Couponing has become wildly popular in the past several years, especially in light of the recession. While the most dedicated couponers, referred to as “extreme couponers,” get the majority of the publicity, they actually make up a very small minority of those who seek out and use coupons on a regular basis, according to a recent article in Daily Finance.


 

While extreme couponing may seem like a scary proposition for retailers, casual couponing can have huge benefits. For example, a coupon can bring new customers into your business, and if they have a good experience once, they are more likely to keep coming back. Offering coupons can also help convince consumers to choose your business over a competitor.

According to an article from The Lakeland Ledger, offering coupons also allows businesses to “practice price discrimination, selling the same item cheaper to deal-hunters and more expensively to those willing to pay the higher price.” This can help you move a lot more merchandise.

Providing coupons to college students is especially effective because this demographic is typically looking for a good deal. College students are often on tight budgets because of tuition costs, rent payment, and other associated expenses. Therefore, they love getting things free or at a reduced price.

There are many options available to include coupons when advertising to these college students in CM Life. One option is to include a coupon in your regular print ad in the newspaper. This may help bring more attention to your advertisement, and readers can just cut the coupon out of the paper. You can also include standing inserts in the paper. These often include several different coupons for your business. Another option is to put a coupon in the Campus Cash coupon books which are distributed at the start of each semester.

The key to a successful coupon is to make sure it is a good enough deal to catch consumers’ attention. This will largely depend on the product or service you are trying to sell and its original price. Consumers will want to make sure using the coupon will be worth their while. If you create an appealing coupon that is a good deal for consumers, especially those on a budget, you can gain a new base of loyal customers who will keep coming back.

By Amy Crockett, PR/Marketing Intern

Sources:

Daily Finance: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/04/05/dont-call-them-extreme-couponers-meet-the-coupon-enthusiasts/

The Lakeland Ledger: http://www.theledger.com/article/20120322/NEWS/120329791?p=1&tc=pg