Need help with Promo Codes

Question

Created Mar ’20

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We are running a TV, Radio, and Display ads for a new iPhone and Android App. We need to track using something like a promo code or perhaps unique URL for each of the 47 markets we are targeting. There is a QR code component on the screen that can be unique to each market. The TV partnerships get paid a percentage of any paid subscriptions from the App. The App is free to download but to unlock all the features you have to subscribe. Our TV media company gets paid based on subscription. Th initial thought was to create 47 promo codes in apple and then offer any user who entered a valid code they would get the first month 50% off. This would auto-renew to the regular price after the first month. There has to be an incentive to get them to enter actual promo code. Again, we need an easy solution, This will need to be done for Android (Google Play) and Apple Store. I would appreciate if anyone has a solution that would allow this type of setup.

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Answer 1

PBK OP

Mar ’20

>create 47 promo codes in apple and then offer any user who entered a valid code they would get the first month 50% off.

This is easily done with an autorenewable subscription that includes what apple calls an introductory offer that could be 50% off the first month.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/storekit/in-app_purchase/subscriptions_and_offers/implementing_introductory_offers_in_your_app?language=objc

Your app would ask the user for their code and then offer them the ability to purchase the IAP product that includes that introductory offer rather than one that does not include that introductory offer.

Your problem is 3.1.1:

"....Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, etc...."

And you are, in fact, offering a financial incentive to use that QR code - the ability to purchase the IAP with the introductory offer. But not really - since you are just enabling the purchase of an autorenewable subscription. The key will be to convince Apple that you are not charging for that QR code but rather giving it away for free and using it to identify the market source of the user. It might pass App Review.

It would be better if you did not require the user to have the QR code but just offered them a drop down list of markets and require them to select their market before proceeding to make the IAP purchase. One option could be 'none of the above' and that would still allow them to purchase the IAP with the introductory offer. That would pass App Review. You might suggest that they will get special content suitable only for their selected market as an incentive to select their market; or rely on most users to voluntarily give you the infromation you want.

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