Membership Coupons: A Jumpstart Guide To Coupons in MemberMouse

Are you making the most of our membership coupons feature? Here's an essential guide to get you up to speed and ready to boost signups to your membership site or online course site.

One off, limited time, seasonal offers are a great way to draw in new members, particularly those at the end of the sales funnel, researching their options before making a final decision. Your membership coupon could be what cinches the deal and reduces sign up friction!

It's also interesting to learn that 62% of US consumers actively seek out and use coupon codes to make online purchases. So if these consumers catch your coupon code at the right time, you'll get a few bonus signups.

With membership sites, you have a few more things to consider. For example:

1. Do you want to apply the same offer to all your membership tiers?
2. Do you want the offer to apply for the first month only? Or will it be a recurring offer?
3. Do you want to use the offer to incentivize upgrades? How about Renewals?

With MemberMouse, you can configure your site and settings to create your perfect campaign just the way you want it.

Let's look at how.

Creating Membership Coupons in MemberMouse

In MemberMouse, creating a membership coupon is easy and intuitive. Here's a guide along with tips to help you set up the best promo for your site.

1. Access Coupon Settings in MemberMouse

In your WordPress dashboard, head to MemberMouse > Paramètres du produitet sélectionnez l'option Coupons onglet

2. Name Your Coupon

This is so you can keep track of what the coupon was for. For example, you might want to name it “Summer Promo” or “Black Friday 2025”. The name is for internal use only so only admins will see it.

3. Create the Perfect Coupon Code

Create a short, memorable, alpha-numeric code promo. This will be the code that your users will have to enter to receive their discount.

Here are some best practices to help you create an impactful, memorable code:

1. A combination of numbers and letters is best.
   Numbers make the discount value instantly clear (e.g., SAVE20 = 20% off), while letters help make the code easy to remember. Alphanumeric codes are also more visually distinct, reducing the chance of typos or confusion.
   
2. Keep it short and easy to type.
   Avoid long or complex codes—users are less likely to enter them correctly. A good rule of thumb is 8-10 characters or fewer (e.g., WELCOME10 au lieu de NEWCUSTOMERDISCOUNT50).
   
3. Make the discount clear.
   If your code includes a number, align it with the discount amount (BLACKFRIDAY50 for 50% off, SAVE25 for $25 off). This removes guesswork and increases conversions.
   
4. Use all caps to improve readability.
   Most coupon fields are case-insensitive, but uppercase letters stand out and are easier to read at a glance (e.g., FALL20 au lieu de fall20).
   
5. Avoid confusing characters.
   Letters and numbers that look similar—like O and 0 ou I and l—can cause errors. Stick to clear, distinct characters to prevent frustration.
   
6. Make it relevant to your promotion.
   A well-named coupon reinforces your marketing campaign. For example, use FLASH30 for a flash sale, VIP10 for exclusive member discounts, or SUMMER15 for a seasonal promo.

4. Decide on a Discount

With MemberMouse, you can choose between a percentage-based discount (e.g., 10% off) or a fixed-amount discount (e.g., $10 off). Each option has its strengths, depending on your pricing and goals.

When deciding which works best for your membership products, consider the following:

1. Are you applying one discount across all products?

• If you're offering a sitewide discount, a percentage-based discount makes sense. It:
  a) Incentivizes higher spending – customers save more when they purchase higher-tier memberships.
  b) Scales fairly across price points, ensuring you don’t give away too much on premium plans or too little on entry-level ones.
• A fixed-amount discount, on the other hand, sets a hard cap on the discount per product, which is useful if you want to control your maximum giveaway amount.

2. Which option has the best perceived value?

• For memberships over $100, a fixed-dollar discount ($50 off instead of 20% off $250) feels more substantial and has a higher perceived value. People process large whole numbers more easily than percentages.
• For memberships under $100, a percentage discount (e.g., 20% off instead of $10 off a $50 plan) often sounds more appealing. Percentages create the illusion of a bigger deal on lower-cost items.

3. Do you want to drive urgency?

• Larger whole numbers create a stronger sense of urgency“$50 off today only” is more compelling than “20% off today.”
• Flash sales often perform better with fixed-amount discounts, as the savings feel instant and concrete.

Choose the best discount type for your specific situation!

5. Choose First Charge Only or Rolling Discount

One of the key differences between a standard coupon and a membership coupon is that you have to consider whether you want the discount to apply on recurring charges, or just the initial sale.

