Here's an free online tool that makes it very easy for you to create instant promotions to give your sales a lift.

"Real World" businesses know the value of offering coupons and discounts to their consumers. If you're having a slow period, an offer of 20% or 30% off a special purchase can be enough to drive in sales.

I've come across a fantastic tool online that you can use to create a web site coupon with.

Gary Elley's "Just Web Tools" site has a free coupon creator which is very handy.

Here's an example of the type of graphic that you can place on your web site very easily:

Sample Coupon created in seconds with this online tool

By using the online coupon creator which is located here, you can have an attractive coupon within 20 seconds created for you for free. Simply save the graphic by clicking with the right mouse key and choosing "save as". Once you save the file, you can put it as a separate page on your web site to help drive traffic.

Some suggestions for successful coupon promotions:

• Have an urgency factor. In other words put an expiration date on there
• If you are advertising the coupon with different promotions, make sure you use the promotional code to track where the coupon traffic is coming from

Here's some example uses for the coupon creator.

For a local restaurant:

They could send out a last minute email. "Hey folks, it's a pretty slow day and we're looking to get you in here! We are offering 50% any entrée dinner with the presentation of this coupon. Please note, this coupon is only good until 6 p.m. tonight and you must bring a copy of it in!

Sample Coupon (shrunken down by 50%)

For a bed and breakfast:

Send an email and advertise on the site: "Early bird special coupon! Book any 3 night stay and only pay for 2 of the nights. This coupon is valid only until our true season begins. We want to extend this to you as a thank you for your patronage. Make sure you mention this coupon at the time of booking your room:

Obviously you can use this coupon promotion in any way you see fit.

Some of the most common promotions are:

• % off sale
• Buy 1 get 1 free (buy 2 get 1 free) etc
• Good for one free ……
• Present this coupon at the time of your purchase for a special gift worth $20
• Present this coupon when you purchase a car from us and receive 10 free car washes
  
• It is really only limited by your imagination. The coupon creator just makes it easy for you to make it look very professional.

Give a coupon promotion a try. It is very easy with the coupon creator. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results!