What is a SmartOffer?

SmartOffers provide a targeted, measurable, trackable way for businesses to present customers with a special deal.

What is “smart” about a SmartOffer?

SmartOffers are beneficial for three primary reasons:

•  Targeted
•  Measurable
•  Trackable

Let's say, for example, that you tell people who come in that "Everything in the store is 'buy one get one free' for the next two hours."

1. But what if you only want to extend that offer to VIP customers? Or only to those that haven't been into your store in several weeks? Or brand new customers?
2. How are you going to track the amount of people who took advantage of your offer?
3. And what if you want to follow up with customers that did?

These questions demonstrate the magic of a SmartOffer.

By using Patch’s SmartOffers, you're able to activate offers for targeted segments of your customer base, measure when and how they're redeemed, and track the customers who redeemed them.

When should I use a SmartOffer?

The following are examples of different types of SmartOffers:

•  Bounce-back offers
•  Birthday offers
•  Holiday promotions
•  Setup a loyalty offer
•  First-time customers

How do I set up a SmartOffer?

In the bottom right corner of the SmartOffers section, there is a round purple button with a ‘+’ symbol.

Click this button to Create a SmartOffer.

To get started, it will ask to choose the type of SmartOffer and give a name for this SmartOffer.
This label is what will be kept internally, and is not customer-facing.

There are two types of SmartOffers:

Promotional and Loyalty

A Promotional SmartOffer is used if you want your offer to be available to your customers for a limited time, completing an action, etc. 

A Loyalty SmartOffer is available to customers who have the required check-ins or points.

Step 1: Set Up Details

Title

This title will be displayed to contacts.
This is summed up by the name of the offer, such as:
Free Appetizer for signing up!
10th visit free!

Fine Print

Include any fine print the SmartOffer will display to the contacts.

Example:
Come in for our special offer.

Buy 1 hour, get 1 FREE!!

Note: The only difference between setting up a Promotional Offer and a Loyalty Offer is that it will ask to set up the Loyalty Options.

Here you can set how many points are required, and choose a Punchcard to use.

There are selectable Checkboxes to Deduct points from the punchcard upon redemption, and also to NOT add points when redeeming an offer.

It is recommended to check both of these boxes for Loyalty Offers.

Set up the Limits Section

Per Customer Redemption Limit

Here you can enter the total amount of times this offer can be used by an individual contact.

Once a limit is reached, the offer will no longer be available.
The default setting is ‘Unlimited’ which is only recommended for Loyalty SmartOffers.

Total Redemption Limit

This is where to enter a limit on how many total redemptions are available before the offer becomes unavailable. The default value is Unlimited.A Total Redemption Limit example could be for the first 100 people to sign up

Checkbox for Start and Expiration Date/Time

Use these options to set a time frame for the offer to be available.

Require contact to redeem at Kiosk
This checkbox is selected by default and should be used if a contact can only redeem the offer at a Kiosk device. If this box is selected, contacts will only be able to redeem the SmartOffer at the location via a Kiosk.

Redemption Instructions

Redemption instructions will be displayed to the contact. For example, if the ‘Require contact to redeem at Kiosk’ checkbox is selected then it is recommended to include redemption instructions similar to “Please present this coupon at the point of sale.”
Another example of these instructions could be to ‘Please speak to a representative’ or even, ‘Thank you for entering the giveaway!’

This is more or less a message that can be displayed on the iPad/Kiosk after an offer is redeemed.

Allowable Redemption Time

The total amount of time allowed for the contact to redeem the SmartOffer.

Barcode Type

If you want to require a barcode for redeeming the SmartOffer, you can then select an option available from the drop-down menu. Typically this is not used and can be left to ‘None’.

Require a security code for this offer to be redeemed on the Kiosk

This option is used to closely monitor certain offers. Either the staff or the POS can create this security code in order to redeem offers that are set up for the security code.

Basically, this means that the customer cannot redeem the offer by themselves, and would require staff assistance.

Step 2: Design the SmartOffer

Design Section

Header Image

Select or upload an image that will be displayed at the top of the SmartOffer.

Background Image

Select or upload a background image that gets displayed in the background of the SmartOffer.

Button Color

The button and button text colors will automatically be set to the Default color as it’s a configuration of the brand settings on the account. (Settings > Account Settings: Brand Settings)

Button Text Color

Again, the Default color will be determined by the brand settings on the account. (Settings > Account Settings: Brand Settings)

Font Color

Automatically set by brand settings, but can choose a different font color for the SmartOffer.

Background Color

Automatically set by brand settings, but can select a solid background color for the SmartOffer.

Step 3: Advanced

Form Section

Use this section to include a form to collect contact information before redeeming the SmartOffer. This would allow you to capture customer data but also activate an offer.

If you want to Require a form to be filled out by a Contact for the offer to be activated, choose a form from the drop-down menu.

Select the checkbox to skip showing this Form in the SmartOffer if the user has already filled it out before.

Filter Section

You can add/use Filters to target who is included to redeem this SmartOffer.

Tracking Section

This value entered is used for analytics.

Step 4: Promote

This step has a few key components to effectively utilizing your new SmartOffer.

Note: This step is only available/visible after the Save & Enable button has been clicked in Step 3.

Promote Section

This section will show the SmartLink created for the SmartOffer. This link can be used within any Blasts, Automations, Auto Replies, Templates, and/or Email Snippets.

Select Insert, and then choose the SmartOffer, and it will automatically populate with the link.

Activation Section

Checkbox - use this checkbox to hide the SmartOffer from the Kiosk devices if the contact has not Activated the SmartOffer somewhere else yet.SmartOffers can be activated from the SmartOffer link itself or automatically from a Blast or Automation.

Kiosk-Based Activation Code

Enter a code that the contact must enter at the Kiosk in order to activate the SmartOffer. 

Verification Section

Require new contacts to sign up via

Use one of these checkboxes in this section to require the contact to sign up (opt-in) with SMS, Email, or Facebook information.

SMS is the standard option.