zenpageCreating a promo code for a session: settings, limits and best practices
Code, percentage discount, validity dates, usage limit and once-per-client rule: create a promo code without devaluing your rate.
A promo code can win back a hesitant client or thank a friend who recommends you. Badly managed, it devalues your rate and gets shared endlessly. Zenpage lets you configure it with the limits that prevent these drifts. Here are the settings, in the order you meet them.
The code and the discount
The code is the text the client enters. Choose one that is easy to remember but hard to guess, for example a combination of your name and a year, rather than a very common word like "WELCOME". The discount is expressed as a percentage of the service price.
Validity dates
Each code has a start date and an end date. For a seasonal campaign, such as a back-to-school offer, set both dates. A code with no end date stays active until you deactivate it, which is rarely what you want.
The usage limit
Enter the total number of uses allowed. A limit of 10 or 20 uses protects your rate if the code circulates more than planned. Combined with the "once per client" rule, it prevents the same client from multiplying discounted bookings.
Create a code for each action: a campaign, a partnership, a thank-you. You'll know which approach worked, and you can deactivate one code without touching the others.
Apply the code
The code attaches to an appointment from the coupon application page: enter the code, select the appointment, then confirm. If the code is refused, check the dates, the status and the usage limit, in that order.
Don't devalue the session
A code that halves a session's rate sets a lasting expectation. Prefer a moderate discount on a first appointment, or a one-off gesture, rather than a permanent promotion. Your rate is also a quality signal for your clients.
Going further
Online payment and deposits combine with codes. Read our guide to online payment, and the introduction to deposits. To build loyalty without discounts, see our loyalty advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I limit a code to a single use per client?
Yes. Enable the "once per client" option: the same client cannot use the code twice.
How do I deactivate a code without deleting it?
Change its status. An inactive code is no longer accepted, but it stays saved with its settings, and you can reactivate it.
How do I apply a code to an existing appointment?
From the coupon application page, enter the code and select the relevant appointment.
