Shopify automatic discounts for specific customers: How do you do it?

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As a Shopify store owner, are you willing to give your customers the special and valued feeling they deserve? This guide will explore Shopify’s automatic discounts for specific customers.

We will explain step by step how to generate these special moments with the help of Shopify features and key difficulties you may encounter. We will also shed light on how the Shopify apps can open even more chances for offering discounts. At the end of this post, you will be good at surprising your loyal customers with amazing events.

1. How do you create Shopify automatic discounts for specific customers using Shopify’s features?

Creating automatic discounts for specific customers on Shopify involves generating and sharing a discount code via a Shopify shareable discount link. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Log in to your Shopify Admin > Navigate to “Discounts” > Click on the “Create discount” button on the Discounts page.

Step 2: Select Discount Type

You will see the following options:

• Amount-off products: Choose this if you want to offer a specific amount or percentage off selected products.
• Buy X get Y: Select this to create promotions like “Buy one, get one free” or “Buy two, get one 50% off.”
• Amount off order: This option discounts the total order value.
• Free shipping: Use this to provide free shipping on orders.

Here, I choose “Amount-off products” as an example.

Step 3: Choose the “Discount code” method because automatic discount does not allow targeting specific customers. We will use a discount code and automatically apply that code on the cart page using Shopify’s shareable link feature.

Step 4: Set Up Discount Details

• Discount code: Enter a code for your discount (e.g., “SUMMERVIBE”).
• Discount Value: Choose a percentage or a fixed amount.
• Applies to: Specify the collections or products the discount applies to. Then, browse them.
• Minimum Requirements: Set any minimum requirements for the discount to apply (e.g., minimum purchase amount or quantity of items).
• Maximum discount uses:  Select the number of times a discount code can be used.

Step 5: Customize Customer Eligibility

• Under the “Customer eligibility” section, select “Specific customers.”
• Click on “Browse” to open a list of your customers and click their names to decide who receives the discounts.

Step 6: Set Active Dates

Define the start and end dates for your discount. This is when the discount will be active and automatically applied at checkout.

Step 7: Save the Discount and Generate a Shareable Link

• Click the “Save discount” button at the top right of the page.
• After saving your discount, you’ll be redirected to the Discounts page. Find the automatic discount you just created in the list.
• Click on “Promote” > “Get a shareable link.”

Step 8: Share the Link with Specific Customers

• Email: Compose an email to your target customers. Include the shareable link and explain the discount details.
• Social Media: Share the link there if you use social media groups or direct messages for specific customers.
• Customer Service: If you have a customer service team, they can share the link directly with customers during interactions.

Following these steps, you can easily create automatic discounts for specific customers on Shopify and share the discount code via a link. This approach ensures that only the selected customers can take advantage of your special offer.

Read more: Boost Sales with Shopify Customer Group Discounts

2. The disadvantages of using Shopify discounts compared to Shopify app

We all agree that creating automatic discounts for new customers can significantly increase your store’s revenue, whether you’re offering discounts in an online store or a local store. Automating discounts in Shopify is generally easy, but there are some limitations in certain situations. Let me share some drawbacks of using Shopify’s built-in features compared to using apps.

Read more: Shopify POS discount: Custom Discount for Your Local Store with Shopify

2.1 Reporting Limitations

• Shopify Built-in Discounts:

When you use the in-house discount offered by Shopify, the reporting tool will be able to display data only on the store as a whole. This implies you cannot enjoy features like reports that give detailed performance of specific individual discounts.

For instance, if you wish to compare sales over a certain period of time to see the impact of a holiday discount sale, you will not be able to easily separate the results.

• Shopify Apps:

Many apps provide detailed reporting for each discount type. This helps you see the most effective discounts and adjust your strategies accordingly. An app can also generate reports that show sales data specific to each discount, helping you make more informed decisions.

2.2 Limited Discount Types

• Shopify Built-in Discounts:

Shopify offers basic discount types, such as percentage off and fixed amount off. However, it lacks more advanced discount options, which can be crucial for various marketing strategies.

• Shopify Apps: These apps often include more diverse discount types, such as:
  • Bundle Discounts: Encourages customers to buy more items at a lower price. For example, buying a shirt and pants together might offer a 15% discount.
  • Quantity Discounts: Offers a discount when customers purchase a certain number of items. For example, buy 5 items and get a 10% discount.
  • Tiered Pricing: Provides varying discounts based on the quantity purchased. For instance, buy 1-4 items at regular price, 5-9 items at 10% off, and ten or more items at 20% off.

2.3 Conditional Discounts

• Shopify Built-in Discounts: 

Conditional discounts can have issues. For instance, Shopify’s Buy X Get Y discount might fail to auto-add the gift to the cart, frustrating both store owners and customers. This can lead to a poor customer experience and potential loss of sales.

• Shopify Apps: 

Apps usually handle conditional discounts more smoothly. They ensure that conditions are met correctly and that free gifts or other conditional offers are applied without errors. For example, if a customer qualifies for a free gift by purchasing a specific product, the app will automatically and reliably add the gift to the cart.

3. How to create Shopify automatic discounts for specific customers using the Shopify app

While Shopify offers built-in discount features, sometimes you need more granular control over who gets what discounts. That’s where third-party apps like BOGOS come in handy.

BOGOS is a Shopify app designed to help you boost your average order value (AOV) by offering powerful gift and cart discount promotions like BOGO, Buy X Get Y, Free Gift With Purchase, Product Bundles, Quantity Breaks, and Volume Discounts. It’s got a 4.9 🌟  from over 1,900 Shopify merchants, showing just how effective and user-friendly it is.

BOGOS takes Shopify’s features up a notch by letting you create super-targeted discounts for specific customer segments. You can use advanced rules like specific URLs, locations, order history, and customer tags. This customization helps you craft truly personalized shopping experiences for your customers.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating Shopify automatic discounts for specific customers using BOGOS:

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, Shopify’s automatic discounts for specific customers create magical moments for your customers, making them feel truly special and valued. These personalized touches build loyalty and joy. To elevate these experiences, try the BOGOS app for even more tailored discounts. Embrace the power of targeted discounts and let your store become a place of delight and happiness for your customers!

5. FAQs