How to Create a Campaign to Validate Promotional Codes

1. Introduction.

2. Ideas and examples.

3. Step by step.

3.1. Create your campaign.

3.2. Upload the codes.

3.3. Customize the final screens.

3.4. Other settings.

4. Other specifications.

5. Related content.

1. Introduction.

With Cool Tabs, you can create a campaign in which participants have to validate codes, that you have previously distributed, in order to participate. As the campaign administrator, you can define which codes you want to be winners and which are not.

To participate in this campaign, participants must already have a code in their possession that you have given them previously, for example, on their purchase receipt. Then, they must register for your promotion, complete a data form and enter their code to enter sweepstakes or win direct prizes or other benefits that you set up.

In this way, participation is restricted to only users who have a valid code, which you will have provided to them. The code can be unique for all customers, or it can be a custom code.

In addition, you can combine your code validation campaign with any other mechanics (quizzes, instant win, contests, gamification, etc.).

If you want to create a campaign in which you give out coupons or promotional codes, see this other tutorial.

TEST THE PROMO CODE VALIDATION DEMO

2. Ideas and examples.

These campaigns fall under loyalty actions, as they reward customer trust, encourage purchases, boost conversions, and help capture leads. They are also ideal for combining offline and online dynamics.

Participation is simple: users complete a form and enter their code to validate their entry. However, these campaigns can be combined with other mechanics, such as quizzes, surveys, or instant prize wheels, to make the experience more engaging.

Common examples:

• Restaurants: promotional codes on receipts or cards that redirect customers online to validate their participation in raffles or prizes.

• Food / FMCG: codes on products (e.g., bottle caps) that hide instant prizes.

• Retail / Shopping centers: in-person promotions where customers validate their code on displays, kiosks, or tablets to participate in raffles or prize wheels.

3. Step by step. 

3.1. Create your campaign.

Create your campaign and configure the basic settings. If this is your first time using Cool Tabs, check out this tutorial:

How to get started on creating a campaign: basic settings.

If you have any questions during the process, you can contact us at help@cool-tabs.com.

3.2. Upload the codes.

Once you have completed the basic sections of the campaign, you have to upload the codes that users must enter to participate. So that, when they enter them in the registration form, the application will consider them valid.

1) Go to the 'Validations' section.

2) Activate the option to validate coupons or codes.

3) Upload the codes in an Excel or CSV file. The file must have one code for each line.

You can upload for free up to 15,000 codes. If you need to upload more, please write us at help@cool-tabs.com.

3.2.1. Repeated codes and multiple uses.

In the Validation section, you’ll find three options to define how codes can be used:

• Single use per code: each code can only be used once.

• Unlimited uses per code: the same code can be used as many times as desired.

• Multiple uses per code: allows a code to be used a limited number of times.

For the multiple uses per code option, keep in mind that the uses can:

• Be consumed by a single participant.

• Be distributed among several different participants.

• Or be combined (e.g., if you allow 5 uses, 2 could be used by one participant and 3 by others).

In this case, the limit applies to the code itself, not the users who enter it.

3.2.2. Automatic Filling via Barcode/QR.

You can allow users to automatically fill in the code by scanning a barcode or QR code with their device’s camera.

You can select which code formats are accepted.

Compatibility:

• Currently, this feature is only available on Android devices using Chrome or Samsung Internet.

• When the browser supports this functionality, participants can open the camera and scan the code directly.

Alternative scanner for iPhone, iPad, and unsupported browsers:

If you want the scanner to also work on iPhone, iPad, or in other browsers that do not support the native scanner, you must enable the checkbox "Allow to use alternative scanner for iPhone, iPad, and other unsupported browsers". 

On Android devices, the native scanner will continue to be used by default. On iPhone and iPad, as well as on other unsupported browsers, this alternative scanner will be used.

3.3. Customize the final screens.

Once the codes are loaded on the platform, go to the 'Final screen' section. Here, you must configure the different final screens that will appear to the user, depending on whether they enter a winning code or not.

To configure the final screen, you can refer to the tutorial How to configure the final, thank you, or results screens.

3.3.1. Final screen by default or for non-winners.

Check the box 'Display default content to participants' to configure a default message for participants. This is the message that will be displayed to all participants who enter their code or, in case only some codes are awarded, to participants with non-awarded codes. You can include text, images, or HTML code.

3.3.2. Final screen for winners.

Set up a personalized message based on the code entered:

1. Enable the checkbox "Show personalized content based on score (quiz/gamification), category (personality test), and/or code entered by participant."

2. Check "Assign/restrict final pages acording to participant's validation code's".

3. Click on "Manage individual final screens."

4. Create as many screens as needed, one for each group of codes. In the "Restrict by validation code entered by participant" section, enter the codes or patterns that will give access to that screen (separated by commas, spaces, or line breaks). If you want to distribute prizes according to the code entered by the participants, check this tutorial. 

5. Customize the content (text, images, instructions, etc.) displayed on the screen.

3.4. Other settings.

3.4.1. Winner selection. 

Cool Tabs allows you to run a sweepstake among your campaign participants. You can distribute prizes or other benefits depending on whom you want to reward.

• Random draw among all participants who have entered their code. In this case, see the tutorial 'How to select winners'.
• Link prizes to certain codes, so that only participants who enter winning codes win. 
• Condition the prize distribution to instant win moments. Participants will only be winners if when they complete the data form and enter their code, it coincides with the moment when you have programmed the prize distribution. Please take a look at the tutorial 'How to create a Scratch & Win instant win contest'.

4. Other specifications.

This type of campaign can be generated with the Cool Promo or Cool Promo White Label applications, included in the Gold and Diamond plans, respectively.

Bear in mind, you can upload 15,000 codes for free. If you want to upload more codes, these are the rates:

• Up to 50,000 - €150/month
• Up to 100,000 - €280/month
• Up to 500,000 - €480/month
• Up to 2 mills - €680/month
• Up to 5 mills - €980/month