Setting up a percentage discount reward

Would you like to let members trade their points for a percentage off their order? A percentage discount reward gives a member a coupon code that takes a set percentage off. The discount then grows with the size of the order.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through adding a percentage discount reward, choosing its settings, and what your members see when they redeem it. All you need is a Basic license level or higher, with the points program turned on.

• Adding a Percentage Discount Reward
• Choosing the Reward Settings
• How Do Percentage Discounts Work?
• What Do Members See When They Redeem?
• Choosing Between Percentage and Fixed Discounts
• FAQ

Before you get started, make sure RewardsWP is installed and activated on your WordPress site.

Adding a Percentage Discount Reward

To get started, we’ll add a new reward to the list of ways members can spend their points.

From your WordPress admin sidebar, go to RewardsWP » Settings and click the Points tab.

Next, scroll down to the Ways to Redeem section. It lists the rewards your members can buy with points. Then click Add ways to redeem.

In the list of reward types that opens, click Percentage discount.

The reward’s settings open in the same drawer. We’ll cover each one next.

Choosing the Reward Settings

The General section at the top of the drawer holds the reward’s status, cost, discount, and expiry.

Status

Status turns the reward on or off. A new reward starts turned on. Members can redeem it as soon as you save it.

Points Required

Points required is the number of points a member spends to claim this reward. The default is 1,000.

A percentage discount is worth more on a larger order. So you may want a higher point cost than you set for your fixed amount discount rewards.

Discount Value

Discount value is the percentage the coupon takes off. The default is 10, for a 10% discount. In this field, enter a whole number up to 100.

Reward Expiry

Reward expiry sets how long the coupon code stays valid after a member redeems it. The options are:

• Never expires: the coupon has no end date. This is the default. It’s a good fit if you want members to use the reward whenever they’re ready.
• 30 days, 3 months, or 6 months: the coupon ends that long after redemption. These options bring members back for their next order sooner.
• 1 year or 2 years: the coupon ends that long after redemption. These options set an end date without rushing members.

If you’re not sure, start with Never expires.

Applies To

Applies to sets which items in the cart get the discount. Entire order is selected by default. With it, the whole cart gets the discount.

To keep items such as gift cards out of the reward, click Exclude items. Then pick the products, categories, tags, or (on WooCommerce) brands to leave out.

In the Exclude field, type part of a name to search. Then click a result to add it. For example, searching for “Gift” finds the Gift Cards category.

To give the discount to only the items you pick, select Specific items. Then add those items under Include.

On WooCommerce stores, you can also turn on Exclude sale items. Items already on sale then keep their sale price. The rest of the cart still gets the discount. When it’s off (the default), sale items get the discount too.

For how these rules match items and what members see at checkout, read Excluding products from rewards and points.

Saving the Reward

The Summary at the bottom of the drawer shows the reward as members will get it. When it looks right, click Create.

After that, click Save Changes in the bar with the settings tabs. Create adds the reward to the page. Save Changes then saves it.

Your percentage discount reward is now ready for members to redeem. Next, let’s look at what happens when they do.

How Do Percentage Discounts Work?

When a member redeems a percentage discount reward, three things happen:

1. The points come off right away. RewardsWP subtracts the reward’s cost from the member’s balance.
2. A coupon code is created. RewardsWP generates a unique percentage coupon code for that member.
3. The discount applies at checkout. When the member uses the code, the percentage comes off the items the reward applies to.

For example, a member who redeems a 10% coupon on an $80 cart of matching items saves $8 and pays $72.

Unlike a fixed amount discount, the dollar value of a percentage coupon changes with the order. A 10% coupon is worth $5 on $50 of matching items but $20 on $200 of matching items.

Here’s how that redemption looks from your members’ side.

What Do Members See When They Redeem?

Members redeem a percentage discount the same way as a fixed amount discount:

1. The member opens the Rewards Widget and views the ways to redeem.
2. They see your percentage discount reward with its point cost.
3. They click to redeem it. Before any points are spent, the widget lists the reward’s terms under “Before you redeem”, such as which items it applies to. It also shows how many points they’ll have left.
4. Once they click the Redeem button to confirm, the coupon code appears in the widget, ready to copy.
5. At checkout, they apply the code. The percentage then comes off the matching items in their cart.

If no item in the cart matches the reward, the cart shows a message that says why.

With the member side covered, here’s how to choose between a percentage and a fixed amount discount.

Choosing Between Percentage and Fixed Discounts

Both reward types give members a coupon code. Each one fits a different goal:

• Fixed amount discount: the same dollar amount on every order, so you always know what a redemption costs. It feels tangible (“$5 off”). That makes it a good fit for encouraging repeat purchases.
• Percentage discount: a discount that grows with the order, so larger orders cost you more. It feels proportional (“10% off”). That makes it a good fit for rewarding larger orders and high-value members.

Many stores offer both. Members then choose between a smaller set discount and a percentage that pays off more on bigger orders.

That’s it! You now know how to add a percentage discount reward that members can redeem with their points. Next, to offer a set dollar amount as well, read Setting up a fixed amount discount reward.

FAQ

Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about percentage discount rewards.

Can I cap how much a percentage coupon takes off?

The Discount value goes up to 100%. The percentage applies to every matching item in the cart. The discount then grows with the order. To control what a coupon covers, choose its items under Applies to.

Can I create several percentage rewards at different levels?

Yes. You can add several percentage discount rewards with different point costs and percentages. For example, you might offer 5% off for 500 points, 10% off for 1,000 points, and 20% off for 2,500 points.

Can I let members combine a percentage coupon with another coupon?

On WooCommerce, RewardsWP creates each reward coupon for individual use. Members then use it on its own in an order. On Easy Digital Downloads, your store’s discount settings decide whether codes can be combined.

Can I give back the points if a coupon expires unused?

Yes, by hand. Points come off when the member redeems the reward, not when they use the coupon. To give back the points from an expired coupon, adjust the member’s balance by hand.