WooCommerce First Purchase Discount: A Step-by-Step Guide

Providing a discount for a customer’s initial purchase is a very effective technique to convert website visitors into paying customers. This tactic can assist you in the following ways:

• Convert unsure window-shoppers into satisfied purchasers.
• Develop an email subscriber list of individuals who may buy from you again.
• Instill a feeling of limited-time availability, thus boosting sales.

There are a few different ways to configure a first-purchase discount for your WooCommerce store.

We tested numerous methods and reduced them to the top three approaches that are effective.

Option 1: Advanced Coupons (Sharing Coupon Codes Anywhere)

If you’re looking to create a first-purchase coupon code and easily share it with shoppers, then we recommend using Advanced Coupons.

This robust coupon plugin allows distribution beyond email collection. Share the discount code widely—website, social media, newsletters, or print. Customers apply it at checkout.

Explore our comprehensive Advanced Coupons review for a feature overview.

Step 1: Setting Up Advanced Coupons

Let’s start by installing Advanced Coupons on your site. After downloading both plugins, head over to your WordPress dashboard to install and activate them.

If needed, refer to our step-by-step guide on WordPress plugin installation.

Once the plugins are active, input your license details. Navigate to Coupons » License in your dashboard.

Locate your license key in the Advanced Coupons account area. Enter the key and the purchase email, then activate.

Step 2: Generating the New Customer Coupon

Now, create the automated discount coupon. Proceed to Coupons » Add New in the WordPress admin panel.

Assign the coupon a memorable code, such as ‘FIRSTORDER’ or ‘WELCOME’.

Optionally, include a descriptive note for the coupon.

Next, in the ‘Coupon Data’ area, go to the ‘General’ tab. The ‘Discount Type’ menu provides these choices:

• Percentage of the total purchase
• A fixed discount amount (applied to cart or product)
• A percentage or a set amount of cashback as store credit
• Deals where the customer buys one item and gets one free

Select the discount type best suited for your online store.

Percentage discounts are typically recommended for first purchases, as they are effective across various purchase totals.

After picking the discount type, input the specific discount amount.

You can also enable free shipping with this coupon and choose whether to ‘Force Apply’ it (overriding any existing coupons).

You’re also able to define a percentage discount limit, restricting the maximum discount value.

For instance, a 15% discount capped at $30 means a $300 product gets $30 off, not $45.

Now, go to the ‘Usage Restriction’ area. Here, you can configure several options, including:

• Define the minimum and maximum spending thresholds. Setting a minimum spending amount can motivate customers to include more items in their order, boosting your average order value.
• Specify the products to which the coupon is applicable (if needed).
• Exclude specific products or categories from the coupon’s eligibility (if required).
• Activate individual use to prevent stacking with other active promotions.

The final setting allows you to choose which coupons can be combined with your first-order discount.

Under the ‘Usage Limits’ tab, specify the maximum uses for this coupon.

To prevent misuse, it’s advisable to set both ‘Usage limit per coupon’ and ‘Usage limit per user’ to 1. Also, ensure that ‘Reset usage count every’ is set to ‘Never reset’.

To enable automatic coupon application via a link, go to the ‘URL Coupon’ tab.

Refer to our guide on creating WooCommerce coupon URLs for detailed information on configuring these settings.

In the ‘One Click Apply’ tab, you can configure WooCommerce to alert first-time shoppers about their discount eligibility. Customers can then simply click a button on the cart page to redeem the discount.

To do this, just check the ‘Enable one click apply notifications’ box. Then, you can customize the notification message, button, and type.

Step 3: Configuring the Rules for First-Time Customer Discounts

Advanced Coupons excels in this area. Navigate to the ‘Cart Conditions’ section to ensure the discount is exclusively for first-time buyers.

In the ‘Rules’ tab, find the dropdown menu and select ‘Number of Customer Orders.’ After that, click ‘Add.’

Next:

• Set the Condition to ‘EXACTLY’
• Enter ‘0’ for the Count
• Set ‘No. of previous days’ to ‘0’

This method provides a reliable way to identify genuine first-time purchasers. When a coupon is used, Advanced Coupons verifies the customer’s order history.

The discount is valid only for customers making their first purchase. Existing customers with prior orders cannot use the coupon.

Step 4: Publishing Your Coupon

After configuring all settings, return to the top of the page and click ‘Publish.’

That completes the setup!

Here is what the one-click coupon application feature looks like on the WooCommerce cart page:

Customers can click the button to automatically apply the coupon to their order.

