Offering a first purchase discount is one of the most effective ways to convert new visitors into loyal customers on your WooCommerce store. This smart marketing strategy not only encourages first-time buyers to complete their orders but also helps build trust and long-term relationships. By setting up a first purchase discount, you can create a strong first impression, reduce cart abandonment, and increase customer retention. Whether it’s a percentage-based offer, a fixed discount, or a free shipping deal, WooCommerce makes it simple to configure and automate these promotions.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of setting up a WooCommerce first purchase discount on your site. You’ll learn how to create, customize, and manage exclusive discount rules that engage new shoppers and boost your overall revenue, ensuring your online store stands out in today’s competitive eCommerce market.
What Is a WooCommerce First Purchase Discount?
A WooCommerce First Purchase Discount is a special promotional offer designed exclusively for new customers making their first purchase on your online store. It serves as an effective incentive to motivate first-time visitors to complete their initial orders by rewarding them with a discount usually in the form of a percentage off, a fixed amount reduction, or even free shipping. This strategy plays a crucial role in converting hesitant shoppers into paying customers and helps you establish an early connection with them.
In WooCommerce, you can set up a first purchase discount manually using built-in coupon settings or automatically with the help of specialized plugins. These tools allow you to define conditions that ensure only new customers are eligible for the offer. By implementing this type of discount, you can deliver a personalized shopping experience that encourages trial purchases, builds trust, and sets the foundation for long-term customer loyalty.
Why You Should Offer a First Purchase Discount?
Offering a WooCommerce First Purchase Discount in your online store is an excellent strategy to attract new shoppers and increase overall sales. It’s a proven marketing technique that not only encourages hesitant visitors to make their first purchase but also helps build long-term trust and customer relationships. By providing a special offer exclusively for first-time buyers, you create a welcoming shopping experience that motivates them to complete their order and return for more. Here are seven key reasons why you should offer a WooCommerce First Purchase Discount:
- Encourages New Customers to Buy: Discounts provide a strong incentive for first-time visitors to finalize their purchase, reducing hesitation and boosting conversion rates.
- Builds Trust and Credibility: A special deal for first-time buyers reflects generosity and professionalism, helping customers feel valued and confident about purchasing from your WooCommerce store.
- Reduces Cart Abandonment: A well-timed WooCommerce First Purchase Discount can convince shoppers who might otherwise abandon their carts to complete their checkout process.
- Boosts Initial Sales Revenue: Even a small discount on the first order can lead to a noticeable rise in total sales volume and customer acquisition.
- Increases Customer Retention: Once a shopper experiences a positive first purchase with a discount, they are more likely to return for future orders.
- Creates a Positive First Impression: A welcoming offer helps establish an emotional connection with new customers, ensuring your brand stands out.
- Drives Word-of-Mouth Promotion: Satisfied first-time customers often share their positive experiences online or with friends, bringing in organic traffic and more potential buyers.
By offering a WooCommerce First Purchase Discount, you not only generate immediate sales but also build lasting customer relationships. It’s a simple yet powerful strategy to convert first-time buyers into loyal, long-term advocates for your brand.
Steps to Set Up WooCommerce First Purchase Discount Using the Plugin
While WooCommerce allows you to create discount coupons manually, using a plugin can make the process far easier, more automated, and more reliable. Among the various plugins available, the First Order Discount WooCommerce plugin by Vidish stands out as a simple yet powerful solution. With over 1000+ active installations, this plugin is widely trusted by WooCommerce store owners to automatically apply discounts for first-time buyers without the need for complex configurations.
This plugin is lightweight, easy to configure, and supports multiple discount types, such as fixed discounts, percentage-based discounts, free products, and even free shipping. You can set specific conditions like minimum cart value, enable guest discounts, and ensure the offer applies only to a customer's first purchase. Implementing such offers is one of the smartest strategies when learning how to sell a product online, as it helps attract new customers and encourages conversions. Below are the detailed steps you can follow to set up a WooCommerce first purchase discount using this plugin.
Step 1: Install and Activate the First Order Discount WooCommerce Plugin
The first step to setting up a WooCommerce First Purchase Discount is installing and activating the right plugin that allows you to create discounts exclusively for first-time buyers. Before starting the installation, make sure that the WooCommerce plugin is already installed and active on your WordPress site. You should also have a few products added to your store preferably well-organized using WooCommerce product filters so the discount can be properly applied during testing. Once these prerequisites are met, you can proceed to install the First Order Discount WooCommerce plugin by Vidish, a lightweight and reliable solution with over 1,000 active installations.
Follow the steps below to install and activate the plugin:
- Login to Your WordPress Dashboard: Begin by logging in to your WordPress admin panel using your credentials.
- Navigate to Plugins → Add New: On the left sidebar, go to “Plugins” and click on “Add New.”
- Search for the Plugin: In the search box, type “First Order Discount WooCommerce” by Vidish.
- Install the Plugin: When it appears in the search results, click the “Install Now” button to begin the installation.
