Originally published: December 4, 2018
Updated: Jun 26, 2023 to reflect new coupon features and our updated box office admin interface
Topics Covered:
[0:28] – The 3 Types of Coupons
[1:14] – Custom Coupons
[3:00] – Redemption Frequency Options
[4:24] – Discount Value Options
[5:31] – Advanced Options
[6:11] – Importing Coupons
[8:28] – Group Discount
Creating Coupons and Group Discounts Video
Transcription:
Today I’m going to show you how to create event coupons and group discounts in ThunderTix. Coupons allow ticket buyers to receive a discount on individual tickets or on their entire order. You can offer a percentage discount, a specific dollar amount, or even a free ticket. Coupons are a valuable sales tool because discounts can attract more patrons, encourage larger purchases, and help promote your events.
I’ll begin by showing you how to create a custom coupon code. Then, we’ll review how to import multiple coupon codes from a spreadsheet and how to create a group discount that is automatically applied during checkout. To get started, hover over the Revenue Builders tab near the top of the left-hand menu and click “Coupons.” From there, click “Create Coupon.”
On this page, you’ll see the three types of coupons available in ThunderTix. The first option is a custom coupon code, which allows you to create your own code, assign a discount value, and determine how the discount should be applied. The second option provides similar functionality but allows you to import multiple coupon codes in bulk from an external file. The third option is a group discount, which is automatically applied at checkout once the customer purchases the minimum required number of tickets.
Previously, you could also create a Flex Pass from this area. Flex Passes automatically generate a coupon or voucher code that customers can redeem for future events. This option has now been moved to Package Manager, where it appears alongside the other season pass options.
Let’s begin with the custom coupon option. First, enter a unique coupon code in the provided field. Unlike passwords, coupon codes are not case-sensitive. You’ll want to create a code that customers cannot easily guess, but it should still be simple enough to enter without causing frustration. You can also add a helpful name for the coupon so that your staff can easily identify its purpose.
Next, select the events for which the coupon can be redeemed. ThunderTix allows coupons to be used for both events and packages. When selecting where the coupon will be valid, you can choose either “Load Events” or “Load Packages.” Loading packages will display all your active packages and allow you to select the specific packages where customers can use the coupon. The rest of the setup process works the same way.
For this example, I’m going to load events and select two of them. To make the coupon valid for every event, you can select “Make It Valid for All Events.” You can also limit the coupon to certain performances, event dates, or ticket types.
For example, suppose you want the coupon to apply only to adult tickets for every performance of Cinderella. You would open the performances for that event, select “Ticket Types” beneath one of the performances, and choose “Adult.” You could then select “Apply to All Performance Tickets with the Same Name” to make the coupon valid for adult tickets across every performance.
After selecting the applicable events, performances, packages, or ticket types, you can decide whether the coupon should only be redeemable on certain days of the week. To apply this restriction, simply select the appropriate days.
The next step is determining how many times the coupon can be redeemed. ThunderTix provides three options: single-use, multi-use, and unlimited-use coupons.
A single-use coupon can only be redeemed once at one of the selected events. You may assign the coupon to several events, but after it has been used, it cannot be redeemed again at another event or by another customer. Because of this restriction, single-use coupon codes should normally be provided to one specific customer rather than distributed to a large group.
A multi-use coupon allows you to specify a maximum number of redemptions. For example, let’s set the number of redemptions to five. You can then decide whether those five redemptions are allowed per event or across all selected events.
When you select “Per Event,” the coupon can be used five times at each selected event. If you have three events, customers could redeem the coupon a total of 15 times—five times at each event. When you select “Across All Events,” the coupon can only be redeemed five times in total, regardless of how those redemptions are distributed among the three events.
The unlimited-use option works exactly as its name suggests. Customers can redeem the coupon without a usage limit for any selected event until the coupon expires, is made inactive, or is deleted. Unlimited-use coupons are useful when advertising a promotion through social media, printed materials, or other public marketing channels.
You’ll also see an option to make the coupon valid for all new events added in the future. This can be helpful when you want to create an ongoing promotional code without manually updating it every time a new event is created.
Next, you’ll determine the value and type of discount. To offer a specific dollar amount off each ticket, enter the dollar value in the appropriate field. For example, entering five dollars would give customers five dollars off each qualifying ticket.
You’ll also need to enter the minimum number of tickets required before the coupon becomes valid. In most cases, this can remain set to one ticket. However, you may want to increase the minimum when creating a buy-one-get-one-free promotion or another offer that requires customers to purchase multiple tickets.
