Printable coupons are the way of the future. Or the right now, at least

An in-depth look at online couponing sites and how they work.

Do you remember gathering stacks of newspaper and a handy pair of scissors to begin your day of coupon clipping? Those days seem to be becoming few and far between as Internet coupons are all the rage now. “Marketers quickly caught on to the Internet as an easy, effective marketing tool and internet coupons have taken root,” says the Association of Coupon Professionals. And this is very much true.

Websites like Living Social, Groupon and Coupon.com offer great deals on not only products but also entertainment and services. Regular coupons usually only get you about half off a bar of soap, but internet-based coupons can offer so much more!

Here is a breakdown of a few top internet coupon distributors:

Ebates:

• The site offers deals from over 1,000 retailers. No points to redeem, no forms to mail and in and no fees.
• Customers can get money back for purchasing coupons. Hence, the catchy name, Ebates. To date, members have earned more than $55,000,000.
• Shoppers can receive money in a check 4 or more times a year, transferred through PayPal or Ebates can send money earned to a shopper’s charity of choice.

Coupons.com:

• The site allows for printable coupons to save money on items in categories including books & mags, health care, household, office supplies, personal care, toys and games, food and more.
• The websites asks that customers install coupon printing software that contains security features needed to provide coupons an actual store can use. By the way, it’s totally free to download.
• Includes coupons like “save $10 with $50 purchase” for well known retailers like Kmart, Ulta and Lowe’s, and even Diapers.com and Leap Frog.
• Also offers special deals based on location. By entering a zip code, deals are granted including up to 80% on restaurant gift certificates.

Living Social:

• Offers one deal per day with discounts up to 90% at local restaurants, bars, spas, theaters and more.
• A deal is sent daily once you sign up.
• Living Social offers one deal per day with discounts up to 90% at local restaurants, bars, spas, theaters and more.

Coupon Winner: (Editor's note: since this blog was written, the Coupon Winner site is no longer in business. Thanks to reader Jen, who pointed that out and offered these alternatives: Savings.com and CouponGirl.com)

• Offers coupon codes for popular retailers including Target, Hotwire, Steve Madden and 1-800 Flowers.
• Codes can be used once you purchase items on the actual retailer’s website. (Click redeem/use coupon)
• Offers categories including most used coupons, NEW coupons, expiring coupons, free shipping coupons and exclusive coupons.

Groupon:

• Groupon gives customers the option to customize deals by providing a zip code, gender and age.
• Provides mostly services and food coupons like $35 for $75 worth of seasonal, contemporary cuisine at Spring Restaurant.
• They site is very big on mobile apps and sharing deals through social media – “Print the voucher or bring it up on your mobile device, then present it at the business to get your deal.”
• Refer friends, get $10.

According to Marketing Charts, Internet coupon use is up 83%. And for a marketer, this is heaven, especially for retail marketers. Benefits of Internet coupon clipping includes saving money on both the consumer side and the marketing side, targeting to the “upscale consumer” much easier and quickly gaining a new customer base with the use of social media and posting ads on high traffic sites like Pandora. There is so much to be said about Internet coupons and they have certainly changed the way people shop.

Are you a coupon clipper or a coupon printer?  

 

 

Jessica Mosley- Avid Coupon Printer