Here are the pros and cons of each option:

Première charge seulement

Pros	Cons
First-charge-only discounts work well if your goal is to attract new members quickly while maintaining strong long-term revenue. You take a short-term hit, but future payments continue at full price.	If your churn rate is high, first-charge-only discounts may attract deal-seekers who cancel after the first billing cycle.
A large one-time discount ($50 off the first month) is often more persuasive than a small recurring one ($5 off per month). This is because big, immediate savings create a stronger emotional impact, whereas ongoing savings may feel less exciting over time.	If you choose a larger one-time discount, you're banking on your members sticking around for longer to recoup the initial revenue loss. So this isn't a great option if you don't already have a solid retention rate.
A first-charge discount helps remove signup friction.	If you already offer a essai gratuit, a first-payment discount might be redundant ou overly generous.
If your membership has a long-term commitment (e.g., annual plans or high-value communities), a one-time discount is usually enough to secure a member.
First-charge-only discounts are easier to market because they’re simple and straightforward (“Join today and get 30% off your first payment!”).

Rolling Discounts

Recurring discounts can work if you want to boost retention upfront by offering a better deal over time (e.g., “10% off every month”).	Since the discount applies indefinitely, you’re potentially lowering lifetime revenue per member.
A continuous discount may make members think twice before canceling.	There discount are a little harder to market as they require more explanation and don’t have the same immediate impact as a one-time discount.
Smaller, ongoing savings can make a subscription feel more affordable over time which makes it more appealing for budget-conscious members.

Generally speaking, in most instances, first charge only discounts are best for membership coupons. But as always, consider your goals to make your final decision.

6. Limit Membership Coupon Time / Quantity

If you don't put some kind of cap on the time or quantity of discounts available, you risk devaluing your product, and basically lose all of the benefits of offering a coupon in the first place.

Think about how you can use these settings to drive urgency and make the most of the FOMO phenomenon – driving people to sign up NOW to nab their deal.

Limited time membership discounts are great for tying to seasonal promotions such as Black Friday or Mid Summer Sales.

Limited quantity membership coupons add an extra layer of exclusivity and perceived value. People are more likely to act immediately rather than wait a while to weigh up their options and potentially forget about your product altogether in the meantime.

They're also a great way to cap how much revenue you're giving away.

However, some users might be discouraged if the deal sells out too fast, especially if they feel like they missed out unfairly. For example, if you offer your membership across different time zones you need to be mindful of this.

7. Choose Which Products the Membership Coupon Applies To

If you leave all the boxes unchecked in MemberMouse, the couon will apply automatically to all products. However, if you want to offer different percentages or discount amounts for different products, you'll need to check the ones that apply here.

If you offer tiered memberships, it's generally best practice to offer higher discount percentages or amount on higher tiered items! That way, you incentivize users to sign up to a plan that will bring you more revenue in the long run.

8. Create Coupon

Once you've made all your decisions and configured your coupon the way you want it, hit the blue “Coupon de réduction” button, and you're all set!

How to Offer Upgrades Only Membership Coupons

If you're doing everything right, you likely have an existing membership base that sees value in your membership and is interested in upgrading. However, they might be looking for an extra nudge to get them to decide to upgrade.

In this case, you can offer a special upgrade-only coupon that’s exclusively visible to existing members on lower-tier plans.

Avec MemberMouse Member Decision SmartTags™, you can control who sees specific offers by displaying or hiding content based on a member’s current level—right inside WordPress!

Want even more precise targeting? SmartTag™ Equations let you refine your audience further, allowing you to show discounts to members who meet specific conditions, such as:
✅ Belonging to multiple membership tiers
✅ Being subscribed for a certain length of time
✅ Having a specific access level

How to Offer Membership Coupons on Renewals

Another smart way to use membership coupons is by incorporating them into your rebilling strategy.

If you want to give existing members a compelling reason to renew, consider including a special renewal discount in your billing reminder emails.

By automatically applying the coupon to their next payment, you remove friction and make it easier for them to stay subscribed—especially if they were on the fence about continuing.

How to Market Your Membership Coupon

If your membership coupon is available to a wider audience, make sure it gets noticed!

💡 Use tools like OptinMonster to create eye-catching banners, pop-ups, and exit-intent campaigns that target visitors before they leave your site.
💡 Send notifications push to alert engaged users about limited-time offers.
💡 Launch an email campaign to your subscribers, highlighting the benefits of signing up or upgrading with the discount.

Strategic placement and timing ensure your coupon gets in front of the right people at the right moment, driving more conversions with minimal effort.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to consider when setting up a membership coupon, but with this guide, you’re now equipped with the best strategies to make it work for your business.

Quick Recap – Key Takeaways:

✅ Create a short, memorable, alphanumeric code to boost recall and usability.
✅ Decide between a percentage or fixed-amount discount based on pricing and perceived value.
✅ Choose whether your discount applies to the first charge or rolls over to renewals.
✅ Set limits on time or quantity to create urgency and maintain profitability.
✅ Offer exclusive discounts for upgrades and renewals to increase member retention.
✅ Promote your discount effectively through banners, pop-ups, emails, and notifications.

Avec Souris du membre, creating and customizing membership coupons is simple, flexible, and effective, helping you craft offers that drive more signups, upgrades, and renewals.

💬 Got questions about setting up membership coupons in MemberMouse? Or have a coupon strategy that’s worked well for your business? Drop a comment below! We’d love to hear your insights.

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