How to use unique coupon codes in SMS and MMS messages

You will learn

Learn how to use unique coupons in your SMS/MMS messages so that you can send one-time-use coupons to your SMS subscribers and encourage them to make a purchase.

Before you begin

There are several best practices for using unique coupon codes for SMS and MMS messages:

• Add more codes than strictly needed; having 50 extra coupon codes is recommended.
• Upload or generate coupon codes in advance; this process takes time, especially for a large number of codes, so it is best to do it 1 or 2 days before you start sending.
• If you upload your coupon codes and use them in a flow, check that you have a buffer of 50 codes on a routine basis.
• Use separate coupon codes for each campaign and flow. Having a different coupon code for each of your sends makes it easier to generate/upload the right number of codes as well as track where people saw the coupons.
• Allow for at least 5 extra characters in your SMS or MMS when you include a unique coupon.

Add coupon codes to Klaviyo

The process for creating a unique coupon code for SMS is the same as for email. Klaviyo can generate these codes for Shopify, Magento 1, Magento 2, WooCommerce, and PrestaShop.

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For all other ecommerce integrations, including BigCommerce, you can generate the coupons outside of Klaviyo and then upload the coupon codes to your account.

Send an SMS campaign with a coupon

For SMS or MMS campaigns, use uploaded coupon codes or Shopify coupons with a specific expiration date or a 1-year expiration. Shopify coupons that expire a set number of days or hours after sending, and coupons generated for Magento 1, Magento 2, WooCommerce, or PrestaShop, are for flows. Generate or upload enough codes before scheduling your campaign. Only 1 unique coupon can be added to a single SMS message.

1. Navigate to Campaigns.
2. Click Create campaign.
3. Name the campaign. If prompted for a campaign type, select Single channel. Select Text message, then click Continue.
4. Choose your recipients, then click Next to open the message editor.
5. Build out your message in the Content screen. To add the coupon code, include the following template tag. Remember to change "CouponName" to the name of your coupon:

{% coupon_code 'CouponName' %}

The example below shows how the preview will appear for a coupon named “SummerSale”.

After configuring the content, click Next.

Klaviyo will check that the coupon has enough codes for the recipients, and you won’t be able to send until you have enough for all of your recipients. It is a best practice to add more coupon codes than you need in case you’re scheduling the campaign to send later and more people join the list or segment you’re sending to.

Once you’ve confirmed you have enough coupon codes, schedule the SMS campaign or send it immediately.

Use coupon codes in SMS flows

To add a coupon code to an SMS message in a flow:

1. Navigate to the flow and select the SMS message where you want the coupon. In the Content section, click Edit.
2. Next, add the following snippet to the message, replacing CouponName with the name of your coupon:

{% coupon_code 'CouponName' %}

Click Next to save your message and return to the flow.

It’s important to have enough coupons available for flows. Unlike campaigns, flows do not have a review stage where you can check that you have enough. Live flow messages send automatically as people qualify. If you run out of uploaded codes, Klaviyo skips the message for recipients who need a new code.

For Shopify, Magento 1, Magento 2, WooCommerce, and PrestaShop coupons used in flows, Klaviyo automatically generates codes as needed. The number of codes generated and the timing depend on the integration. If you use uploaded coupons, you must upload more codes yourself, so routinely check the number available.

Error messages

If a coupon does not work in an SMS campaign or flow, check these common issues:

The first error is that Klaviyo cannot find the coupon code matching the coupon name. For instance, if the name is missing a number, spelled incorrectly, etc. In this case, check that the name you inputted is the same as the one in Coupons.

The second type of error is that the template tag is formatted incorrectly. For example, it may be missing quotation marks or brackets. Make sure that the tag is formatted as:

{% coupon_code 'CouponName' %}

You will also receive an error if you have multiple coupons in a single text. Only 1 unique coupon is allowed per SMS, so check that you haven’t used 2 different ones by accident.

Additional resources