online-coupon-300A lot of people might think online coupons are so 2012, but the truth of the matter is, they are more valuable to your business now than ever before.

The fact is, 55% of all internet users now routinely access and use online coupons, resulting in more and higher sales. Clearly the consumer has become more savvy about couponing, and now make searching for coupon deals an integral part of the shopping process.

Think of coupons as advertising, and an effective form of it at that. They’re also a terrific source of intelligence about your business and products, and shed a lot of light on what your customer base is really after. Let’s look at 7 top places to put your coupon offers, and get you started on the road to greater profit.

7 Hot spots to advertise with your coupons

Valpak – You’ve most likely gotten his one directly in your mailbox. The familiar blue envelope filed with local coupon offers. Valpak has gained the public trust, and are routinely used.

Red Plum – This company has several different ways of reaching the consumer, using offline direct mail, online offers, and the form in which you’re most likely to have seen them before, as a coupon circular in your Sunday newspaper.

Groupon – The first of the big online couponing sites, Groupon has become a trusted behemoth in the couponing sector, offering many daily deals and other offers.

Living Social – Another of the original online couponing companies, Living Social makes a speciality of the deal of the day market.

Yelp for Business – Not only is Yelp a major player when it comes to citations and online reviews, Yelp Deals allow you to offer coupons much like Groupon but a bit less expensive. A beneficial one to use if you have a good set of reviews there.

RetailMeNot – A leader in this space, RetailMeNot is the largest digital coupon site in the U.S. offering over half a million coupons at any given time. While many think this is an venue for only large vendors, there are many small businesses as well.

Your email newsletter – If you have an email list and you’re not mailing coupons exclusively for people who are already warm to you, you’re really missing out! This is a great way to enhance customer loyalty and repeat purchases, not to mention significantly improving your email open rates.