How to Create a Shopify Student Discount Without a Shopify app?

Essentially, it is important for any Shopify store to offer all that the customer requires, including students. It is good to provide a Shopify student discount. This is validated by the emails or student IDs they present, helping students reduce their expenses. At the same time, it assists in attracting young customers to your store, increasing the sales of the products and services offered in the market.

This post will help you know:

1. How student discounts in Shopify work in 2 specific ways.
2. The three best Shopify student discount apps.
3. What to consider when using a Shopify student discount.

Let’s get started!

1. How does Shopify Student Discount Work on Shopify?

Shopify student discounts can be used by merchants to lure students and, at the same time, increase sales. By default, Shopify has provided its users with many types of customer segments, but at this moment, Shopify doesn’t have a solution for student discounts. If you want to know more about customer segments on Shopify, we have concluded everything in this article, so make sure to check it out: Boost Sales with Shopify Customer Group Discounts: A Guide for Targeted Promotions.

To offer Student Discounts on your Shopify store, there are two primary methods to do it: by the default tools in Shopify, including promotion creation and Shopify flow for tagging students, or by the third-party app. Now, let’s discuss these methods in detail.

Method 1: Using Shopify’s Built-in Features and Shopify Flow to Identify Students Automatically

Shopify Flow is a powerful automation tool that allows you to create custom workflows for your store. With Flow, you can automatically identify and tag student customers based on their email domains and then apply discounts accordingly.

This is how it works:

When students initially register an account in your Shopify store, they tend to use their university or school-related email, which often contains “. edu,” “. ac,” or “. school.” Shopify Flow can identify such domains and later assign the customer tag as a “student.” If a customer gets a specific tag, there can be further conditions to assign a particular discount or place the customer in a specific group.

Shopify Flow uses a combination of triggers, conditions, and actions to create these automated workflows. For example:

• Trigger: A new customer account is created
• Condition: The customer’s email domain ends with “.edu”, “.ac”, or “.school”
• Action: Tag the customer as a “student” and add them to a “Student Discount” customer segment

All eligible students are automatically identified and tagged after setting up this workflow in Shopify Flow. You can then use Shopify’s built-in discount features to create specific discounts or promotions targeted at this student segment.

The convenience of using Shopify Flow is its flexibility and smooth integration with your Shopify store. You can easily modify the workflow as needed, add more conditions, or create additional actions based on your specific business needs.

For more information about how Shopify Flow works, refer to the Shopify Flow Help Center.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Apps for Student Verification

Third-party apps can be an excellent option if you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution with additional features. Apps like Student Beans or SheerID specialize in student verification and discount management.

Using a third-party app can save you time on setup and management, especially if you’re uncomfortable creating custom workflows in Shopify Flow. However, keep in mind that these apps usually come with additional costs.

These apps work by:

• Verifying student status: Apps usually employ a follow-up via email and having the identity of the student verified. This additional measure will guarantee that only the students will benefit, not some other dubious individuals.
• Smooth integration: Once the student status has been confirmed, the apps link to the Shopify store to either apply the auto discounts for the student or give the student unique codes.
• Marketing tools: Marketing features are also provided by most of the apps to enable you to popularize your student discounts amongst students.

Tips and Recommendations:

Whichever method you choose, here are some tips to make your student discount program more effective:

1. Create a landing page or banner to tell students about your discount.
2. Offer an appealing but sustainable discount.
3. Make the discount valid during critical times, like back-to-school.
4. Regularly check and adjust your discount program.

2. Top 3 best Shopify Student Discount Apps

Now that we’ve covered the importance of student discount apps for Shopify stores. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top options available. We’ll compare their features, pricing, and pros and cons to help you find the right app for your store’s needs.

Here’s a quick comparison of the top 3 Shopify student discount apps:

Now, we will examine each app in more detail:

#1 SheerID

SheerID is a powerful student verification platform that works with Shopify and other e-commerce platforms.

Here’s how it works: You can set up custom discounts for different product categories. SheerID verifies students’ eligibility through its database, and the discount is automatically applied to the student’s purchase.

Shopify Rating: 5 ⭐ with 8 reviews

Pricing: Free to install ($1.25 per verification)

Pros:

• Wide verification options: Check the student, age, military, teachers, and other population groups.
• Global reach: Authenticates customers globally across culturally diverse, 37 languages.
• In-depth reporting: Gives constant statistics and reports on how the campaign has faired and the return on investment.
• No separate accounts: Students do not have to sign up for or register for an account in order to use the promotion.