- Activate the Plugin: Once installed, click “Activate” to enable it on your WooCommerce store.
After activation, the plugin automatically integrates with your WooCommerce settings, adding new options for configuring discounts specifically for first-time buyers. Its intuitive interface makes it extremely user-friendly and requires no coding knowledge, allowing even beginners to set up their WooCommerce First Purchase Discount effortlessly. With the plugin activated, you’re now ready to move on to the configuration stage and define how your first purchase discounts will work.
Step 2: Set Up the First Order Discount
Once you have installed and activated the First Order Discount WooCommerce Plugin, the next step is to configure your WooCommerce First Purchase Discount according to your marketing objectives. This step determines how the discount will behave, who will receive it, and under what conditions it will apply. The plugin provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to set up different types of discounts, define values, control usage conditions, and automate the process for new customers. This ensures that your promotional campaign runs smoothly without manual intervention.
A well-structured setup can help you attract more first-time customers, improve conversion rates, and strengthen customer loyalty. Below, we will discuss each configuration option in detail so you can customize your WooCommerce First Purchase Discount effectively.
1. Choose Type of Discount
The first and most crucial step is selecting the type of discount you want to offer to your new customers. The plugin provides several options to align with your store’s promotional strategy and target audience. Each type offers unique benefits and can be chosen based on your pricing structure and customer preferences.
The available discount types include:
- Free Shipping: Offering free shipping is one of the most attractive incentives for first-time buyers. Shipping costs often discourage customers from completing their purchases, leading to abandoned carts. By providing free shipping on the first order, you reduce that barrier, making the checkout process more appealing and frictionless. To enhance this strategy even further, you can edit the WooCommerce checkout page and highlight the free shipping offer prominently, ensuring customers notice it at the perfect moment right before completing their purchase.
- Free Product: With this option, you can offer a complimentary item with the customer’s first purchase. This works particularly well for promoting a new product or rewarding first-time buyers with something extra. For example, if you sell beauty products, you can offer a free sample or accessory with their first order. It enhances the shopping experience and encourages repeat purchases.
- Fixed Discount: A fixed discount provides a specific monetary reduction on the total purchase value. For instance, you could offer a flat ₹500 off on the first order. This type of discount is easy for customers to understand and creates a sense of immediate reward. It’s particularly effective for small or mid-range priced items.
- Percentage Discount: One of the most popular discount types, a percentage-based discount adjusts automatically based on the cart’s total value. For example, you can offer 10% or 20% off the total purchase. This is ideal for stores selling higher-value items, as the discount scales with the cart size and feels more personalized to each order.
- Disable: This option allows you to temporarily pause your WooCommerce First Purchase Discount campaign. It’s helpful if you want to suspend your offer during special sales events or when testing other promotional strategies.
By choosing the right type of discount, you can align your promotional campaign with your business goals. For example, luxury stores might prefer a percentage-based discount to maintain perceived value, while stores selling smaller products might opt for a flat discount or free shipping offer. Also, consider analyzing WooCommerce product reviews to understand what motivates your customers, as this feedback can help you tailor the discount type more effectively to attract first-time buyers.
2. Set the Discount Value
Once you’ve selected the discount type, the next step is defining the discount value. This value determines the amount or percentage of reduction your first-time buyers will receive during checkout.
For fixed or percentage discounts, enter the exact value you wish to offer. For example:
- If you’re providing a 15% discount, enter “15.”
- If it’s a fixed amount discount, such as ₹500 off, enter “500.”
It’s essential to find the right balance between offering an appealing discount and maintaining profitability. While high discounts can attract more customers, they may affect your margins in the long run. Ideally, a discount between 10% and 20% or a fixed amount between ₹300 to ₹800 works well for first-time customers.
A well-calculated discount value ensures that customers perceive real value in their purchase without you compromising too much on revenue. This step forms the foundation of a sustainable WooCommerce First Purchase Discount strategy that drives conversions while keeping your profit intact.
3. Enable “Individual Use Only” Option
The “Individual Use Only” setting is an important control feature that ensures the discount applies exclusively to the first purchase and cannot be combined with other offers. When enabled, customers will only be able to use this specific discount code, preventing multiple discounts from stacking together.
This is particularly beneficial if you are running other campaigns such as seasonal offers, bulk purchase discounts, or coupon-based promotions. Restricting the first purchase discount to individual use protects your pricing structure and prevents over-discounting.
By enforcing this rule, you maintain a fair promotional system where every new customer receives the same level of benefit without misusing multiple deals at once.
4. Auto Apply Discounts for Guests
One of the most convenient features of the plugin is the Auto Apply Discount for Guests option. This setting determines whether guest users those who haven’t created an account yet can also benefit from your WooCommerce First Purchase Discount.
- When enabled, the plugin automatically applies the discount to the cart for guest users during checkout. This is particularly helpful for stores that allow guest checkouts and want to maximize conversions without requiring account creation.
- When disabled, only registered users making their first purchase will receive the discount. This is ideal if your strategy focuses on increasing registered user accounts and building a customer database.