After that, decide how the coupon should be applied. It can apply to all eligible tickets in the cart, to one ticket at a time, or be limited to one use per order.
To create a percentage discount, enter the percentage you want customers to receive. For example, you could enter 10 to offer a 10-percent discount. You can then choose whether the discount should be applied to each qualifying ticket or to the entire order.
ThunderTix also allows you to create a buy-one-get-one-free, or BOGO, coupon. When creating a BOGO coupon, decide whether the customer should receive only one free ticket per order or receive another free ticket each time they purchase the required number of tickets.
For example, to offer one free ticket for every two tickets added to the cart, set the minimum ticket requirement to two. The way you configure the redemption option will determine whether customers receive only one free ticket or continue receiving free tickets whenever they reach another qualifying quantity.
Once the main coupon settings are complete, you can review the advanced options. These settings are optional. By default, the coupon becomes active immediately after it is created. To prevent the coupon from activating immediately, uncheck the active option.
You can also establish an expiration date and time. After that date, customers will no longer be able to redeem the coupon.
ThunderTix also allows you to organize coupons using categories, which can make them easier to locate later from the Coupons page. A coupon can be assigned to multiple categories. For example, you might create a “Cast and Crew” category for internal discount codes or a “Facebook” category for coupons shared through Facebook advertisements.
After reviewing all the settings, make sure you click the “Create Coupon” button. The coupon will not be saved until you complete this step.
Next, let’s look at how to import multiple coupon codes. From the coupon creation page, select “Import Multiple.”
Before beginning the import, it’s important to understand what type of information you’ll be uploading. For example, organizations working with Groupon may receive a spreadsheet containing customer names and a unique Groupon code for each customer. Depending on the popularity of the promotion, that spreadsheet could contain thousands of individual codes. Importing the file saves staff from having to create each coupon manually.
The same process can be used with other daily-deal services or with a spreadsheet created by your own organization. For example, you could prepare a list of VIP customers, staff members, or other individuals who should receive unique discount codes. Email addresses or membership IDs can work well as coupon codes because they are easy for customers to remember.
The file must be formatted as a CSV and should contain one unique coupon code and one customer name or email address per row. If the file was provided in XLS format, open it in your spreadsheet program and save it as a CSV before uploading it to ThunderTix.
To begin the import, click the file upload option and navigate to the CSV file on your computer. Select the file and complete the upload. Once uploaded, the file name will appear on the page.
Next, enter a name for the import. You’ll then configure the same coupon information that we reviewed for individual coupon codes, including the applicable events, redemption settings, and discount value.
For daily-deal promotions, the discount is commonly set to the full value of the ticket. For example, even if the customer originally purchased the deal at a 50-percent discount, you may need to configure the ThunderTix coupon to cover the ticket’s full value. This ensures that the customer is not charged an additional amount when redeeming the code.
After entering the remaining coupon details, click “Create Coupon.” ThunderTix will then display a preview of the data contained in your file.
On the preview page, identify which spreadsheet column contains the customer names and which column contains the coupon codes. Use the dropdown menus above the columns to assign the correct designation to each one.
You’ll also see an option labeled “Ignore First Row.” Select this option only when the first row of the spreadsheet contains column headings. Leave it unchecked when the first row already contains the first valid customer name and coupon code.
Once the columns have been assigned correctly, click “Import File” to complete the process.
Finally, let’s review group discounts. A group discount is useful when you want to automatically provide a discount to customers purchasing a certain number of tickets. For example, you might offer 10 percent off all tickets for groups of 10 or more people. This allows groups to purchase tickets online and receive the discount without needing to contact the box office.
The main difference between a standard coupon and a group discount is that customers do not need to enter a coupon code. The group discount is automatically applied when the customer reaches checkout and has met the minimum ticket requirement. Because no code is required, you only need to create a descriptive name for the discount.
The default minimum number of tickets required for a group discount is 10, but you can change this number to whatever makes sense for your organization. Once the customer has added the required number of tickets, ThunderTix automatically applies the discount at checkout.
After completing the group discount settings, make sure you click the “Create Coupon” button to save it.
You’ve now learned how to create individual coupon codes, configure different redemption and discount options, import coupons in bulk, and create automatic group discounts in ThunderTix. For information about season subscriptions or discounts covering multiple events, you can also review the ThunderTix video about Flex Passes.
If you have any additional questions, take a look at our how-to guides or visit the ThunderTix support forum. Thank you for watching!