How to Create Shopify Automatic Discounts Guide

How to Create Shopify Automatic Discounts Guide

Table of Contents

    Creating automatic discounts on Shopify is a powerful way to boost sales and enhance customer satisfaction.

    This guide frome Nextsky will walk you through the steps to set up Shopify automatic discounts, allowing you to offer promotions that apply seamlessly at checkout, making it easier for your customers to take advantage of your special offers. 

    Types Of Shopify Automatic Discounts

    1. Bundle Discounts

    Bundle Discounts encourage customers to purchase multiple items together by offering a discount when they buy a specific combination of products. For example, "Buy a shirt and pants together and get 20% off."

    2. Volume Discounts

    Volume Discounts reward customers for purchasing in larger quantities by offering a discount based on the volume of products bought. For example, "Buy 3 or more and get 10% off." 

    shopify automatic discounts

    3. Wholesale Discounts

    Wholesale Discounts are often used by medium/large stores for B2B customers. Wholesale discounts provide reduced pricing to those who purchase in bulk or meet certain criteria, automatically applied based on customer tags or specific conditions.

    4. Upsell Pop-Ups

    This Pop-Up suggests to buyers a product that goes with the item they just added to the cart and applies a discount rate. This helps increase the average value per order.

    5. Free Gift

    Automatically add a free gift to the cart when certain conditions are met, such as spending a specific amount or purchasing a particular product.

    6. BOGO

    Offer a free or discounted item when a customer purchases another item at full price. For example, "Buy one, get one 50% off.

    7. Percentage Discounts

    Provide a percentage off the total purchase or specific items. This is one of the most common types of discounts. However, you need to set a flat limit for big percentage discounts so you don’t lose too much money.

    8. Cart Conditional Discounts

    Offer discounts based on specific conditions in the cart, such as a minimum cart value or the presence of a particular product. 

    How to create Shopify Automatic Discounts

    Step 1: Go to Discounts in Shopify Admin Dashboard

    Log in to your Shopify account. On the Shopify Admin Dashboard, look at the left sidebar and click on Discounts.

    Automatic Discounts Guide

    Step 2: Create An Automatic Discount

    Click the Create Discount button to start creating a discount.

    Shopify automatic discounts

    Shopify lets you create 4 types of Shopify Automatic Discounts:

    • Amount off products
    • Amount off order
    • Buy X and Get Y
    • Free shipping

    Choose one of them. 

    shopify automatic discounts guide

    Step 3: Choose Discount Method

    In the Method section, choose Automatic discount. Enter a suitable title for the discount.

    From there on, there will be different information you need to fill in depending on the type of discount you choose.

    Shopify automatic discount

    Step 4: Fill in Specific Discount Information

    Amount off products

    • In the Discount Value section, choose Percentage or Fixed Amount then enter the value. Next, choose the Specific products or the Specific collections this discount will apply.
    • In the Minimum Purchase Requirements section, choose the Minimum purchase amount($) or the Minimum quantity of items option and enter the value for whichever you choose.
    shopify automatic discount

    Buy X get Y

    • In the Customer buys section, choose the Minimum purchase amount($) or the Minimum quantity of items option and enter the value for whichever you choose. Enter the value in accordance with your choice.
    • In the Customer gets section, choose a number of Specific products or products from Specific collections. Choose a type of discount value and enter the according value. You can also Set a maximum number of uses per order.
    shopify automatic discount

    Amount off order

    • In the Discount Value section, choose Percentage or Fixed Amount then enter the value.
    • In the Minimum Purchase Requirements section, choose the Minimum purchase amount($) or the Minimum quantity of items option and enter the value for whichever you choose.
    shopify automatic discounts

    Free Shipping

    • In the Countries section, choose All countries or Selected countries. You can also choose to Exclude shipping rates over a certain amount.
    • In the Minimum Purchase Requirements section, choose the Minimum purchase amount($) or the Minimum quantity of items option and enter the value for whichever you choose.
    shopify automatic discounts

    Step 5: Set up Combinations and Active Dates

    Finally, fill in these 2 sections and press Save Discount:

    • In the Combinations section, choose want in 3 options if you want to allow this discount to combine with other types of discounts.  
    • In the Active Dates section, enter the Start date and the Start time. If this is a time-limited discount, tick on the Set End Date box and choose an End date and an End time as well.
    shopify automatic discounts

    How to set up Automatic Discount Codes

    Normally, Shopify allows you to create Discount Codes that customers can apply manually during checkout. However, there are methods that allow you to create automatic discount codes on Shopify.