After applying the coupon, the price will be adjusted as shown below:

Advanced Coupons allows for creating various other WooCommerce coupon types, including:

• How to Schedule Coupons in WooCommerce (and Save Time)
• How to Create Smart Coupons in WooCommerce
• How to Offer a Shipping Discount in WooCommerce

Option 2: FunnelKit Automations (Giving Coupon Codes After Visitors Become Leads)

To capture leads and simultaneously incentivize first-time purchases, consider using the premium FunnelKit Automations plugin, which automatically creates unique, first-order discount codes for visitors who subscribe.

We prefer this approach because it grants you granular control over discount distribution. FunnelKit creates a unique code for each lead, preventing widespread sharing on coupon websites.

This strategy minimizes fraudulent orders, ensuring that only genuinely new leads benefit from the promotion.

For a detailed overview, read our in-depth FunnelKit Automations review.

Now, let’s examine the setup process using FunnelKit Automations.

Step 1: Getting Started with FunnelKit Automations

First things first, you’ll need to install and activate all of the FunnelKit Automations plugins on your WordPress website.

If you’re unfamiliar with this procedure, refer to our comprehensive tutorial on installing WordPress plugins, designed for beginners.

After installing and activating each plugin, you must input your license keys. Navigate toFunnelKit Automations » Settings.

Simply add the appropriate license keys from your FunnelKit account dashboard to both of the ‘License’ fields.

Then, click on the ‘Activate’ button until it changes to ‘Deactivate.’

Step 2: Connecting FunnelKit With Your Lead-Generation Form

At this stage, ensure you have a prepared form ready to collect leads. Subsequent steps will cover the process of linking this form to the automation.

We suggest utilizing OptinMonster for building your lead-generation form. It’s the platform we use for our campaigns; read our comprehensive OptinMonster review to learn more about our experience.

With OptinMonster, you have to manually integrate it with the FunnelKit Automations plugin. That’s why we asked you to install FunnelKit Automations Connectors before.

Alternatively, WordPress form plugins such as WPForms can be utilized. These do not require manual synchronization via the FunnelKit Automations Connectors plugin.

If not, return to your WordPress dashboard and go toFunnelKit Automations » Connector.Locate the OptinMonster area and select ‘Connect.’

A popup will now appear.

Simply select ‘Connect’ once more.

After that, be sure to select ‘Sync’ as well.

This is just to make sure that the OptinMonster and FunnelKit Automations plugins are working together.

Now, you can either create a new lead generation campaign or edit an existing one in OptinMonster.

Refer to our guide on creating WooCommerce popups for detailed instructions.

When creating your lead generation campaign for offering first-purchase discounts, make sure to:

• Minimize the number of form fields – focusing on email and first name is generally optimal.
• Clearly state when the discount will be provided to the user.
• Feature the discount amount prominently in the popup’s headline.

Here’s the appearance of our popup for this particular campaign:

Step 3: Setting Up Your Form Trigger

At this point, an automation needs configuration to operate the discount system autonomously.

Consider automation as a sequence of conditional actions. When an event occurs, it initiates a corresponding response.

In this scenario, upon form completion, the system automatically delivers a discount to the user.

To configure this, navigate toFunnelKit Automations » Automations and click the ‘Create Automation’ button.

A variety of templates are available; for this specific goal, a blank template offers the most flexibility.

So just click on the ‘Start from Scratch’ option.

Give your WooCommerce automation a name like ‘First Purchase Discount’ or ‘First Time Customer Discount’ so you can easily find it later.

After that, click ‘Create.’

This is where you configure FunnelKit to execute the discount process.

Begin by clicking the ‘Select an Event’ button. An event acts as a trigger, initiating your automation. It’s akin to instructing a virtual assistant: “When this occurs, then do that.”

Locate the ‘Forms’ tab.

Under OptinMonster, select ‘Form Submits’ and click ‘Done.’ You will also find other options like WPForms, Thrive Leads, and Formidable Forms if you use them.

Now, select the appropriate form to incorporate into the automation. Choose ‘Specific Campaign(s).’ to accomplish this.

Then, enter the name of your desired lead generation campaign.

After that, look for the ‘Mark Contact as Subscribed’ checkbox and make sure it’s selected. Also, under ‘Runs On Contact,’ choose ‘once.’

This action prevents abuse, stopping individuals from repeatedly submitting the form to obtain multiple first-purchase discounts.

Once configured, click ‘Save’ to confirm the settings.

Now, whenever someone fills out your lead generation form, this trigger will start the discount code process.

Step 4: Creating Your Dynamic Coupon

Now for the exciting part: configuring the personalized discount code for each new subscriber.

Click the ‘+’ icon below the ‘Form Submits’ step and select ‘Action.’

