Are you one of those people who always associate the word “sales promotion” with launching discounts? If so, you might be overlooking a lot of potential opportunities without even realizing it! 😉

The truth is, there are various types of sales promotions that you can leverage in your eCommerce store, and each of them serves a unique purpose.

By understanding these distinctions, you’ll be able to craft a more targeted sales strategy that resonates with your audience.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into a few sales promotion ideas that you won’t want to miss. Get your pen and paper ready!

👉 What Is a Sales Promotion?

Sales promotions aim to boost the short-term purchase of a product using various strategies. 

However, it’s crucial to note that sales promotions are not the same as advertisements.

While ads provide reasons to purchase a product, sales promotions create a sense of urgency and provide reasons to “buy it now.” 

The goal is to increase the perceived value of the product for the customer and create a sense of opportunity that motivates them to make a purchase.

You might be wondering, “Do I really need to launch promotions if my eCommerce store is already selling products successfully?” 

The answer is a resounding “yes.”

Why, you may ask? Well, keep reading to find out.

👉 4 Types of Sales Promotions

✅ 1. Price Sales Promotions

Price promotions are a way for companies to offer discounts on products to entice customers to make a purchase. 

They come in different forms such as “buy one, get one free” or “percentage off” deals. 

The goal is to increase the average checkout price to boost your overall sales.

✅ 2. Product giveaways

Product giveaways are when companies give something away for free to customers. 

It could be with or without a purchase. 

The goal is to get customers interested in the brand and to encourage them to make a purchase or engage with the company in some way.

✅ 3. Loyalty Sales Promotions

Loyalty promotions are a way for companies to reward customers for their loyalty and encourage them to keep coming back for more. 

They usually involve discounts, free products, or other incentives that make customers feel appreciated. 

By doing this, companies hope to build a strong relationship with their customers and increase customer retention rates.

✅ 4. Brand-Building Sales Promotions

Brand-building sales promotions are all about building awareness and reputation for a brand, rather than making direct sales. 

They’re used to introduce a new product or reinforce a company’s existing brand image. 

The goal is to create a buzz around the brand and establish it as a trusted and recognizable name in the long run.

👉 12 Sales Promotion Ideas

➡️  1. Discount Promotion

Ah, the classic sales promotion idea of creating a sense of scarcity! It’s simple but effective. 

Just lower the price of a product for a limited time, and customers will feel like they have to act fast before it’s too late. 

This works well any time of the year, but it’s especially powerful during big shopping events like Black Friday. 

People are already in the mood to buy, and they’ll be drawn to the stores with the best deals. 

So, if you want to increase your sales, consider using this strategy to create a sense of urgency and get customers to act fast.

➡️  2. BOGO

Another popular sales promotion idea is the BOGO (Buy One, Get One) deal. 

This means that the customer buys one product and gets a second item for a discounted price or even for free! 

This can be a great way to encourage customers to buy more than one item or to try out a new product that they might not have purchased otherwise. 

BOGO deals can be especially effective for products that are consumable or have a short shelf life, as customers will be more likely to come back for more.

➡️  3. Product packs

Product bundling is a great type of sales promotion to simplify the buying process for customers and increase the perceived value of the products offered. 

By grouping different items together, you can sell them as part of a pack at a slightly cheaper price than if the items were purchased separately.

This sales promotion idea not only simplifies the buying process but also encourages customers to buy more products from your online shop. 

And who doesn’t love a good bargain, right?

➡️  4. Launch price

Launch price sales promotions are quite common. 

Offering a new product at a reduced price can help garner excitement around the product. 

This can help to drive initial sales and get people talking about the product.

While the profit margin may be slimmer, the increased sales and visibility can be worth it in the long run. 

If the product is well-received, customers are likely to share their positive experiences with others, leading to more sales and growth for your business.

➡️  5. Complementary products

Cross-selling is a great type of sales promotion that you can use to boost sales and customer satisfaction. 

When a customer is already interested in a product, you can recommend complementary products to them. 

For example, if someone is buying a swimsuit, you could suggest flip-flops that are also on sale that week.

Offering complementary products during the checkout process is especially effective because the customer is already in the buying mindset.

They are more likely to add the additional product to their cart, especially if it’s offered at a discounted price.

While you can also make the same offer via email after the purchase is complete, it’s not as effective because the customer has already gone through the buying process and may not want to go through it again.

➡️  6. Free shipping

Offering free shipping can be a powerful incentive for customers to make a purchase. 

Nobody likes to pay for shipping, so by waiving this cost, you can encourage customers to buy from your online store. 

This sales promotion idea works particularly well when combined with other sales promotions, such as a minimum purchase amount or a limited-time offer.

➡️  7. Trade-In Programs

One popular sales promotion in the technology industry is trade-in programs, where customers can trade in their old device and receive a discount when purchasing a new one.

