Dynamic pricing algorithms analyze data such as customer behavior, inventory levels, competitor pricing, and market trends to determine the optimal price for each product. These algorithms can adjust prices automatically or with manual intervention.

Implementing Dynamic Pricing:

1. Using Plugins:

• Disco – Dynamic Discount Plugin for WooCommerce: This free plugin offers a range of features for dynamic pricing, including time-based pricing, quantity-based discounts, and customer-specific pricing.
• Advanced WooCommerce: This plugin provides advanced pricing options, including dynamic pricing based on various factors like customer segmentation, product popularity, and inventory levels.

2. Custom Code: If you want to skip using plugins, you can use custom codes. This requires a strong understanding of PHP and WooCommerce. You can create custom functions and hooks to adjust prices based on specific conditions.

Key Factors to Consider for Dynamic Pricing:

• Customer Segmentation: Identify different customer segments and tailor pricing strategies accordingly.
• Inventory Levels: Adjust prices based on inventory levels to optimize sales and avoid stockouts.
• Competitor Pricing: Monitor competitor prices and adjust your pricing to stay competitive.
• Demand and Supply: Analyze demand and supply dynamics to optimize pricing.
• Time-Based Pricing: Offer time-limited discounts or premium pricing for specific periods.
• Personalization: Use customer data to personalize pricing offers and increase conversions.

By implementing dynamic pricing, you can optimize your pricing strategy, increase revenue, and improve customer satisfaction. However, it’s essential to use dynamic pricing ethically and transparently to avoid damaging your brand reputation.

Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs are powerful tools for retaining customers, encouraging repeat purchases, and building long-term relationships. By rewarding customers for their loyalty to your WooCommerce membership site, you can significantly increase customer satisfaction and brand advocacy.

How it Works: Loyalty programs typically involve accumulating points or rewards for every purchase. Customers can redeem these points or rewards for discounts, free products, or exclusive offers.

Types of Loyalty Programs:

1. Points-Based Programs:
   • Customers earn points for every purchase they make.
   • They can redeem these points for discounts, free products, or other rewards.
   • The more points a customer earns, the greater the rewards they can claim.
2. Tiered Loyalty Programs:
   • Customers are divided into different tiers based on their spending or loyalty level.
   • Each tier offers different benefits and rewards.
   • As customers reach higher tiers, they unlock exclusive perks and privileges.
3. Referral Programs:
   • Customers are rewarded for referring new customers to the store.
   • This can be done by offering discounts, store credits, or other incentives to both the referring customer and the referred customer.

By implementing a loyalty program, you can create a sense of community and belonging among your customers. This can increase brand loyalty, higher customer lifetime value, and positive word-of-mouth marketing.

Combining Discount Strategies

To maximize the impact of your discount campaigns, you can combine different WooCommerce discount types and strategies. This allows you to create powerful promotions that attract customers, increase sales, and drive customer loyalty.

Creating Powerful Promotions:

• Combining Product, Cart, and Coupon Discounts:
  • Layered Discounts: Offer a combination of product discounts, cart discounts, and coupon codes to create a layered discount structure. For example, you could offer a 10% Woo sitewide discount, a 20% discount on specific products, and a free shipping coupon code.
  • Tiered Discounts: Offer increasing discounts as customers spend more. This can be combined with product, cart, and coupon discounts to create a tiered discount structure.
• Stacking Discounts:
  • Allow customers to stack multiple discounts on a single order.
  • For example, a customer could use a coupon code for a percentage discount, a cart discount for a fixed amount, and a product discount on specific items.
  • However, be cautious with stacking discounts, as it can significantly reduce your profit margins.

Timing and Targeting:

• Strategic Timing:
  • Use data analytics to identify the best times to run promotions.
  • Consider factors like seasonal trends, holidays, and competitor activity.
  • Time your promotions to coincide with specific events or customer behaviors.
• Customer Segmentation:
  • Divide your customer base into segments based on demographics, purchase history, and other factors.
  • Tailor your discount offers to each segment to maximize effectiveness.
• A/B Testing:
  • Experiment with different discount strategies to determine what works best for your business.
  • Test different WooCommerce discount types, amounts, and durations to optimize your results.

