Overview

Voucher codes are unique codes generated by your system and uploaded to Ambassador to reward participants for Referral or Loyalty activity, such as free shipping and discount codes.

In this article, you'll find a step-by-step guide to configure voucher codes that you want to send via email when a Loyalty rule is triggered.

Check out this article if you want to see other ways that you can issue voucher codes.

Summary of Steps

Plan the types of reward codes and details for each
Create a CSV file
Import the CSV file
Setup a Loyalty email template for each Voucher type
Add an Effect to each Loyalty Rule that you want to send a voucher
Save > Publish > Test

Step 1: Plan the types of reward codes and details for each

Types of Codes = Start by determining the types of reward codes that you'd like to send from a Loyalty rule. You should be able to generate these codes on your own and your system should be setup to accept them. For each type of code, you will need to identify a Product Name to include in the CSV file.

Here are a few ideas:
- Free Shipping
- $X off
- %X off
- Specific product SKU

Tip: We recommend starting with no more than 1 or 2 types of codes to keep it simple. You can always introduce more later.

Product Name = You will need to assign a Product Name to each type of voucher codes for our system to group them.
- In Step 2, you will create a CSV of your voucher codes and include a column with the product name for that type of codes.
- In Step 5, you will select the Product Name from a picklist in your Loyalty Rule Effect settings.

Step 2: Create a CSV File

Start by creating a .CSV file with a list of unique codes from your system that can be redeemed by the recipient.

Your file must include the following column names & data:

code: The list of voucher codes from your system should go in this column.
- Each code must be unique and accepted in your shopping cart or system.

product_name: You will need to assign a Product Name to each type of voucher codes for our system to group them, then insert it in this column for each row of the affiliated codes.
- The product name can be anything you like, but it must be unique between each type of code.
- For example, if you have codes for Free Shipping and $10 off, you will need to give each of those a product name like:
  - Free Shipping = free-shipping.
  - $10 off = 10-dollars-off

Tip: You can import two types of voucher codes in a single CSV file as long as the product_name column is unique between the two.

Remember that all voucher codes must be unique no matter the type or fulfillment method.

Step 3: Import your voucher code CSV file to Ambassador

1. Go to Ambassador > Settings > Payments > hover your mouse over Codes and click Configure.

2. Next, click on the Vouchers tab > then, click the blue Import voucher codes button.

3. In the popup window, click upload your CSV file > then, click the drop-down to select who you want to send the import results to > and click Next.

4. On the Mapping screen, check the box for "First row contains column names" > then, select Coupon Codes and Campaign ID from the "Fields to import" column > and, click Next.

5. On the Review screen, select any sections you need to go back and edit. Otherwise, click Finish.

6. Check your email for the import results.
- If it was completely successful, the codes will be displayed in the Vouchers table and you can move on to step 3.
- If it was not successful, download the error file (linked in the results email) to review and resolve.

Tip: You can also monitor your import and find results in the Tasks table.

Step 4: Setup a Loyalty email template for each type of Voucher or use-case

You need to setup a Loyalty email template with a {voucher_code} merge tag, which will be used to send out the voucher code when the Rule is triggered.

First, you have to create and customize the Email template(s). Then, you'll assign each email in the applicable Rule as an Effect.

1. To create an Email template, click on Loyalty > Emails > then, the New Email button.

2. Within the Create New Email modal, make the following customizations to the form fields:

Email Name: Enter an internal name for the email template.
- Note: Make sure that it's uniquely recognizable for each reward type because it will appear in a list of email templates to select from when you setup the Loyalty Rule Effect.
Subject: Enter a subject line for the email's purpose and follows subject line best practices.
From Email & Name: This will default to the Outgoing Email Address & Domain that is setup in your Account Settings. If you change the email address, there are a two rules to follow:
- It must have the same domain as what's verified in your Account Settings, otherwise you'll get an "Invalid Email Domain" error.
- It must be an inbox that you can receive responses.

3. Next, use the editing tool bar or enter your own HTML to customize the email design and copy for it's intended purpose and to reflect your brand.

In the tool bar at the top, you'll find a list of "Merge Tags" you can use to dynamically pull in corresponding information into your email when it's sent. You must include {voucher_code} so that our system will pull in a voucher code from the designated list when you trigger it.

Don't forget to customize the footer with your own address, social links!

Note: Our Unsubscribe link is required, and will provide the recipient a choice of unsubscribing from emails and/or the program. This will only unsubscribe them from the emails sent from Ambassador specifically. If you need to be notified of these unsubscribes, you can setup a recurring Contact report or webhook.

4. When ready, Save Draft Email and Send Email Test, then select Save Email to make it available for selection in your Rule Effects.

Step 5: Add a Voucher Effect to each Loyalty Rule that you want to send a voucher

Once you've created and saved your email templates, you're ready to add the two effects that will issue the voucher and send the voucher email template.

From the Loyalty menu, click Rule.
If you've already created a Rule for the use-case, select it from the list and Edit, otherwise proceed to create your rule first.
After Rule details are selected, scroll down to the Rules Effect section. (If needed, click a plus sign (+) to add a new type).
In the Type field select Voucher > then, in the Value field, select the Product Name given to the group of voucher codes for this reward.

Don't save yet, you need to add another effect in Step 6 to send an email.

Step 6: Add a Send Email Effect to each Loyalty Rule that you want to send a voucher

In the same Rule and Rules Effect section > click the plus sign (+) to add another effect.
In the Type field select Send Email > then, in the Value field, select the name of the email template that you created and included the {voucher_code} merge tag for this rule.
Save.

Step 7: Save > Publish > Test

After your Rule is configured properly, we recommend creating a contact and testing the Rule to ensure that it properly sends the email with the voucher code.

If possible, complete a test to redeem that voucher code in your store.