How to Manage and Promote Shopify Discounts

Running promotions on your Shopify store can be a great way to increase sales and build customer loyalty. 

Understanding Supplier Promotions and MAP Restrictions

Before setting up promotions, it’s important to fully understand the terms provided by your suppliers. Sometimes, suppliers offer promotions like cost reductions, but you may not be allowed to pass these discounts directly to your customers if doing so violates MAP restrictions. Breaking MAP can damage your relationship with suppliers and harm your brand’s reputation. Always review the exact terms of a supplier’s promotion before applying it to ensure you’re in compliance and that the promotion is profitable. 

Setting Up Promotions in Shopify

Shopify makes it easy to create various types of promotions such as “Buy One, Get One” (BOGO) deals or fixed-price offers. To set up a promotion, go to Dashboard>Discounts. Remember to set an end date for the promotion, ensuring you don’t oversell or violate supplier rules.

Tip: If your supplier requires promotions to end at a specific time (e.g., by 5 PM on the last day), give yourself a buffer by ending your Shopify promotion early. This way, you’ll have enough time to process orders and remain compliant.

Syncing Shopify Discounts with Google Merchant Center

After creating the promotion, look for the option “Select channels that can apply this discount” in Shopify.

  • Choose the Google Sales Channel to sync the promotion to your Google Merchant Center.
  • Double-check that the promotion has been successfully reflected in your Google Merchant Center. You can do this by testing a product listing to ensure the promotion is displayed correctly.
  • You can manually add promotions in Google Merchant Center if syncing doesn't work. Log in to Merchant Center, navigate to Marketing > Promotions, and manually input the promotion details.

Additional Ways to Promote Your Sale

To maximize the visibility of your promotion, consider leveraging additional tools on your Shopify store:

  1. Update Your Announcement Bar

Your announcement bar is one of the first things customers see when they land in your store. It’s an easy way to highlight ongoing promotions.

Steps to Update the Announcement Bar:

  • Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Customize > Announcement Bar.
  • Add a concise message, such as “Buy One, Get One Free!” or “Limited Time Offer!”
  • Include a call-to-action link that directs visitors to the relevant collection or product page.
  1. Change Your Slideshow Image

Your homepage slideshow is another great space to promote sales. A bold, eye-catching image can draw immediate attention.

Steps to Update the Slideshow:

  • Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize > Slideshow.
  • Upload a new promotional image (you can create one in Canva or use assets from your supplier).
  • Make sure the image is time-sensitive and includes the promotion’s end date.
  • If you don’t want text overlays, simply leave the “heading” and “subheading” fields blank.
  1. Run Paid Ads for the Promotion

If you want to reach a broader audience or retarget visitors who have interacted with your store before, consider running paid ads. Google Ads and Facebook Ads are both excellent options for promoting sales.

Be sure to create ad campaigns that align with your promotion’s timeline and target the right audience for the best results.

  1. Send Promotional Emails to Your Email List

Email marketing is a highly effective way to inform existing customers about your promotion. If you have an email list, send out a dedicated campaign highlighting the sale.

  1. Leverage Social Media for Promotion

Social media is a powerful tool to amplify your sale and reach a broader audience quickly. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok can help you connect with both your existing followers and potential new customers. 

Running promotions in Shopify can be a great tool for driving sales, but it’s important to understand the terms from your suppliers to avoid violating MAP restrictions. Once you’ve set up your promotions, make sure to sync them with Google Merchant Center if you want them visible on Google Shopping.

In addition to these steps, take advantage of your website’s announcement bar, slideshow, and paid ads to maximize the visibility of your promotions. Email marketing can also help keep your existing customers engaged and informed about your latest offers. By combining these strategies, you can ensure your promotions are successful and help grow your store.

If you have any questions or need further assistance with setting up your promotions, feel free to reach out!

Here is a Shopify how-to video: https://www.loom.com/share/827c6abf5c9f4bdcb8c6250cc2f02218?sid=876fc1ba-1f17-47ec-b788-ee0fd008ff89

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