In the WooCommerce tab, look for ‘Create Coupon.’

Then, just click ‘Done.’

Here’s where you’ll customize your discount offer:

In the ‘General’ tab, give your coupon a title under ‘Coupon Title.’ This is just for your reference in the WordPress dashboard, so make it something descriptive like ‘New Customer Discount.’

Under ‘Discount Type,’ you have three options: percentage discount, fixed cart discount, and fixed product discount.

Then, enter your ‘Amount’ – whether that’s a percentage or a fixed amount based on your choice above.

Under ‘Coupon Code Prefix,’ you can add text that will appear at the start of each unique code.

You can also make the coupon feel more personal by using a merge tag. Merge tags are simple placeholders that add customer information to the code automatically.

For example, if you use the prefix ‘WELCOME-’ and add the {{contact_first_name}} merge tag, a customer named Sarah would get a unique coupon code like ‘WELCOME-SARAH’.

To create some urgency, go ahead and set a ‘Coupon Expiry’ date. We recommend setting it to expire within 30 days, as it gives plenty of time for the customer to take action but not too long that they might forget it.

If you want to make your offer even more attractive, you can check the ‘Allow Free Shipping’ box. We’ve found that free shipping can boost conversion rates, but only do it if it makes sense for your business.

Under the ‘Restrictions’ tab, you can restrict this coupon usage so that it’s used exactly as intended.

Here, we recommend that you at least enable ‘Individual Use Only’ (to prevent the coupon from being combined with other promotions) and ‘Restrict to Customer Email’ settings (to prevent the coupon from being shared on coupon sites and getting abused).

You may also limit the purchase quantity for the coupon code eligibility by setting a minimum and/or maximum spend amount.

Under the ‘Limits’ tab, you can specify the usage limit of your WooCommerce dynamic coupon.

Here, you can set limits per discount coupon and per user. This helps prevent any potential misuse of your discount codes.

Once you’ve set everything up, click ‘Save’ to store your coupon settings.

Step 5: Setting Up Your Welcome Email

Now let’s create a WooCommerce email that delivers the discount code to your new subscribers.

After setting up your coupon, you’ll see a ‘+’ icon right below it.

Just like before, click this icon and select ‘Action’ to start creating your email.

This time, go to the ‘Messaging’ tab, choose ‘Send Email,’ and click ‘Done.’

Now, let’s make your welcome email stand out.

First, craft your subject line. Something like ‘Here’s Your Special Discount, {{contact_first_name}}!’ works well – it’s personal and tells them exactly what to expect.

You also have the option to add a preview text. This is the snippet people see in their inbox before opening the email.

For the email design, you have three options: Visual Builder, Rich Text, and Raw HTML.

The Visual Builder is recommended for crafting professional emails effortlessly, even without coding skills. FunnelKit offers pre-designed templates for brand customization.

After selecting a template, proceed by clicking the ‘Edit’ button.

You’ll be presented with various WooCommerce email template options.

To see a template preview, hover over it and select ‘Preview’.

We’ll use the ‘Personalized Coupon’ template, which is designed to deliver discount codes to first-time buyers.

If the template meets your needs, click ‘Import Template’ to integrate it into your email.

Now, personalize the template. The Visual Builder functions similarly to the WordPress block editor.

Elements can be moved via drag and drop and edited individually; it’s easy to learn.

Begin by incorporating a first name tag for a personal touch. Click the Text block you’d like to modify.

Next, select ‘Merge Tag’.

You’ll see a list of available merge tags.

Click the copy icon on the right side of any tag you want to use. We’ll use the ‘Contact First Name’ tag.

Here’s how to add the discount code to your email.

Select the ‘Coupon’ block already in the template. Choose ‘Automation’ for ‘Coupon Type,’ and then select the coupon code you previously generated.

You can also make shopping super easy for your customers by using the ‘Shop Now’ button. Simply select the button on the template and click on the ‘Link’ icon.

Then, enter a direct link to your store, so customers can start browsing right away.

You can go ahead and continue customizing your WooCommerce email until you’re happy with how it looks.

Finally, click on the ‘Save’ button at the top right corner, and you’re set! Your automated welcome email with a personalized discount code is ready to go.

Step 6: Testing Your Email

Before going live, let’s make sure everything works perfectly. Click ‘Preview and Test’ at the top of your email editor.

Enter your own email address in the ‘Send Test Email’ field and click on the ‘Send Email’ button to deliver the WooCommerce test email.

This way, you can see exactly what your customers will receive.

We recommend checking that:

• Your coupon and personalization tags work correctly.
• The coupon code appears properly.
• All links work.
• The email looks good on both desktop and mobile.

