How to Enable URL Coupons in WordPress

What Is the Enable URL Coupons feature?

By default, customers must enter a coupon code at checkout manually. The Enable URL Coupons feature lets customers receive a URL with the coupon code as a parameter, which is automatically applied when they visit:

https://yoursite.com/cart/?coupon=SUMMER10

The feature also supports UTM parameters for marketing attribution, so the URL https://yoursite.com/cart/?coupon=SUMMER10&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=july4 applies the coupon and tracks the source as “email / july4”.

Why You Need It

URL-based coupons are a powerful marketing tool:

• Email campaigns: Include the URL in emails for one-click discount application
• Affiliate links: Affiliates can share URLs that auto-apply their custom coupons
• Social media: Share URLs on social platforms that auto-apply the coupon
• QR codes: Physical marketing materials with QR codes for in-store promotions

For most stores, URL coupons are a small but high-ROI feature.

How to Enable URL Coupons in WordPress

Step 1: Navigate to Settings

Click into the Classic Monks plugin settings in your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Go to the WooCommerce Tab

Click on the WooCommerce menu, then click the Coupons subtab.

Step 3: Enable URL Coupons

Toggle on Enable URL Coupons. Nested options expand.

Step 4: Configure Sub-Options

The 2 sub-options include:

• Track Coupon Sources: Record the source of the URL for analytics
• Support UTM Parameters: Pass UTM parameters through to the redirect URL

Step 5: Save Changes

Click Save Changes.

Step 6: Create URL Coupons

Use the URL format https://yoursite.com/cart/?coupon=CODE where CODE is the actual coupon code. Add UTM parameters as needed.

Step 7: Test

Click a URL coupon in a private/incognito browser. The coupon should be applied automatically.

Configuration Options

Option	Description	Default
Enable URL Coupons	Master toggle.	Off
Track Coupon Sources	Record source for analytics.	Off
Support UTM Parameters	Pass UTM through to redirect.	Off
Default Redirect After	(configured in URL Coupons meta)	Cart page
URL Parameter Name	(configured in URL Coupons meta)	“coupon”

The Default Redirect After and URL Parameter Name are configured in the URL Coupons metabox (when editing the URL Coupons post type).

What Gets Affected

• The cart: the coupon is applied when the URL is visited
• The redirect: the customer is sent to the configured page (cart, checkout, or shop)
• The analytics: the source is recorded (if Track Coupon Sources is enabled)
• The UTM parameters: passed through to the redirect URL (if Support UTM Parameters is enabled)

What Does NOT Get Affected

• Manual coupon code entry: customers can still enter codes manually
• Coupon eligibility: determined by the coupon’s existing restrictions
• The coupon’s effect on the order: the URL-applied discount is the same as a manually-applied one
• The order meta: the source and UTM are stored separately (if enabled)

Advanced Options (Developers)

This feature registers 3 WordPress hooks in url-coupons.php:

Actions:

• template_redirect calls cm_process_url_coupon() (Processes URL coupon activation (priority 20))
• wp_enqueue_scripts calls cm_url_coupons_enqueue_scripts() (Enqueues URL coupon scripts)
• add_meta_boxes calls cm_add_url_coupon_meta_box() (Adds URL coupon metabox to coupons)

// Hooked in url-coupons.php
add_action( 'template_redirect', 'cm_process_url_coupon' );

The feature modifies WooCommerce behavior by registering or removing hooks. Disabling it reverses those changes.

Troubleshooting

The URL coupon is not being applied

Cause: The toggle is off, the coupon doesn’t exist, or the URL is malformed.
Fix: Verify the toggle is on. Verify the coupon code exists in WooCommerce > Coupons. Verify the URL format is ?coupon=CODE (case-sensitive).

The customer is redirected but the coupon is not applied

Cause: The redirect happened before the coupon was applied, or the coupon’s conditions are not met.
Fix: Verify the cart meets the coupon’s conditions. The redirect happens after the coupon is applied; if the coupon fails (e.g., minimum spend not met), the redirect still happens but the coupon is not in the cart.

The UTM parameters are not being tracked

Cause: The “Support UTM Parameters” option is off, or the parameters are not in the URL.
Fix: Verify the option is on. Verify the URL includes the UTM parameters (e.g., ?coupon=CODE&utm_source=email).

The source is not recorded in the order

Cause: The “Track Coupon Sources” option is off.
Fix: Verify the option is on. The source is stored as order meta. Configure in the plugin settings to customize the data being stored.