By strategically combining different discount types, timing your promotions effectively, and targeting specific customer segments, you can create powerful promotions that drive sales and customer loyalty.

How to Choose the Right Discount Type for Your Store

Choosing the right discount type for your WooCommerce store is crucial for driving sales and achieving your business goals. To make informed decisions, consider the following key factors:

1. Understand Your Target Audience

• Customer Preferences: Identify what types of promotions resonate best with your customers. Do they prefer percentage discounts, fixed-amount discounts, or free shipping offers?
• Customer Behavior: Analyze your customer data to understand their purchasing habits. Are they impulse buyers or more deliberate shoppers? This can help you determine the best timing for your discounts.
• Customer Segmentation: Segment your customers based on demographics, purchase history, and other relevant factors. This allows you to tailor your discounts to specific groups and increase their effectiveness.

2. Define Your Business Goals

• Increase Sales: If your goal is to boost overall sales, consider offering sitewide discounts, flash sales, or limited-time offers.
• Attract New Customers: Use coupon codes, free shipping offers, or welcome discounts to attract new customers.
• Clear Inventory: Offer discounts on slow-moving or end-of-season products to reduce excess stock.
• Increase Average Order Value: Implement cart discounts or bundle deals to encourage customers to spend more per order.
• Build Customer Loyalty: Reward loyal customers with exclusive discounts, loyalty programs, or referral bonuses.

3. Consider the Timing and Seasonality

• Seasonal Promotions: Use discounts to capitalize on seasonal events like holidays, back-to-school, or summer sales.
• Limited-Time Offers: Create a sense of urgency with time-limited discounts to encourage immediate purchases.
• Weekday vs. Weekend Promotions: Offer different discounts on different days of the week to maximize impact.

4. Test and Analyze

• A/B Testing: Experiment with different WooCommerce discount types and strategies to identify what works best for your store.
• Track Performance: Monitor key metrics like sales, conversion rates, and customer retention to measure the success of your discounts.
• Iterate and Refine: Continuously analyze your data and make adjustments to your discount strategy as needed.

By carefully considering these factors, you can choose the right discount type to achieve your business objectives and drive sales for your WooCommerce store.

Plugins to Enhance WooCommerce Discounts

WooCommerce offers built-in discount features, but to truly unlock the power of promotions, consider exploring additional plugins. These plugins can help you implement a wider range of discount strategies, personalize offers, and optimize your campaigns for maximum impact.

One such plugin is Disco – Dynamic Discount Plugin for WooCommerce.

Disco is a comprehensive discount plugin that empowers you to create and manage flexible, automated discount campaigns. Here’s a glimpse of what Disco can do for your store:

• Simplified Discount Creation: Set up various discounts without needing technical expertise.
• Advanced Discount Rules: Define complex discount conditions based on product categories, user roles, cart totals, and more.
• Dynamic Pricing: Implement dynamic pricing strategies like tiered discounts, quantity-based discounts, and personalized offers.
• Automated Campaigns: Schedule discounts to run automatically during specific periods.
• Discount Targeting: Target specific customer segments with customized promotions.

Benefits of Using Disco:

By leveraging Disco, you can:

• Boost Sales: Encourage larger orders, attract new customers, and clear inventory with targeted discounts.
• Improve Customer Satisfaction: Offer personalized discounts that delight your customers.
• Save Time: Automate discount campaigns for streamlined management.
• Increase Conversion Rates: Craft irresistible offers that convert visitors into paying customers.

Remember: While Disco offers robust features, there are other plugins available to cater to specific discount needs. Choosing the right plugin depends on your unique goals and budget.

To explore WooCommerce discount plugins in more depth, check out our comprehensive review –

• 10 Best Discount Plugins for WooCommerce (Free & Paid)

It provides a detailed exploration of the best tools to boost your store’s sales.

Wrap up

When deciding on the right WooCommerce discount types, consider your audience’s preferences, your business goals, and the timing of your promotions. Whether you aim to clear out inventory, increase your average order value, or encourage repeat purchases, there is a discount type that will help you meet your objectives.

Remember to test different strategies, track your results, and refine your approach based on what works best. By taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to your discounts, you can drive more sales, increase customer satisfaction, and ultimately grow your business.

Please don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments your questions or suggestions. We’ll be happy to discuss the topic.