How to Create Coupons for Your Membership Site

Do you want to learn how to create coupons for your membership site and unlock powerful ways to attract, reward, and retain your members?

Nowadays, using discount coupon codes to generate leads and attract new customers is both a common practice and a smart strategy. Coupons do more than boost sales; they spark curiosity, increase engagement, and build lasting loyalty among your audience.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create coupons for your membership site using ProfilePress, explore excellent ways to use them, and share best practices for creating coupon codes that deliver real results.

Using ProfilePress Coupons

Creating coupons for your membership site with ProfilePress is easy and doesn’t take much time.

To get started, make sure you’ve installed and activated the ProfilePress plugin on your WordPress website.

After activating the plugin, you need to create membership plans that users can sign up for. If you don’t know how to do this, follow this guide to learn how to create membership plans. Once you’ve completed it, return here to continue.

Next, it’s time to create your coupon codes. Go to your WordPress dashboard and click on:

ProfilePress > Membership Plans > Coupons.

Click the “Add New Coupon” button to make a new coupon.

Enter the coupon code and a brief description. The coupon code is a short word or phrase that customers will enter to get the discount. Make it simple and easy to remember.

If you leave the coupon code field blank, ProfilePress will create one for you automatically when you save.

Next, enter the discount amount. You can choose either a fixed amount or a percentage off.

Next, choose the Coupon Type setting, where you decide whether the coupon should apply only to the first subscription payment or to all recurring payments. Then, select the Coupon Application setting, which determines whether the coupon applies to new purchases, upgrades, or both.

Finally, you can choose the Use Once Per Customer setting if you want to allow each customer to use the coupon only once.

Once you’ve set up the coupon details, scroll down to the Redemption Settings section.

Here, you can further control how and when the coupon can be used:

Membership Plans: This option enables you to select the specific membership plans to which the coupon should be applied. You can choose one or multiple plans. If you leave this field empty, the coupon will be valid for all ProfilePress membership plans.

Start/End Date: If you’re running a limited-time promotion, you can set the start and end dates for the coupon. If left blank, the coupon will remain active indefinitely.

Maximum Redemptions: This feature allows you to limit the total number of times the coupon can be used. Leave it blank if you want the coupon to have unlimited uses.

Note that if you don’t set any specific restrictions or exclusions, the coupon will apply to all available membership plans by default.

With the guide above, you can now successfully create coupons for your WordPress membership site using ProfilePress. Now, let’s explore some of the ways you can use coupons.

How & Why You Should Offer a Discount Coupon

Creating coupons for your membership site using ProfilePress opens up many ways to grow your business and keep your community engaged. Discount coupon codes aren’t just about lowering prices; they’re powerful strategies you can use to reach different objectives.

Here are some practical ways to use membership coupons for your site:

Coupon Codes as Lead Magnets

One of the most effective ways to grow your email list is by offering something valuable in exchange for contact information, and discount coupons are perfect for this.

By using coupon codes as lead magnets, you encourage visitors to sign up for your newsletter or create an account in return for a special discount on their first membership payment. This simple exchange helps you build a list of interested users while providing them with a reason to explore what your membership site has to offer.

Use a Discount Coupon Code in an Email or Newsletter

Once you’ve created your coupon in ProfilePress, a great way to share it is through your email marketing campaigns or newsletters. Whether you’re announcing a new membership plan, promoting a limited-time offer, or re-engaging inactive members, adding a discount code to your emails can significantly boost conversions.

You can include the coupon code directly in your email content, along with a clear call-to-action button that links to your membership checkout page. To make it even easier for your subscribers, ProfilePress allows you to automatically apply a coupon code by adding ‘?coupon=CODE’ (where CODE is your coupon code) to the checkout URL of the membership plan. For example;

https://yoursite.com/checkout/?plan=2&coupon=CODE.

This way, when recipients click the link, the discount is already applied, so they don’t need to type anything manually.

Also, emailing your coupon codes allows you to:

• Reward loyal subscribers
• Welcome new signups with a first-time offer
• Remind users about expiring discounts
• Promote seasonal or flash sales

By combining ProfilePress coupons with your email marketing strategy, you can create more targeted offers and increase the chances of turning subscribers into paying members.

Offer Free Trials Instead of a Discount

A coupon code doesn’t always have to mean a discount on membership fees. You can also use it to offer a free trial for a day, a week, or even a month. Once someone signs up and has the chance to explore your site and enjoy your content, they’re often more likely to become a paying member.

With ProfilePress, you can set up free trials as part of your membership plans. Instead of giving a percentage or dollar amount off, you can allow new members to join for free for a limited time, such as 3 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 1 month. After the trial ends, their paid subscription automatically begins unless they cancel.

Here’s why free trials work so well:

Reduce Risk for New Members: A free trial lowers the barrier to entry, allowing people to explore your content or community without feeling pressured to pay immediately.

Showcase Your Value: It provides an opportunity to demonstrate the value of your membership, which can lead to increased long-term retention.

Encourage Engagement: Members who try your site for free are more likely to engage with your resources, making them feel connected and more willing to pay later.

Attract Curious Visitors: Some users who might skip a paid offer will be willing to test a free trial instead.

Time Sensitive Discounts

Another powerful way to use ProfilePress coupons for your membership site is by offering time-sensitive discounts. These limited-time offers create a sense of urgency, encouraging visitors and current members to take action quickly before the deal expires.

Time-sensitive discounts are perfect for:

Seasonal Sales: Promote discounts during holidays like Black Friday, New Year, or special events related to your niche.

