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The Best Discount Code Formats that Work for Any Product (And Why Yours Doesn’t)
No one should have to think this hard to save 10%
Discount codes are not a branding exercise.
They’re a transaction lubricant. A tool. A thank-you for loyalty.
But somehow, startups have convinced themselves that promo codes should be mini-marketing campaigns. A branding flex. A fun little puzzle customers have to solve.
This is where it all goes wrong.
HAPPYVALENTINESDAY → Too long.
FREESHIPPING2025 → Too much thinking.
SUMMERDEAL50 → Confusing.
Why are we making customers jump through hoops to save money?
They’ve already decided to buy.
Now, you’re making them type out an entire sentence — risking typos, frustration, and cart abandonment — just to redeem an offer?
If your discount code requires a spelling bee champion to get right on the first try, you’ve already lost.
The Culture of Overcomplication
We live in an era where “viral” means accessible, not clever.
Your discount code isn’t:
- A brand manifesto
- An inside joke
- A Shakespearean sonnet