Once done, go back to the Visual Builder, where you can make any necessary changes and then save them again.

After making some tweaks, here’s what our email looks like:

Step 7: Activating Your Automation

Once you’re happy with everything, it’s time to make your automation live. Close the Visual Builder and look for the toggle switch in the top right corner of your automation screen.

You can switch it from ‘Inactive to ‘Active’ to run the automation.

Now your system is ready to capture new subscriber information, generate unique discount codes, and send personalized welcome emails automatically.

That’s it! You’ve just set up an automated first-purchase discount WooCommerce email system.

The best part? Once it’s running, everything happens automatically – no manual work is needed.

Here are other types of workflows you can set up with FunnelKit Automations:

• How to Set Up WooCommerce Abandoned Cart Emails
• How to Send Automated Birthday & Anniversary Emails in WooCommerce
• How to Create a WooCommerce Subscription Reminder Email in WordPress

Option 3: First Order Discount WooCommerce (Simple, Free Solution)

Now, we know the plugins we’ve mentioned so far are paid. If you’re just starting your online store or working with a tight budget, then you’ll be happy to know that we’ve also found a free plugin that also works.

It’s called First Order Discount WooCommerce. While it’s not as feature-rich as FunnelKit Automations or Advanced Coupons, it’s perfect for basic first-order discounts in WooCommerce. This plugin simply checks if a customer has made a previous purchase and automatically applies a discount to their first purchase.

First, install and activate the WordPress plugin from your dashboard. Once it’s been activated, go to Woo Extend » First Order Discount.

The setup is surprisingly simple. You’ll see a clean interface with just a few key options.

Start by choosing your discount type. The free version gives you three options: Free Shipping, Fixed Discount, or Percentage Discount.

If you select a percentage discount, simply enter your desired discount amount in the ‘Discount Value’ field.

The ‘Individual use only’ option prevents customers from combining this discount with other coupon codes. This helps protect your profit margins while still offering an attractive first-purchase incentive.

We also recommend enabling ‘Auto apply discounts for guests.’ This automatically applies the first-time customer discount for those who shop as guests, making their purchase journey smoother.

If you use the free version of the plugin, then you can’t activate the ‘Minimum cart value’ setting because it’s reserved for premium users.

Once you’ve made your choices, just click ‘Save’ and you’re done!

On the front end, your customers will see the discount automatically applied to their checkout when they make their first purchase. No need to enter coupon codes or jump through hoops – it just works.

Frequently Asked Questions About Giving a First Purchase Discount

Here are answers to some common questions about setting up first-purchase discounts in WooCommerce.

What is a good discount for first-time customers?

There’s no single perfect number, but a 10-20% discount is a popular and effective starting point. It’s attractive enough to encourage a purchase without significantly cutting into your profit margins.

Another powerful incentive is offering free shipping. We recommend testing different offers to see what works best for your specific audience.

Can I offer a first-purchase discount without a plugin in WooCommerce?

WooCommerce has built-in coupon functionality, but it can’t automatically restrict a coupon to only first-time customers on its own. A customer could reuse a generic code on future orders.

The plugins in this guide add the necessary rules to check a customer’s order history. This ensures the discount is only applied to their very first purchase.

How can I prevent users from abusing the first-time discount?

The methods we covered are designed to prevent abuse. For example, Advanced Coupons lets you limit usage to one per user by checking their order history.

FunnelKit Automations is even more secure, as it generates unique, single-use codes tied to a specific email address. This makes it nearly impossible for the code to be shared or reused.

Should I offer a percentage-off or a fixed-amount discount?

The ideal discount type hinges on your store’s average order value. Percentage discounts, such as ‘15% off,’ adapt to the cart total, potentially incentivizing larger purchases. Fixed discounts, like ‘$10 off,’ are often more suitable for shops with lower-priced goods.

Additional WooCommerce Tips for Store Growth:

Want to further optimize your WooCommerce store? Explore these curated guides to enhance your online store’s performance:

• Step-by-step guide on selling product bundles in WooCommerce.
• A quick and easy method to add product badges in WooCommerce.
• How to Send a Coupon After a WooCommerce Product Review
• Guidance on displaying product recommendations within WordPress.
• How to Easily Create Post Purchase Surveys in WooCommerce
• A comprehensive guide to setting up WooCommerce conversion tracking.
• Tips on converting WooCommerce visitors into paying customers.

We trust this article clarified how to implement a first-purchase discount in WooCommerce. You might also be interested in our top selections for the best WooCommerce plugins and our comprehensive guide to WooCommerce SEO.

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