Using Expiring Coupons to Drive Urgency

Honestly? I avoided it because I didn’t wanna feel pushy. But here’s what changed my mind: the first time I added a 24-hour expiring coupon on a digital workbook, my sales doubled overnight. No joke. It wasn’t even my best product.

Turns out, urgency isn’t sleazy when it’s done right—it’s psychology.

Let me break down what I’ve learned (through plenty of trial and error) about using expiring coupon codes to actually motivate people to buy without making them feel tricked.

What Happens When You Add a Countdown?

The moment you attach a deadline to a discount like “expires in 12 hours” or “last chance today” something shifts. People stop scrolling. They start deciding. Not next week. Not “maybe.” Now.

I had this mini-course I couldn’t get anyone to buy full price. I added a 20% off code that expired in 48 hours, sent one email with a countdown bar, and guess what? The sales came through in the last 3 hours. Every. Single. Time.

It’s called loss aversion. Basically, we hate missing out more than we love getting a good deal. If you want to dive deeper into the psychology behind this behavior, check out the psychology of discount pricing.

How to Set Up Expiring Coupons the Smart Way?

If you’re using Payhip, it’s super easy to set an expiration date when you create your coupon. If you need a quick walkthrough, here’s a full guide to creating a coupon code on Payhip.

But here’s how I do it strategically:

• Stick to short windows: 24-72 hours max. Anything longer, and people procrastinate.

• Add a countdown timer to the promo email or product page. Tools like MotionMail or EmailTimers help.

• Mention the end time clearly: “Offer expires Tuesday at 11:59PM EST.” Specificity adds weight.

• Send multiple reminders: one when it goes live, one 12 hours before expiry, one “last call” 1–2 hours before it ends.

And yeah, I used to worry about bugging people with emails. But I promise—people expect reminders. Your true fans will thank you for it.

If you’re planning a bigger promotion, you might also want to explore how to run flash sales using coupon codes to maximize the buzz.

Mistakes I’ve Made (So You Don’t Have To)

• Extending the coupon after the deadline
  I caved once. A few people missed the deadline, and I felt bad, so I extended it another day. Guess what happened next time? Everyone waited till I extended again. Killed the urgency. Stick to your deadline.

• Not segmenting my audience
  I once blasted a “last chance” coupon to everyone—even people who just bought the full-price product. I got more unsubscribes than sales that day. Lesson: create a segment that excludes recent buyers or VIPs.

• Overusing urgency
  If every email is “urgent,” nothing is. I now save these limited-time deals for launches, holidays, or big events. Once a month tops. That way, when I say “this is ending soon,” people actually believe me.

Want to make sure you’re picking the right moments for promotions? Here’s a smart read on when to offer coupons to customers (and when not to).

Quick Tips for Better Expiring Coupon Campaigns

• Use bold, active language: “Ends Tonight!”, “Only 3 Hours Left!”

• Show the value clearly: “Get it for $12 instead of $20 – before midnight”

• Use urgency in visuals, not just words (timers, red badges, etc.)

• Pair it with scarcity: “Only 50 redemptions available”

• Keep your tone friendly, not frantic. You’re helping, not hassling.

If you need ideas on spreading your offers beyond just emails, check out how to promote coupons on social media to reach an even bigger audience fast.

Final Thoughts

Expiring coupons aren’t about manipulating people, they’re about helping someone finally decide. Because let’s be honest… how many times have we left something in our cart for days, thinking, “I’ll come back later”? I do it all the time.

Urgency makes us take action. It pushes your product off the “maybe” list and onto the “YES, let’s do this” one.

So if you’re sitting on a killer product that’s just not moving? Try the deadline trick. Just do it with heart and intention.

And hey—don’t forget to test your promo before blasting it out. Nothing’s worse than hyping up a coupon that doesn’t work (ask me how I know…).

Need help crafting the perfect email for your countdown sale? I’ve got tips on that too—or you can start with this complete guide to creating a coupon code on Payhip.