Creating Promotions
What Are Promotions?
Promotions are special offers that help attract new customers and increase bookings. Common types include:
First month free
Percentage discounts (10% off, 20% off)
Fixed amount discounts ($50 off move-in)
Special pricing for specific periods
Important Notes About Promotions
How Promotions Work
Promotions apply to unit types, not individual customers
Customers get promotional pricing by booking affected unit types
Once created, promotions cannot be edited - they must be deleted and recreated
Promotions automatically apply during customer checkout
Planning Before Creation
Since you can't edit promotions, plan carefully:
Exact discount amount or percentage
Which unit types to include
Start and end dates
Customer eligibility rules
Creating a Promotion
Step 1: Access Promotions
From your facility dashboard:
Go to Marketing or Promotions
Click Create New Promotion
Step 2: Basic Information
Promotion Name
Internal reference name
Example: "Spring 2024 - First Month Free"
Customer Display Name
What customers see on storefront
Example: "First Month FREE!"
Description
Clear explanation of the offer
Example: "New customers get their first month of storage absolutely free"
Step 3: Configure Discount
Discount Type Options:Percentage Discount
Enter percentage (e.g., 20%)
Applied to monthly rent
Good for: Ongoing discounts
Fixed Amount Discount
Enter dollar amount (e.g., $50)
Deducted from monthly rent
Good for: Move-in incentives
Free Period
Specify number of free days/months
Most popular option
Good for: First month free offers
Step 4: Set Timing
Start Date
When promotion becomes active
Can be immediate or future date
End Date
When promotion expires
Set realistic timeframes
Consider seasonal demand
Active Status
Toggle promotion on/off
Useful for pausing without deleting
Step 5: Apply to Unit Types
Select Unit Types
Choose which unit categories get promotional pricing
Can select all or specific types
Consider profit margins
Review Pricing
Verify promotional rates look correct
Check that discounts apply properly
Ensure pricing remains profitable
Step 6: Customer Restrictions (Optional)
New Customers Only
Limit to first-time customers
Prevents existing customers from gaming system
Minimum Rental Period
Require commitment (e.g., 3 months)
Reduces promotion abuse
Quantity Limits
Cap number of promotional units
Controls revenue impact
Promotion Strategy Tips
Timing Your Promotions
Peak Season (Spring/Summer)
Smaller discounts (demand is high)
Focus on premium units
Shorter promotion periods
Off-Season (Fall/Winter)
Larger discounts to drive demand
Include all unit types
Longer promotion periods
Competitive Positioning
Research Competitors
Check local competitor offers
Offer similar or better value
Highlight your advantages
Value Beyond Price
Emphasize security features
Mention convenience factors
Highlight customer service
Measuring Success
Track Key Metrics:
Bookings during promotion period
Revenue impact (gross vs net)
Customer retention after promotion
Cost per customer acquired
Common Promotion Types
First Month Free
Setup: Free period promotion, 1 month
Good for: High-impact customer acquisition
Consider: Requiring minimum 3-month commitment
Move-In Special
Setup: Fixed discount ($50-100)
Good for: Covering customer moving costs
Consider: One-time discount vs monthly
Percentage Off
Setup: 10-25% off monthly rent
Good for: Ongoing value perception
Consider: Duration and profit impact
Seasonal Specials
Setup: Various, themed to season
Good for: Driving off-season demand
Consider: Local events and timing
Managing Active Promotions
Monitoring Performance
Check booking rates regularly
Compare to non-promotional periods
Calculate true ROI including retention
Making Changes
Since promotions can't be edited:
Note what needs changing
Plan improved version
Delete current promotion
Create new promotion
Update any marketing materials
Ending Promotions
Set clear end dates
Communicate urgency ("Limited time")
Plan next promotion in advance
Archive for future reference
Common Issues
Promotion Not Showing on Storefront
Verify promotion status is "Active"
Check start/end dates
Confirm unit types are selected
Clear browser cache and test
Incorrect Pricing Calculations
Review discount type and amount
Check unit type base pricing
Verify tax settings
Test with sample booking
Customer Confusion
Make promotion terms clear
Explain eligibility requirements
Provide examples in communications
Train staff on promotion details
Best Practices
Clear Communication
Use simple, direct language
Specify exact terms and conditions
Include expiration dates
Highlight restrictions upfront
Financial Planning
Calculate revenue impact before launching
Set promotion budgets
Track actual vs projected results
Maintain minimum profit margins
Customer Experience
Make redemption process easy
Apply discounts automatically
Confirm savings in confirmation emails
Follow up with promotional customers
Quick Reference
Promotion Checklist
[ ] Discount amount/type decided
[ ] Unit types selected
[ ] Start and end dates set
[ ] Customer restrictions configured
[ ] Financial impact calculated
[ ] Marketing materials prepared
Common Discount Amounts
First month free: 100% off first month
Move-in special: $50-100 fixed discount
Percentage off: 10-25% off monthly rent
Student discount: 10-15% ongoing
Next Steps
Learn about Performance Tracking to measure your marketing success.
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