When you create unique or integration offers in Attentive, you have options to control which codes are valid for distribution during a specific timeframe and when these codes should expire. These options appear in the Distribution window section of the Create unique discount codes and Create integrated discount codes windows.
You decide whether subscribers receive a new code from the offer or a code they’ve already received, but haven’t yet redeemed. This ensures that subscribers always receive valid codes (i.e., codes that haven't been redeemed and aren't expired) and lets you streamline offers across Attentive in both campaigns and journeys.
Process overview
We'll always allow you to send a “valid” code. We determine a code’s validity based on your distribution window selection and subscriber activity. For example, subscribers receive a new code from the offer if they’ve redeemed the previous code, they’ve never received a code from the specific offer, or their previous code from the offer has expired (i.e., the previous code is outside its distribution window).
Distribution windows
All unique and integrated offers have a distribution window, which is the time period when the offer is valid. Once a distribution window ends, subscribers receive new, valid codes from that offer. Choose from the following distribution window options:
- Never expires (default): A subscriber receives the same code with each message until it’s redeemed.
- Time to live: You set the time period (number of hours, days, weeks, or months) during which a subscriber receives the same code until it’s redeemed. If you choose 0 days, a new code is sent with each message, regardless of expiration or redemption status.
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Custom time period: You upload codes with specific date ranges during which the batch of codes is valid. Once the end passes, subscribers receive codes from the next valid batch.
Note: For integrated offers, the custom time period is pulled directly from Shopify and can’t be edited within Attentive.
Use cases
These example use cases can help you understand how to best set up your offer distribution windows.
| Desired outcome | Example use case(s) | Appropriate distribution window settings |
| Only send one code per offer to a subscriber until it’s been redeemed |
Use the same 10% offer in your welcome journey and your cart abandonment journey so that subscribers don’t get multiple codes unless they’ve already redeemed one. Send a follow-up campaign with the same code to subscribers who haven’t yet redeemed it. |
Never expires |
| Send a new code after a certain amount of time | Ensure subscribers who opt out and back in (from the same offer) after a certain amount of time don't receive an outdated or expired code. |
Time to live = X days |
| Send a new code after a specified date (expiration) | Swap out welcome codes seamlessly without needing to edit or delete codes each month. |
Custom time period Make sure each upload (e.g., one month’s worth of codes) has its own date range. The codes automatically expire, and subscribers receive a new code from within the valid window |
| Send a new code every time a subscriber qualifies for an offer | Always send a new code regardless of redemption or timeframe. | Time to live = 0 days |
- Auto-response messages or messages classified as already subscribed or auto-response always default to the original sign-up offer. This means the distribution updates don‘t apply in those circumstances and a subscribers could receive codes that've been redeemed. We suggest removing the
{{offer.code}}from your auto-responses to avoid this. - The offer distribution window applies to all offers across Attentive, including those in journeys, campaigns, text messages, and emails.
- Your follow up campaign should exclude a segment of subscribers who have purchased since the previous message was sent.
- If you add offers with unique discount codes to a campaign, and there aren’t enough discount codes for every recipient, you won’t be able to schedule the campaign. Upload more discount codes to proceed.