The Goal: Attach a discount promo code to a membership type, so prospective members can enter the code on your online membership application and have the discount applied automatically.
Before You Begin:
- You need permission to manage membership types and pricing.
- Create the membership type first. See Add a New Membership Type.
- Set up at least one discount with the New Membership discount type. That is the only discount type you can attach to a membership type. See Working with Discounts.
- A promo code discount only applies when someone applies online. Adding a membership from the back office does not use the promo code.
How the discount is applied
To generate membership sales you may want to offer a discount on new memberships — for example, running a campaign for new prospects and giving them a Promo Code to enter on your membership application form.
How the discount lands depends on which version of the membership application you are using:
- Version 1: The discount is applied to every line item in the membership purchase. A $20 discount on two items, a Gold Membership and a setup fee, reduces each item by $20.
- Version 2: The discount is applied to the total cost of all membership items. A $20 discount on a membership made up of two items reduces the total by $20.
To check or change your membership application version, see General Membership Settings. We recommend moving to version 2 where you can, since new features are being added there.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to Memberships, click Settings and select Membership Types.
- Click the Pricing link in the row for your membership type.
- Scroll to the Discount section and click the add (+) button at the right of that row.
- Select a discount from the Discount list. The list holds the discounts you have set up with the New Membership discount type. Its Name, Promo Code, Start Date and End Date fill in alongside. To change those defaults, click the edit icon beside the list; to set up a different discount first, see Working with Discounts.
- Click Done.
When a prospective member picks this membership type on your application, they are prompted for the promo code attached to the discount. If it applies, the discount is taken off automatically.
What to expect on version 2
- The applicant sees the discount name in their billing details at checkout.
- Promo code entry needs a single membership selection. If the applicant selects more than one membership at a time, no promo code field is shown.
- At checkout the discount shows as one line item, not attached to any particular item.
- On the back-office invoice the discount is applied to the highest-value item where a membership is made up of several, such as hidden fee items. For a $1,400 membership built from a $1,200 item and a $200 item, the discount appears against the $1,200 line.
- The accounting entry goes wherever your discount is configured to go. It is not spread across the items on the invoice — it follows the discount type attached to your discount and posts to that account.
- The customer's invoice uses whichever invoice template you have set up.
- Discount price can be a percentage or a flat amount.
Common Pitfalls
- Expecting back-office orders to honour the code: The promo code discount only applies when a member applies online. Adding a membership from the back office does not use it.
- Using the wrong discount type: Only discounts configured with the New Membership discount type can be attached to a membership type. Anything else will not appear in the list.
- Selecting multiple memberships: The promo code field only appears for a single membership selection.
- An expired discount: The Start Date and End Date that fill in come from the discount itself. If today falls outside that range, the code will not apply.