This type of sales promotion offers two main advantages:

1. It brings back old customers: In the case of cell phones, users typically change their device every two years. If they haven’t purchased from your eCommerce again in that time, this type of promotion can help them remember you and potentially increase their lifetime value.

2. You can resell old models: In some sectors, such as technology, it’s common for e-commerce shops to have a section dedicated to refurbished products. Trade-in programs can help you acquire inventory for this section and boost sales when launching new models.

➡️  8. Free samples

Offering free samples is a common sales promotion used in brick-and-mortar stores, and you can use a similar approach for your eCommerce shop. 

By offering free samples of one of your products, you can attract potential customers and encourage them to try your products.

While it may cost you some money to offer free samples, you can use an autoresponder sequence to follow up with customers who request a sample and turn those samples into new sales. 

You can also ask customers to leave a product review in exchange for a free sample, which can help increase your product’s visibility and credibility.

➡️  9. Include gifts in the package 

Offering a free gift with a purchase is a great way to incentivize customers to buy from your online store. 

This strategy is commonly used by magazines and news agencies, who offer a free gift with each purchase of their latest issue.

You can easily adapt this strategy to your online store by offering a unique and personalized gift with each purchase. 

It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, but it should be something that reflects the personality of your eCommerce and adds value to the customer’s purchase.

This type of promotion can increase customer loyalty and encourage repeat purchases, as customers will be more likely to return to your store to receive more gifts with their purchases.

➡️  10. Personalized vouchers

Sometimes, eCommerce shops will send their customers exclusive vouchers or discount codes to encourage them to make another purchase. 

These offers can be tailored to specific occasions, such as a customer’s birthday, or as a way to reward a large purchase. 

They can also be used as an incentive for new customers to make their first purchase after signing up for a mailing list or creating an account on the website. 

By providing these exclusive discounts, businesses can foster a sense of loyalty among their customer base and encourage repeat purchases.

➡️  11. Loyalty program

Implementing a loyalty program is a great way to incentivize repeat purchases and increase customer retention.

You can offer rewards points for every purchase made, which can then be redeemed for discounts or free products.

Or, you can offer tiered rewards based on the amount of money spent or the number of purchases made, with higher tiers unlocking greater rewards.

Loyalty programs can be a great way to show your customers that you value their business and encourage them to keep coming back.

➡️  12. Contests and raffles

Contests on social media are a very effective way to:

• Get followers for your online shop’s social media profile
• Direct traffic to your online shop
• Promote a new product

The only expense would be the product you give away as a prize – but you’ll get many potential customers in exchange.

👉 11 Sales Promotion Examples

Just remember; use them carefully. 😉

✅ 1. Social Sharing Discounts

For the opening of his pop-up shop in London, Marc Jacobs offered freebies in exchange for social media shoutouts. 

This sales promotion example can be applied to eCommerce by offering a discount coupon to customers who mention their purchase on their social networks. 

This not only incentivizes social sharing but also serves as social proof. 

✅ 2. Countdown Coupons

Adding a sense of urgency is a great example of a sales promotion that can significantly increase conversion rates. 

Coupons without a specific expiration date may not be as effective as those with a visible countdown timer, which creates a sense of urgency and encourages customers to take action. 

It’s a good idea to place these countdown timers in a prominent location on your website, such as the sidebar. 

To ensure maximum visibility, consider pinning the countdown timer to the top of the page, so that it remains visible to users even as they scroll down.

✅ 3. Flash sales

There are a couple of effective ways to encourage sales and increase customer activation:

• Limited time: Offer a discount or sales promotion for a specific period, such as “15% off only until 10 PM.”
• Limited stock: Offer a special sales promotion, such as “the first 50 sales get free shipping.”

Timing is crucial when announcing these flash sales promotions.

If you announce the sales promotion too early, customers may forget about it, and if you wait until the last minute, some customers may miss out on the deal altogether.

To make these flash discounts even more effective, consider tying them to special dates or events relevant to your sector. 

For example, you could offer a sales promotion for Mother’s Day or Earth Day (if you run an eco-friendly eCommerce store).

Be creative and think about what dates and events would be most relevant to your target audience, and set up exclusive offers to coincide with those dates. 

This sales promotion idea can help to drive sales and customer engagement while also building brand loyalty.

✅ 4. Tiered Discounts

To take the previous sales promotion example to the next level, you can combine the limited time and limited stock approaches by offering a progressive discount based on the order value.

For example, you could offer 15% off orders of $200+, 20% off orders of $500+,  and so on, with each tier offering a better discount than the last. 

The key is to keep the sales promotion limited to a specific time period so that customers feel a sense of urgency and are more likely to take advantage of the offer. 

This strategy can be a powerful way to drive sales and create buzz around your products or services, while also rewarding early adopters and loyal customers.

✅ 5. Customer Rewards

Did you know that it can be up to 10 times more expensive to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one? 

That’s why it’s important to have a solid loyalty strategy in place.

One way to do this is by offering incentives to customers who have already made a purchase. 