    Shopify Script

    While Shopify doesn’t have a built-in system for applying Discount Codes automatically, you can implement it by adding custom scripts to your Shopify theme. We recommend you hire a Shopify expert to handle this task so you can get exactly what you want without hassles.

    Third-Party Shopify Integration App

    Another method is using Shopify apps such as the AIOD - All-in-1 Discount app. It includes a host of different options for you to create personalized discounts for your customers.

    Why you need Shopify Automatic Discounts

    1. Boost Sales and Revenue

    Automatic discounts encourage customers to purchase more by offering incentives like bundle deals, volume discounts, or BOGO offers. These promotions can increase the average order value and overall sales.

    2. Enhance Customer Experience

    By applying discounts automatically, you simplify the shopping process for your customers. They don't need to remember or enter a discount code at checkout, reducing friction and making their experience smoother and more enjoyable.

    3. Encourage Larger Purchases

    Automatic discounts like volume or bundle discounts incentivize customers to add more items to their cart. This strategy can lead to higher cart values and increased sales of specific products you want to promote.

    4. Segment and Target Specific Audiences

    With automatic discounts, you can create targeted promotions for different customer segments, such as offering wholesale discounts to B2B customers or special deals for repeat buyers. This personalized approach can improve customer loyalty and retention.

    5. Drive Urgency and Impulse Buys

    Automatic discounts, especially when paired with limited-time offers or upsell pop-ups, create a sense of urgency that can encourage customers to make quicker purchasing decisions. This can be particularly effective in boosting sales during promotional events.

    6. Simplify Marketing and Promotions

    Automatic discounts streamline the process of running promotions, making it easier to manage and execute sales events. You can set up and forget about these discounts, letting the system handle the rest, which saves you time and reduces the potential for errors.

    7. Increase Customer Loyalty

    Offering exclusive or automatic discounts to loyal customers or email subscribers can strengthen relationships and encourage repeat business. Customers are more likely to return if they feel they are receiving special treatment or rewards.

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    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What is the limit of automatic discounts on Shopify?

    On Shopify, you can have only one active automatic discount at a time. This means that while you can create multiple automatic discounts, only one can be applied to a customer's cart during a single purchase. If you need to run multiple promotions simultaneously, you may need to manage them manually or explore advanced discount apps available in the Shopify App Store.

    How to automatically apply a discount on Shopify?

    To automatically apply a discount on Shopify:

    • Go to your Shopify admin panel and navigate to Discounts.
    • Click on Create discount and select Automatic discount.
    • Set the conditions for the discount, such as minimum purchase amount, specific products, or customer groups.
    • Define the discount type (percentage, fixed amount, free shipping, etc.) and set the discount value.
    • Set a start and end date for the promotion if needed.
    • Save the discount. It will now automatically apply to eligible carts without the need for a discount code.

    How to use automatic discounts to clear out inventory on Shopify?

    To use automatic discounts for clearing out inventory:

    • Create an automatic discount targeting the products or collections you want to clear out.
    • Set up a significant discount (e.g., 30% off or more) to make the offer attractive.
    • Clearly promote this discount on your store's homepage, in product descriptions, and through email marketing to drive traffic to these products.
    • Consider setting a limited time or "while supplies last" condition to create urgency and encourage faster sales.
    • Monitor the inventory levels and adjust the discount or promotion as necessary until the excess stock is cleared.

    How do I override my automatic discount on Shopify?

    To override an automatic discount on Shopify, you can:

    • Disable the Automatic Discount: Go to Discounts in your Shopify admin, find the active automatic discount, and deactivate it. This stops the discount from applying automatically to any new orders.
    • Use a Discount Code: If you want to offer a different discount, create a discount code that can be applied manually by the customer. The discount code will override the automatic discount if it's a better offer.
    • Apply a New Automatic Discount: If you need to apply a different automatic discount, create a new one and activate it. Remember that only one automatic discount can be active at a time, so this will replace the previous one.