Flash Sales: Run surprise short-term discounts lasting only 24 to 72 hours to spark quick sign-ups.

New Product Launches: Offer a special price to early adopters when launching new membership content or features.

Membership Anniversaries: Celebrate your business milestones with exclusive time-limited discounts for both new and existing members.

In ProfilePress, you can easily set a start and end date for your coupon codes under the “Redemption Settings” section. Once the end date passes, the coupon automatically becomes inactive, saving you the hassle of manually disabling it.

Using time-sensitive discounts not only helps boost sign-ups but also builds excitement around your membership site. People are far more likely to act when they know that a great deal won’t last forever!

Discount Upgrades to Premium Plans

Another effective way to use ProfilePress coupons is to encourage your existing members to upgrade to higher-tier membership plans. Instead of focusing solely on attracting new users, offering discounts for upgrades can help increase revenue and deliver even more value to your loyal members.

Many users may be interested in premium features, exclusive content, or added benefits, but hesitate because of the higher cost. A targeted discount code can provide the extra incentive they need to make the switch.

Here’s how you can use discount codes to promote upgrades:

Exclusive Upgrade Offers: Send discount codes specifically to members on lower-tier plans, inviting them to try premium access at a reduced price.

Time-Limited Upgrade Deals: Create urgency by offering upgrade discounts for a short period, such as during a special promotion or event.

Feature Unlock Promotions: Highlight premium features or content and offer a discount code to encourage members to unlock them.

Retention Strategy: Offer upgrade discounts to members who are considering canceling, providing them with a reason to stay and explore additional benefits.

Offering upgrades with discounts can encourage casual members to become your most dedicated supporters, ultimately helping your membership site grow sustainably.

Offer a Discount on Membership Renewals

Keeping your existing members is just as important as attracting new ones. One excellent way to boost retention is to offer a discount on membership renewals using ProfilePress coupons.

Over time, even satisfied members might consider canceling their subscriptions due to costs or changing needs. A renewal discount can be the perfect incentive to keep them on board. It’s a way of expressing gratitude for their loyalty while reducing the likelihood of churn.

Here’s how you can use renewal discounts effectively:

Send Renewal Reminders with a Discount: A few weeks before a member’s subscription expires, send an email reminding them to renew and include a special coupon code as a loyalty reward.

Offer Discounts for Long-Term Renewals: Encourage members to renew for more extended periods (e.g., yearly instead of monthly) by providing a discount on extended plans.

Win Back Lapsed Members: For members who have recently canceled, send a targeted email offering a renewal discount to entice them to return.

Exclusive Loyalty Offers: Show appreciation to long-term members by giving them a unique discount code for their next renewal.

By offering discounts on renewals, you not only reward loyalty but also maintain steady revenue and a strong community.

Issue Single-Use Coupon Codes for Individuals

Another approach is to create single-use coupon codes for individual members. Because these codes can only be redeemed once, you don’t have to worry about multiple discounts being claimed unexpectedly.

Here’s why single-use coupon codes are useful:

Custom Rewards: Surprise loyal members or high-engagement users with an exclusive discount as a token of appreciation for their support.

Customer Service Solutions: If a member has faced an issue or inconvenience, a one-time discount code is a great way to offer goodwill and retain their business.

Special Invitations: Send unique codes to invite specific individuals to join premium plans, test new features, or attend exclusive events.

Influencer Partnerships: Offer influencers or affiliates single-use codes for giveaways or special promotions, allowing you to track each redemption individually.

To set this up in ProfilePress, go to the Redemption Settings section when creating your coupons, and set Maximum Redemptions to 1 to ensure that each code can be redeemed only once. This gives you precise control over who benefits from your discounts.

Using single-use coupon codes is an excellent way to deliver custom experiences and build stronger relationships with your members, all while maintaining the security of your promotional offers.

Below is a ProfilePress checkout page on mobile with the coupon code field.

Best Practices for Coupon Code Creation

Creating coupons for your WordPress membership site using ProfilePress is a great way to boost engagement and sales; however, it’s essential to set them up wisely. Following some best practices ensures your coupon codes are effective, easy for users to redeem, and beneficial for your business in the long run.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating your coupon codes:

Keep Codes Simple and Memorable: Choose short, clear codes like SAVE10 or WELCOME20 so customers can easily remember and enter them without errors.

Avoid Easily Guessed Codes: Don’t use generic codes like “DISCOUNT” that anyone could try randomly. Make them specific enough to avoid misuse.

Limit Usage if Needed: Utilize ProfilePress’s settings, such as Maximum Redemptions or Use Once Per Customer, to control how a coupon can be used. This protects your revenue and prevents unintended losses.

Don’t Overuse Discounts: Frequent discounts can train your audience to wait for deals rather than pay full price. Use coupons strategically for specific campaigns or occasions, rather than running them constantly.

Track Performance: Monitor how your coupons perform to see which ones drive the most sign-ups or revenue. This helps you refine your discount strategy over time.

By following these best practices, you’ll create coupon codes that not only attract and reward members but also support the long-term success of your membership site.

That’s how to create coupons for your membership site!

Creating coupons for your membership site using ProfilePress is an excellent way to grow your business, attract new members, and keep your existing community engaged.

Whether you’re offering welcome discounts, running time-sensitive promotions, setting up free trials, or issuing single-use codes, ProfilePress gives you all the flexibility you need to manage your coupon strategy with ease.

By following the steps and best practices we’ve covered in this guide, you’ll be ready to set up effective coupon codes that align with your goals and deliver real value to your audience.

Ready to put these strategies into action? Get ProfilePress today!