For example, you could give them free shipping or a special discount on their next purchase if they’ve placed a certain number of orders in the past six months, spent over a certain amount, or been a customer for a certain length of time.

But that’s not all! 

You could also create a VIP club for your most loyal customers, offering them exclusive discounts and early access to new products. 

To set this up, you could create a segmented mailing list or launch a media channel on Telegram or WhatsApp Business.

By focusing on customer loyalty, you can build strong relationships with your customers, improve retention rates, and drive repeat business. 

✅ 6. Changes of season

Timing your sales promotions for the end of summer or the beginning of spring can be a great way to not only boost sales but also accomplish other goals.

For starters, it’s a great opportunity to handle your inventory and make room for new products. 

Plus, by offering discounted prices, you can attract new customers who may be more likely to make their first purchase from your store.

This is also a chance to increase brand awareness, as more people will be browsing your site and potentially sharing your deals with friends and family. 

And don’t forget, just because you’re promoting end-of-season items doesn’t mean customers won’t also browse and buy new items for the upcoming season.

If you’re selling clothing or design products, you can even create collections that aren’t limited to traditional seasons, giving you even more flexibility in how you promote and sell your products.

All in all, end-of-season sales can be a smart move for eCommerce stores looking to drive sales, gain new customers, and make way for new inventory.

✅ 7. Mystery Offers

Consumers these days are pretty savvy and have seen it all, but that doesn’t mean they’re not still curious by nature. 

And if you can tap into that curiosity by making them work a bit to discover a discount or sales promotion, chances are they’ll be more likely to click and engage.

There are lots of ways to play around with this idea. 

You could offer free shipping, discount coupons, or even a “buy one, get one free” deal. 

And don’t be afraid to get creative—maybe you make the discount a mystery and let users try multiple times to reveal different results.

The key is to create an experience that’s fun and engaging, while also driving sales and conversions. 

So don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different approaches until you find one that really resonates with your audience.

✅ 8. Only Pay Shipping

Have you ever offered your customers free shipping with their purchase? 

Well, what if we flipped the script? 

Instead of free shipping, what if we charged only for shipping and offered the product for free?

This sales promotion example is great for promoting new releases and can be especially effective with a social media ad campaign. 

People love sharing awesome deals they find online, so this is a great way to get your brand noticed.

✅ 9. Gifting one of your products to a third party

Collaborating with other companies can be a great way to expand your reach and attract new customers. 

Consider negotiating with another brand to offer your product as a gift or a discount coupon when customers buy their product. 

This kind of sales promotion partnership works particularly well when your products complement each other.

You may have seen this strategy at the supermarket, where one product comes with another from a different brand as a gift. 

By teaming up with another company, you can tap into a new audience that may not have been aware of your brand before.

Another option is to send your product to an influencer, or even a micro-influencer, and have them promote it to their audience. 

This can be especially effective when launching a new product, as it can help generate buzz and increase visibility.

✅ 10. Member Referral

Think of the classic “word of mouth” technique in the online shopping world. 

Offer a discount promotion to a customer who refers a friend to make a purchase or register on your blog. 

This can generate new customers and the cycle can continue as the new customers can use the same strategy. 

It’s a win-win situation for both you and your customers!

✅ 11. Subscription Discounts

Have you heard of subscription sales? 

It’s becoming a really popular trend these days. 

The sales promotion idea is that your customers pay a recurring fee to receive your product on a regular basis, and the price is usually much lower than if they were to buy the products separately.

This has some great benefits for both you and your customers. 

For your customers, it means they don’t have to worry about reordering and they get a nice little discount. 

For you, it means you can improve the overall purchase experience and increase subscribers. 

Plus, it works really well for products that people consume regularly, like vitamins or coffee.

For example, have you seen on Amazon that they give you the option to subscribe to a vitamin supplement? 

They even tell you exactly how much you’ll save if you go with the subscription model. It’s pretty cool!

👉 Sales Promotions FAQs

1. What is the difference between a discount and a coupon?

A discount is a reduction in price, while a coupon offers a specific amount or percentage off a product or service.

2. How often should I offer sales promotions?

The frequency of sales promotions depends on your business goals and customer behavior. It’s important to strike a balance between offering promotions that encourage purchases without relying too heavily on discounts.

3. Can sales promotions hurt my profit margins?

If sales promotions are not planned effectively, they can hurt your profit margins. However, if done right, they can help you increase revenue and drive traffic to your business.

4. What are some creative sales promotion ideas?

Some creative sales promotion ideas include limited-time offers, referral discounts, social media contests, and bundling products or services.

5. How can I measure the success of a sales promotion?

You can measure the success of a sales promotion by tracking sales, customer engagement, and other metrics before, during, and after the promotion.

6. Should I use multiple types of sales promotions at once?

Using multiple types of sales promotions at once can be effective, but it’s important to ensure they are complementary and don’t confuse customers.