Will 2013 be the year of the voucher codes?

2013 begins in the shadow of global economic recession. Consumers who are shopping want deals. Could 2013 be the year of the eCommerce voucher codes?

According to a recent report,  voucher code use grew 63 percent for the one week period beginning December 1st., compared to the first week of December last year as a source of referral for eCommerce sales.

Since January of 2004, Google searches for the keyword "coupon" have grown 257 percent, according to Google Insights for Search.

With so much consumer interest in coupons and corresponding keyword phrases like "coupons", "coupon code", "free coupons", "discount coupons", etc. - smart online retailers will use this potential trend to increase site traffic and boost sales in 2013.

How can you use Coupon Offers to Increase Site Traffic in 2013?

There are at least six ways Internet storekeepers can use this trend to boost site traffic:

1. Coupon code landing pages (SEO)
2. Coupon or special offer newsletters
3. Social media
4. Pay-per-click advertising
5. Promotion on coupon or deal micro websites
6. Coupon codes in more traditional media, including print advertising

Coupon Code Landing Pages

Consider creating a coupon code landing page for your store.

The page will describe all of your current promotions, say a buy-one-get-one free offer or a free shipping offer. And you should link to this landing page from every other page on your site transferring a significant amount of PageRank ranking power.

All of those internal links will act like votes of importance when Google, Yahoo, Bing or other search engines index your store.

As search engines index and rank your coupon code landing page, your site should begin to show up on relevant coupon related searches, increasing your site traffic.

Coupon or Special Offer Newsletters

Online shop owners should begin offering coupon or special offer newsletters. Invite visitors to your site to register for the newsletter while they are visiting category pages and, if possible, during the checkout process.

You may even want to use a list rental firm to help start the newsletter. But once you have a list, send out a monthly coupon code.

The newsletter proactively reaches customers already familiar with and interested in the products you sell. Watch your site traffic and your sales leap each time you send out a newsletter.

Social media

Social media is one of the best ways to track news, information and even deals. Offer visitors a coupon or discount feed. Interested customers will add the to their friend list and will soon be receiving your special offers. As with the coupon newsletter, your site should experience a relative spike in traffic each time you introduce a new offer to your Facebook feed.

Mention Coupons in ‘pay per click’ advertisements

For many online stores, ‘pay per click’ is the marketing workhorse that drives traffic. To take advantage of the coupon trend, add coupon codes right in your PPC ads or consider adding a campaign around coupon offers. You'll be paying for each click, but you will boost your site's traffic.

Promotions on Coupon or Deal Micro Websites

There are already dozens of websites that allow retailers to advertise coupon codes either for free or for a fee. Post your coupon codes on these sites and penny-pinching shoppers will flood our site. Below is a list of several of the coupon or deal sites—in no particular order—you should try. Also, look for regional or niche sites that might have special reach.

Coupon Codes in Traditional Media

Some online merchants may want to step outside of the Internet box and place coupon codes in traditional media, including print advertising. Try running traditional coupons in magazines, newspapers or even on billboards if your budget will support it. These traditional ads can drive a lot of traffic.