The perceived value of a discount changes based on its presentation. Test framing it as a percentage off, an absolute amount off, a relative equivalent (e.g., "save a steak dinner"), or simply the final discounted price to see which one drives the most action from your target audience.
Frame every negotiation around four core business drivers. Offer discounts not as concessions, but as payments for the customer giving you something valuable: more volume, faster cash payments, a longer contract commitment, or a predictable closing date. This shifts the conversation from haggling to a structured, collaborative process.
Instead of offering a fake, expiring discount to create urgency, frame it as a payment for predictability. Tell the prospect you will pay them a discount in exchange for mutually aligning on a specific close date, which helps you forecast accurately. This turns a sales tactic into a valuable business exchange.
Move beyond generic discounts by framing offers around the customer's immediate, often unspoken, intent. For example, a "last minute hero finder" speaks directly to the urgency of holiday shopping, while a "donation impact calculator" targets the specific motivations of year-end charitable giving, making the offer more compelling.
Consumers find prices more appealing when broken down into smaller increments, like a daily cost versus an annual fee. This 'pennies-a-day effect' can make the same price seem like a much better value because people struggle to abstract small, concrete costs into a larger total.
When you increase your BFCM discount (e.g., from 20% to 35%), don't turn off high-performing ads that mention the lower discount. A customer clicking an ad for 20% off and discovering a 35% offer on-site is a pleasant surprise that boosts conversion.
Instead of offering a standard discount to all abandoning shoppers, AI analyzes individual behavior to determine the precise, minimum percentage off needed to secure the conversion. This maximizes sales while preventing unnecessary margin erosion.
Consumers see thousands of posts a day, making generic sales graphics invisible. To capture attention, use creative formats that are entertaining and playful, such as creating a fake news announcement about your sale or parodying a well-known ad trope.
The way a price is presented alters a consumer's emotional response, even if the total cost is identical. Breaking a large sum into smaller installments, like Klarna does, makes it feel more manageable and less intimidating, thus boosting sales.
By introducing a third, strategically priced but less appealing option (the "decoy"), you can manipulate how customers perceive value. A medium popcorn priced close to the large makes the large seem like a much better deal. This proves that value is relative and can be shaped by deliberate choice architecture.
Justify "too good to be true" discounts by tying them to real-life events, both positive (birthdays, holidays) and negative (unexpected bills, damaged goods). This authenticity makes the offer more believable and compelling to customers, increasing conversion.