Introducing SARAL's Dynamic Discount Codes: The Ultimate Solution to Discount Code Leaks

Priya Nain

Priya Nain

July 9, 2024

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How many times have you…

Partnered with the right influencers, and launched the perfect campaign, only to find your discount code plastered across coupon sites like RetailMeNot or automatically applied by browser extensions like Honey?

Struggled to accurately measure the ROI of your marketing efforts because leaked discount codes are skewing your attribution data?

Paid commissions on sales that weren't genuinely driven by your influencers because their coupon code ended up on deal-hunting forums?

If you've answered 'more than once' to any of these questions, you're dealing with one of the biggest challenges for DTC brands: discount code leakage.

It's a $300 million to $600 million problem for US businesses annually. Even more alarming? 81% of this coupon abuse goes completely undetected.

This isn't a minor inconvenience and has severe consequences.

The Ripple Effect of Discount Code Leaks

When discount codes leak, the effects go beyond just lost sales. These leaks can touch many parts of your business in ways you might not expect.

Here's what happens when your codes end up in the wrong hands:

  • Reduced Profit Margins: A code intended for a specific marketing campaign can end up costing tens of thousands of dollars in unintended discounts, resulting in lower AOV and profits.
  • Misattribution of Sales: Leaked codes can misattribute sales, making it difficult to measure the true effectiveness of marketing efforts. For instance, a customer who finds a code on a coupon site might be incorrectly attributed to an influencer campaign.
  • Increased Costs: When leaked codes are attributed to influencers who didn't actually drive those sales, it can lead to inflated performance metrics. This could result in overpaying influencers or undervaluing those who are truly effective.
  • Increased Customer Service Load: When customers find leaked codes that no longer work, it often results in an influx of customer service inquiries, putting additional strain on your support team.

Current Methods to Combat Code Leaks

Many brands find themselves stuck in a frustrating cycle of reactive measures, always one step behind the latest leak. These outdated approaches not only drain resources but also fail to address the root of the problem. Let's look at some of these methods and why they fall short:

  • Preventing Leaks: Some brands attempt to prevent leaks by using unique codes or "Safelinks."  This approach is not foolproof. Human behavior is unpredictable, and leaks can still occur. Managing so many one-time-use codes can also be costly.
  • Detecting and Deleting Leaks: Another common method is to detect leaks and delete the compromised codes. This involves monitoring coupon sites and looking for unusual spikes in code usage. While this can catch leaks, it often results in significant revenue loss before detection and requires constant vigilance and manual intervention

Traditional methods of combating this issue are like trying to plug a leaking dam with your fingers - as soon as you block one hole, another appears.

That's what got us working on a solution.

Introducing SARAL's Dynamic Discount Codes

SARAL will generate unique, time-restricted coupon codes each time a customer clicks on an affiliate link. This not only protects profit margins but also ensures accurate attribution of sales to the correct marketing channels.

SARAL Dynamic Discount Code Feature

Here's how it can help you:

  • Quick Expiry: These codes are only valid for a short time after they're created. By the time someone tries to share the code on a coupon site or with friends, it's likely already expired.
  • One-Time Use: These codes can only be used once. This makes it impossible for coupon-collecting websites to take advantage of them. Once a code is used, it becomes invalid.
  • Optional Email Capture: A popup can be enabled to capture the user's email before granting the discount, adding an extra layer of security and marketing value.
  • Seamless Checkout: If the user checks out in the same session, the discount code is automatically applied, ensuring a smooth customer experience.

Already using SARAL? Great news - this feature is ready and waiting in your account. Log in and try it.

New to SARAL? Now's the perfect time to try it. Claim your 7-day free trial here and see how easy it is to scale your influencer marketing efforts without hurting profitability.

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