Promo Codes in Nigeria: what are they and why you should use them for online purchases

Also known as promotional codes, coupons or vouchers, discount codes are alphanumeric vouchers that, like other tools in electronic format, have become part of the daily lives of Internet users.

Discount codes are a true savings method equal to paper coupons.
Unlike coupons or vouchers which are mainly paper vouchers, discount codes are a sequence of numbers and letters that can be used in a online shopping cart in Nigeria as well as international stores.

First created in the United States in the early 2000s, in conjunction with the development of e-commerce, promotional codes experienced their first wave of success between the years 2008-2010, the period in which Groupon became, in a stable and indisputable way, one of the main international operators of services through paper vouchers. On the same wavelength, many international e-commerce sites started issuing electronic discount codes that can be used by their users, just like a paper voucher provided by the physical store in your city to be used for your next purchase.

The use of digital promotional codes in online stores has become increasingly common in Nigeria. These are alphanumeric combinations (e.g. “GIFT321″ or “DISCOUNT20“) that users can apply in the shopping cart of their favorite online store, in a special box. Validation is automatic when confirming the use of the discount code.

Where can we find discount codes?
There are several ways to find promo codes throughout the internet for online stores in Nigeria and abroad, in this mini-guide we will explain in detail all the methods to get discount codes and help you save on your next purchase.

Through the online store – One of the main methods of getting the discount codes is through the online shop in which you want to make the purchase. E-commerce stores in Nigeria routinely send promo codes to all users who are registered or subscribed to the newsletter. In addition to this, you can very often find coupons listed on the store’s page.

Via Specialized Coupon Portals – Thanks to the success of coupons, there are plenty of specialized sites in Nigeria that offer promo codes. Some portals like the famous Promocodx.com continuously list and update discount coupons from hundreds of stores in Nigeria. In some promo code sites, you can also find exclusive and rare vouchers that are offered exclusively by the online store for users of certain websites.

Via Google Apps – Some online sites offering promo codes use Android / Apple apps downloaded from Google Play, containing promo codes for Nigerian stores. There are also several Chrome Extensions available with which you can refine your search and get promotional coupons as you browse a particular e-commerce site. Finally, through a query in the Google search engine, in some cases numerous sites, even niche ones, containing discount codes for network users are listed.

Via Sms or Push Notification – Sometimes e-commerce sites send their users a notification via Sms that contains an exclusive or generic promo code, to be used for their next order. Some apps like Telegram offer promo codes, via appropriate channels that continuously “churn out” discount codes for major Nigerian and international stores like Jumia, Konga, Michael Kors, Asos, Yoox, Nike and many more.

How does the insertion of a promotional code in the e-commerce site technically happen?
Using a promo code is a rather easy experience for the user. Promocodex International Srl estimates that 50% of Nigeria users look for a discount code before making a purchase. This is a simple operation and the online store explains in detail how to use a discount code. Entering the voucher is essentially done in the online store’s shopping cart page where the user will find a special box in which to enter the alphanumeric code, which must be validated via a special confirmation button. On the same page as the cart, the amount will be recalculated automatically and therefore the discount will appear in real time. In any case it is good to always check the terms and conditions of use of a discount coupon, validity, expiration date, the products for which the discount code can be used.

For which stores in Nigeria are promo codes available?
You can use coupons in any type of e-commerce and service site, i.e. stores that sell consumer goods or sites where services are sold (such as tourist reservations, e-ticketing, currency exchange, hosting and domains, computer software, consulting, online courses). Statistically, the majority of promotional codes are used for e-commerce stores, such as computer stores, clothing and footwear, household appliances and all products that fall into the category of consumer goods. In any case, the use of discount codes for tourist bookings such as travel, airline tickets, local deals and e-ticketing is increasing.

What are the most commonly used promo codes in Nigeria?
According to statistics from Promocodex International Srl, an international e- commerce statistics company that owns discount code sites in major European and international markets, Nigerian users purchase via promo code on top domestic e-commerce sites and over 30% of coupon searches narrow down to 5 major shopping portals; Jumia, Konga, Aliexpress, Amazon and Hotels.com. The query “Jumia Coupon Codes” is in the 1st position in the online search of Nigeria users.