Step 1: Access WooCommerce Coupons
Navigate to the WooCommerce Dashboard
To begin, log in to your WordPress administrative area. Once logged in, locate “WooCommerce” in the left-hand navigation menu. Click on it to expand the WooCommerce dashboard options.
Locate the Coupons Section
Within the expanded WooCommerce menu, you will see several sub-items such as “Orders,” “Products,” “Customers,” and “Coupons.” Click on “Coupons.” This action will take you to the main Coupons management screen, where you can view, edit, and create new coupons.
Step 2: Create a New Coupon
Add a New Coupon
On the Coupons management screen, look for the “Add coupon” button. It’s typically located near the top of the page, either as a primary button or a link. Click this button to initiate the process of creating a new coupon. You will be redirected to the “Add new coupon” editing interface.
Configure General Coupon Data
On the “Add new coupon” page, the first step is to define the basic properties of your coupon. In the “Coupon code” field, enter a unique code that customers will use (e.g., FREESHIP2023, SHIPITFREE). Optionally, add a “Description” for internal reference, which is helpful if you manage many coupons. Below, in the “Coupon data” metabox, ensure “Discount type” is set to “Percentage discount,” “Fixed cart discount,” or “Fixed product discount” initially, as you’ll enable free shipping separately. You can also set a “Coupon amount” if you wish to combine free shipping with a monetary discount.
Step 3: Define Free Shipping Settings
Enable the Free Shipping Option
Within the “Coupon data” metabox, navigate to the “General” tab (if not already selected). You will see a checkbox labeled “Allow free shipping.” Check this box. This is the crucial step that designates the coupon to provide free shipping when applied by a customer. Once checked, the coupon will override any shipping costs calculated for the order.
Set Minimum Spend Requirements (Optional)
To ensure free shipping is only offered for orders meeting a certain value, go to the “Usage restriction” tab within the “Coupon data” metabox. Here, you’ll find a field called “Minimum spend.” Enter the lowest amount (e.g., 50.00) a customer must spend in their cart for the free shipping coupon to be valid. You can also specify “Maximum spend,” “Individual use only,” “Exclude sale items,” or “Products” and “Exclude products” if needed.
Step 4: Publish and Promote Your Coupon
Publish the Free Shipping Coupon
Once all coupon settings are configured to your satisfaction, locate the “Publish” metabox on the right side of the coupon editing screen. Click the “Publish” button to save your coupon and make it active on your WooCommerce store. If you need to schedule it for a future date, you can use the “Publish immediately” option to set a specific date and time.
Share the Coupon Code with Customers
After publishing, it’s essential to inform your customers about the new free shipping offer. Share the exact coupon code (e.g., FREESHIP2023) through various marketing channels. This could include:
- Adding a banner or notification bar to your website’s homepage.
- Sending an email newsletter to your subscriber list.
- Posting on your social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
- Including it in order confirmation emails for future purchases.
- Mentioning it in blog posts or promotional articles.
Ensure the code is easily visible and understandable to encourage its use.
FAQs about Free Shipping Coupons in WooCommerce
Q: Can a free shipping coupon be combined with other discounts?
A: By default, a WooCommerce free shipping coupon can be combined with other discounts unless you specifically set the “Individual use only” option under the “Usage restriction” tab in the coupon data. If “Individual use only” is checked, the coupon cannot be used in conjunction with any other coupons.
Q: How do I make a free shipping coupon valid only for specific shipping zones or methods?
A: WooCommerce coupons do not directly link to shipping zones or methods within their settings. However, you can achieve this indirectly. You would need to ensure that the free shipping method in WooCommerce settings (WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping > Shipping zones) is configured to require a valid free shipping coupon. This means that if a customer’s address falls into a specific zone, the free shipping option will only appear if they have applied the correct coupon.
Q: What happens if a customer’s cart falls below the minimum spend after applying the coupon?
A: WooCommerce validates the minimum spend requirement at the point of application and during checkout. If a customer applies the coupon, then removes items from their cart causing the total to fall below the minimum spend, the free shipping benefit will be automatically removed, and standard shipping costs will be recalculated and applied to their order.
Q: Can I set an expiry date for a free shipping coupon?
A: Yes, you can set an expiry date for your free shipping coupon. In the “Coupon data” metabox, under the “General” tab, you will find a field labeled “Coupon expiry date.” Click on this field to open a calendar and select the date on which you want the coupon to automatically become invalid. The coupon will expire at 00:00:00 on the selected date.