Cons:

• Higher cost per verification: This can be expensive for businesses with a high volume of student customers.
• Might not be ideal for small businesses: The cost per verification might be too high for small businesses with limited budgets.

#2 Easy Student Discounts

Easy Student Discounts is an application compatible with Shopify that helps its users offer student discounts to students from all over the world. This one is preferred because it involves no risks, is user-friendly, and can be easily adjusted to fit the user’s needs.

Here’s how it works: Students type their university email address and the app checks with its institution database. Qualified students are sent an instant email with a link containing a special discount code for them.

Shopify Rating: 4.7 ⭐ with 6 reviews

Pricing: Free to install (2.5% commission on successful student purchases)

Pros:

• Risk-free: You only pay when a student makes a purchase.
• Unlimited student verifications: Verify as many students as you need.
• Global reach: Verify students from universities all over the world.
• Customizable: Design your student discount page and emails to match your brand.
• Easy to install: Compatible with any Shopify theme.

Cons:

• Email issues: Occasionally, emails might be blocked by university inboxes.
• Database: While constantly growing, it might not include all universities.

#3 Student Beans

Beans iD Verification is a well-known student discount platform with over 1000 global brands. It provides a central location for students to discover and redeem exclusive discounts and promotions.

Here’s how it works: Students create a free account and verify their student status through their school email or ID. Once verified, they can access exclusive discounts and promotions from brands partnering with Student Beans.

Shopify Rating: 3.5 ⭐ with 3 reviews

Pricing:

• Starter: Free to install + 10% commission on verified sales
• Growth: $125/ month + 8% commission on verified sales

Pros:

• Popular platform: Well-established and trusted by students.
• Large network: Works with over 1000 global brands.
• Centralized discounts: Students can access all their discounts in one place.

Cons:

• Higher cost: The monthly fee and commission can be expensive for some businesses.
• Limited reviews: The app is relatively new, so there are only a few reviews available.

Which app is best for you?

• Easy Student Discounts: Ideal for businesses that want a risk-free, easy-to-use, and customizable solution. It’s an excellent option for companies with a moderate volume of student customers.
• Student Beans: Perfect for businesses that want to tap into a large, established student network. It’s a good choice for companies with a strong brand presence and a willingness to invest in a premium solution.
• SheerID: Best for businesses that want to verify a wide range of customer communities and gain in-depth insights into their marketing campaigns. It’s a good option for businesses with a high volume of student customers and a firm marketing budget.

Remember, each app has a free trial period to help you determine which is best for your business.

3. What should you pay attention to when deploying a Shopify student discount?

Before you launch your Shopify student discount, there are a few key things to consider to ensure a smooth and successful implementation.

Ensuring everything works well

No matter how you create your discount through Shopify web or an app, you must always double-check to ensure they all work correctly. Try it on several products to verify whether it is being applied and if it overlaps with any other current promotion.

For example, if your promo includes free shipping, make sure it doesn’t clash with the student discount so customers can enjoy both at the same time.

Customer support

When encountering a problem, you need a reliable support team to help you quickly and efficiently. We all know how frustrating it can be when something goes wrong, especially with a new feature like a student discount. Ensure the app or platform offers responsive support to address your concerns and solve any issues.

Integration with other apps

Your Shopify student discount should work smoothly with the other apps you use on your Shopify store. For example, if you use a loyalty program app, make sure the student discount doesn’t interfere with points accumulation or other loyalty program features.

Pricing plan

Consider your pricing plan carefully. Do you want to offer a flat percentage discount, a specific dollar amount off, or a tiered discount based on the purchase amount?

The best option will depend on your business goals and budget. You should also factor in the cost of the app or platform you’re using for your student discount and any potential impact on your profit margins.

4. Conclusion

As we have seen, offering discounts is one of the most effective strategies for increasing sales and customer loyalty and remaining relevant in e-commerce competition. Among them, the Shopify student discount programs can target a prosperous student base. We have also learned how Shopify offers in-built discount tools and third-party apps to ease giving out and managing discounts. Well, now it is your turn to implement all these strategies and expand your online store.

5. FAQs