Allowing guest users to enjoy the first purchase discount can lead to higher conversion rates because it simplifies the shopping experience. On the other hand, requiring registration helps you gather valuable customer data for future marketing campaigns. Depending on your store’s strategy, you can toggle this feature to best suit your goals.
5. Enable Minimum Cart Amount
The Minimum Cart Amount feature gives you control over when the first purchase discount is applied. It allows you to set a minimum purchase requirement before the discount becomes active. For example, you might decide to offer a 10% discount only if the cart total exceeds ₹1000.
This option encourages customers to add more products to their cart to qualify for the discount, effectively increasing your Average Order Value (AOV). It also ensures that the discount is only given on substantial purchases, protecting your profit margins.
To activate this option:
- Check the box labeled “Enable Minimum Cart Amount.”
- Enter your desired threshold in the corresponding field.
This approach is particularly useful for stores selling a mix of low- and high-priced products, as it helps guide customers toward a target purchase amount before unlocking the reward.
6. Set the Minimum Cart Value
After enabling the Minimum Cart Amount option, you’ll need to specify the exact cart value that customers must reach to qualify for the discount. For example, setting the threshold at ₹1500 means the plugin will automatically apply the WooCommerce First Purchase Discount only when the customer’s total cart value equals or exceeds ₹1500.
This setting allows for greater flexibility and control in your discount strategy. It ensures that discounts are triggered only under conditions that make financial sense for your business. Additionally, it motivates customers to spend more to unlock the benefit, resulting in higher order values and better profitability.
Setting a clear minimum cart value is a smart way to combine customer satisfaction with business efficiency, ensuring your promotions drive meaningful revenue growth rather than just sales volume. To further enhance the shopping experience, consider using WordPress Elementor themes, as they offer visually stunning and conversion-focused layouts that work seamlessly with WooCommerce and help create a more engaging store design.
7. Save Your Settings
After you’ve configured all the above options discount type, value, restrictions, guest settings, and minimum cart criteria it’s time to save your changes. Scroll down and click on the “Save Changes” button to store your configuration.
Once saved, the plugin will automatically identify first-time customers and apply the discount based on the rules you’ve defined. The process is completely automated, which means you don’t need to manually issue coupons or monitor user activity to determine eligibility.
This level of automation simplifies discount management, minimizes errors, and ensures consistency across all customer interactions. Every new customer will experience a seamless, value-driven checkout process, increasing the likelihood of repeat purchases.
Step 3: Check the Discount
After completing the setup process, the next important step in implementing your WooCommerce First Purchase Discount is to test and verify the configuration. Testing ensures that your discount functions exactly as intended applying correctly for first-time customers while excluding returning buyers. This verification step helps you avoid potential issues that might affect your customer’s shopping experience or your promotional campaign. A properly tested setup guarantees smooth automation and accurate discount application, enhancing your store’s credibility and user satisfaction.
Here’s how to test the WooCommerce First Purchase Discount effectively:
- Log Out of Your Admin Account: Testing while logged in as an administrator might bypass certain discount rules. Always log out to simulate a real customer experience.
- Create a New Customer Account: Register a new account or use a fresh email address to mimic a first-time buyer.
- Add Products to Cart: Choose a few products and add them to your cart. Ensure the total meets or exceeds the minimum cart value if you’ve enabled that condition.
- Proceed to Checkout: On the checkout page, the discount should automatically apply according to the configuration you set earlier.
- Complete the Purchase (Optional): For complete verification, finish the purchase and check whether the discount appears correctly in the order summary and confirmation email.
If everything functions as expected, your WooCommerce First Purchase Discount is successfully set up. You can further verify this by checking your WooCommerce order list to confirm that the discount was applied specifically to first-time customers.
If the discount isn’t displaying correctly, review the following settings:
- Ensure the discount type (fixed, percentage, or free shipping) is selected correctly.
- Verify the minimum cart value requirement, if applicable.
- Confirm the user is indeed making their first purchase.
- Check that the “Individual Use Only” option isn’t conflicting with other active coupons.
Once these verifications are complete, you can confidently roll out your WooCommerce First Purchase Discount to new customers and start tracking conversions effectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, setting up a WooCommerce First Purchase Discount is a smart and effective way to attract new customers and boost your store’s conversions. By understanding what a first purchase discount is, why it’s beneficial, and how to set it up using a plugin like First Order Discount WooCommerce by Vidish, you can easily create an engaging and automated system to reward first-time buyers. This strategy not only increases sales but also builds customer trust and encourages repeat purchases. To further enhance your store’s design and branding, consider pairing this strategy with a WordPress theme bundle, giving you access to multiple high-quality themes that can elevate your website’s appearance and user experience.
When implemented correctly, it transforms new visitors into loyal customers who drive long-term growth for your business. To further enhance your store’s design and performance, check out the WooCommerce-ready WordPress themes by WP Elemento, crafted to deliver speed, elegance, and seamless compatibility with WooCommerce.
