Brand managers, as you gear up for another year of engaging and activating shoppers, mobile coupons should remain at the core of your promotional strategies.

In 2024, these campaigns drove nearly £35m in consumer savings and drove deep brand engagement, proving their effectiveness in connecting with consumers. Based on our analysis, here’s what worked well and how you can apply these insights to refine your strategies in 2025. 

What Worked in 2024 and How You Can Apply It 

1. Keep It Simple and Timely: Consumers respond best when the journey from discovering a coupon to redeeming it is short and straightforward. Timing matters too—offering coupons at key moments during the shopping journey can significantly boost activations. 

Your Move: Simplify the redemption process and target consumers at crucial moments, such as before they head to the store or while they’re shopping. 

2. Leverage In-Store Promotions: Campaigns that integrated mobile coupons with in-store promotions outperformed those that didn’t. Shoppers were more likely to redeem offers when they could do so at the point of sale. 

Your Move: Pair mobile coupons with in-store campaigns. Highlight offers prominently at the shelf or checkout to drive conversions. 

3. Create a Sense of Urgency: Adding countdown timers to your campaigns worked wonders in 2024 by creating urgency. Shoppers were more likely to act when they felt the pressure of a ticking clock. 

Your Move: Use urgency-driven features like countdown timers to encourage quick decision-making and boost redemptions. 

4. Don’t Forget Reminders: Consumers often need a nudge to take action. Both SMS and email reminders proved equally effective in increasing engagement. 

Your Move: Set up automated reminders for unredeemed coupons. Use multiple channels to ensure your message gets through and stays top-of-mind. 

5. Go Big with Free Product Offers: Campaigns offering free products outperformed those with simple discounts. Shoppers found more value in receiving something tangible for free. 

Your Move: Incorporate free product offers into your campaigns to grab attention and delight shoppers. It’s a proven way to boost activation and redemption rates. 

6. Tap Into Deal-Seeking Behaviours: Consumers flock to deal aggregation sites, and campaigns promoted on these platforms showed higher engagement and redemption rates. 

Your Move: Partner with deal sites to extend your campaign’s reach and connect with deal-seeking shoppers. 

Opportunities to Take Your Campaigns Further 

1. Expand Your Channels: The more touchpoints your coupons have, the better. Increase acceptance across more retailers and digital platforms to reach a broader audience. 

2. Make Coupons Easier to Access: Consumers value convenience. Features like galleries, countdowns, and reminders make accessing and redeeming coupons seamless. 

3. Build Your Consumer Database: The larger your audience, the more opportunities you have to engage. Focus on growing your database to unlock better targeting and insights. 

4. Experiment with Cashback: Adding cashback options alongside traditional coupons could attract value-conscious shoppers and enhance long-term loyalty. 

What This Means for You 

The key to successful mobile coupon campaigns is understanding your audience and delivering value in the most engaging way possible. By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only activate more shoppers but also strengthen their loyalty and connection to your brand. 

As you plan your 2025 promotions, keep these insights in mind to create campaigns that are simple, engaging, and effective. Want to take your strategies even further? We’re here to help you craft actionable promotions that deliver results. 

Let’s make 2025 your best year yet—contact us today to start planning your next campaign.