Scheduled Offers (Special offers)

Overview

The Scheduled Offers feature in Appcharge enables publishers to plan and schedule promotions in advance by setting specific time intervals for special offers, with automated timing and availability management. Scheduled offers reset availability after each appearance to create exclusivity and urgency. For details on configuring permanent offers, including availability and refresh intervals, refer to the Special Offers & Bundles documentation.

In addition to configuring scheduled special offers through the Appcharge dashboard, publishers have the option to set up and manage their offers using the Offers API

Note: Free special offers currently do not support the scheduled feature.

Benefits:

Plan in Advance: Publishers can schedule specific time periods for offers, aligning them with game events or seasonal promotions.
Increased Player Engagement: A countdown timer displayed during the offer period encourages players to act quickly.
Automated Availability Reset: Availability resets for each scheduled appearance, ensuring players have multiple opportunities to claim the offer.

High-Level Flow:

Publisher Configures the Scheduled Offer:

Navigate to the Schedule Tab: In the New Promotion page, go to the Schedule Tab and select Scheduled Offer.
Add Appearances:
- Specify availability (how many times players can claim the offer per appearance).
- Define the start and end times for each appearance in UTC format.
- Use the Add Appearance button to create additional time slots.
  Note: Ensure there are no overlapping time intervals.
  Note: Appearances remain in a pending state until the entire offer is saved.
Save the Scheduled Offer:Once all appearances are configured, save the offer. It will now appear in the Promotions screen.
Edit or Delete Appearances: Use the three-dot menu next to any scheduled appearance to modify or remove it.

Player Views the Scheduled Offer:

Countdown Timer: When the offer is live, players will see a countdown indicating the time remaining before the special offer ends.
Availability Display: Players will also see the availability counter (e.g., "Available 2/2"), which will show how many times the offer can be claimed during the current appearance.

Publisher Journey:

1. Create a New Promotion

Go to the Promotions Tab: Navigate to the Promotions Tab in the Appcharge dashboard and click 'Add New Promotion' to create a new promotion.
Configure the special offer in Settings Tab: In the Settings Tab, set up the special offer details such as the name, external ID, offer design, and price.

2. Configure the Offer Schedule

Navigate to the Schedule Tab and select Scheduled Offer.
Add one or more appearances:
- Specify availability for each appearance (e.g., "Available 2/2").
- Set start and end times in UTC format for each scheduled period.
- Use the Add Appearance button to create multiple time slots if needed.
  Note: Appearances remain in a pending state until the entire special offer is saved.
Click Save to finalize the configuration. The offer will appear in the Promotions screen.
Use the three-dot menu to modify or delete scheduled appearances.

Best Practices:

Plan offers to coincide with major in-game events or seasonal promotions for maximum engagement.
Use short countdown timers to create urgency and encourage players to act quickly.
Regularly monitor performance and adjust the availability or timing if necessary.

Example: Scheduling an Offer

Scenario:
You want to set up a limited-time special offer that will be live from 02/10/2024 13:05 UTC to 04/10/2024 13:05 UTC and then again from 07/10/2024 13:05 UTC to 09/10/2024 13:05 UTC.

Steps:

Create a new special offer and configure its details in the ‘Settings’ Tab.
Go to the ‘Schedule’ Tab and switch the special offer from ‘Permanent’ to ‘Scheduled’.
Set the start and end times for the first appearance (02/10/2024 13:05 UTC to 04/10/2024 13:05 UTC).
Add a second appearance for 07/10/2024 13:05 UTC to 09/10/2024 13:05 UTC.
Set the availability as ‘2’ for both appearances, meaning that players can claim the offer up to two times during each scheduled window.
Save the special offer. It will now be visible in the main ‘Promotions’ screen.

Player Side:

1. Countdown Timer

Players will see a countdown timer once the offer becomes live, indicating the remaining time for the current special offer.

2. Availability

At the start of each new scheduled appearance, the availability counter (e.g., "Available 2/2") will reset, allowing players to claim the offer again if they missed it during the previous appearance.

3. Permanent Special Offers:

If the special offer is switched from ‘Scheduled’ to ‘Permanent’, the countdown timer will no longer appear, but the availability counter can still appear, allowing players to see how many times the offer can be claimed.

Note: For more information on permanent offers, please refer to the Special Offers & Bundles documentation.