How to Run a Promotion That Actually Works (Not Just Feels Busy)
Discounts and offers can help your business — if they’re done right. Here’s a simple way to plan and run a promotion that brings customers in and pays off.
Promotions are popular — and often disappointing.
You throw together an offer, post it on social media, maybe print a poster… and then wait. Sometimes you get a little bump. Sometimes nothing.
The truth? Most promotions don’t work because there’s no clear plan — just activity.
Here’s why many small business promos fall flat:
❌ The offer isn’t clear or compelling
❌ The timing doesn’t match your customers’ needs
❌ No one hears about it more than once
❌ There’s no follow-up or review afterwards
The good news? A few simple tweaks can make a big difference.
✅ How to Run a Promotion That Brings Customers In
1. Start with the goal, not the discount.
Ask: What do I want to happen?
More foot traffic mid-week?
Clear out old stock?
Get email sign-ups or loyalty app users?
Once you’re clear on the goal, the offer becomes obvious.
2. Keep it simple — and strong.
“10% off everything” is forgettable.
“£5 off any haircut on Wednesdays” is specific, memorable, and drives behaviour.
3. Promote it in 3 ways, 3 times.
Don’t rely on one social media post.
Post multiple times over a week
Use your shop window or chalkboard
Tell customers in-person or via text/email
People need to see something more than once to act on it.
4. Set a reminder to review it.
At the end of the promo, take 10 minutes:
How many redemptions or extra sales?
What worked? What didn’t?
Would you run it again?
No review = no learning = same results next time.
🛠️ Too busy to do all this? That’s where Thriver helps.
We can:
Help you pick the right promo
Plan and create your social posts and materials
Track results and suggest improvements
You stay in control — we handle the hassle.
Want help planning your next promo?
Thriver is a simple service that takes ongoing work off your plate. Everything is quietly handled in the background by a team of digital helpers trained to save time, money and stress for local business owners like you.