Tech Blog (wh)

Shopping online is more popular than ever, and it shows no signs of slowing up. In fact, millions of Americans take to the Internet every day (and even more during the holiday season!) to shop for family members, friends, and children.

Deals are everywhere, and because of this, online retailers and sites have become extremely adept at offering great coupons, and partnering with other businesses and websites to provide workable and worthwhile coupon codes. But there’s a catch! Not all of these new coupon companies and websites provide the best coupons – or even ones that truly work and are valuable!

In fact, there are several things to look for when it comes to picking out coupons and researching deals online, and there are a few different tips that every person needs to take heed when it comes to figuring out what is the right situation and website for them and their specific product needs.

###Be Smart With Coupon Companies

Not all coupon companies were created equal. For every Groupon, there is a RetailMeNot, and not all companies will have coupons worth the time or effort. Many, in fact, simply want your email address and demographic information before they give out any sort of deal, and even then, don’t have access to the best coupons or the top discounts that you are trying to track down.

So, when you look for coupon companies, be smart with which you pick. A company like CouponChief provides a great opportunity for a respectable coupon site simply because they are one of the fastest growing coupon sites out there, with more than half a million visitors per month and more than 100,000 coupons to more than 30,000 different stores, brands, and companies. CouponChief is the hot new kid on the block when it comes to coupon companies, and is proving to be a reliable source for great discounts and amazing savings.

###Research, Research, Research!

No matter where you go or what product you are searching for, it’s critical that you do your research and pick a coupon company that aligns with what you are looking for. That means pick companies that provide coupons to the stores that you frequent, and can provide you with great deals that actually save you money and can’t be found anywhere else.

Research has never been easier, in fact; with Yelp, Facebook, and other social media and interactive websites available nowadays, you can ask your friends what they think about deals and coupons, and where they have found great deals and offers that you won’t get anywhere else. You can also use Internet forums and other websites that provide unbiased user reviews to ensure that whatever you choose for your coupon site will work for you and provide you with exactly what you need to save money and get discounts on the best products available.

###Ask Around; Your Friends Will Know

When in doubt, feel ’em out! Your friends will be able to tell you exactly what you need to know about coupon sites and what coupons work, since your friends are just like you – they want to save money and get great deals on everything all the same! Ask your friends about where they have had success and what has worked for them, knowing that you can trust their reviews and find out exactly what makes the most sense for you and your family.

Plus, your friends can give you tips on what to avoid, and what issues they have run across that might make it easier for you when it comes time to shop for a reliable and usable coupon site. Your friends know more than you think; they’ve been there before when it comes to couponing, and they can be extremely valuable resources as far as picking out exactly what will work for you and your unique situation.

###Choose A Site You Trust

I’ve used CouponCabin and RetailMeNot, but recently I found CouponChief and have been quite impressed with them. They’re great because they’re one of the fastest growing coupon websites on the market today, and for good measure – they work! Accodring to Alexa, they have over half a million unique visitors per month. Part of the problem of any coupon site is that if nobody uses it, it won’t have up-to-date coupons. I hate searching for coupons on a site and getting a few expired coupons and a bunch of popup windows. Their site says that they have over 30k stores – which is pretty darn good. If you’ve got a store in town you’ve been eyeing for a discount, chances are they have coupon to save you money.

One other thing I noticed that’s different is their “Pays-2-Share” program where users can submit coupon codes, and actually get paid for doing it, and sharing the love and forwarding coupon codes to other users. I haven’t submitted any coupon codes, but I like that they’re doing this. It seems to encourage a high quality / large quantity of available coupons.

###Conclusions

All in all, couponing can be tough work, but somebody’s gotta do it right! With a little bit of research, and some hard work hunting down the right sites and businesses, good coupons are easy to come by and will work wonders to save you money on a ton of great products and services around the country.

Good luck with CouponChief, RetailMeNot, Coupon Cabin or any sites you choose to use. I enjoy knowing that I’ll be saving money and saving time. Whenever I checkout and see that coupon box on the cart page I will always check for coupons (usually on CouponCheif first) so that I can make sure I get any discounts that are floating around out there.

And finally, please don’t be afraid to share your coupon codes with others, too – spread the love, maybe get paid for it, and help grow some of these sites that allow millions of people the opportunity every year to save money, time, and the headache of shopping at stores around the country. Let me know how your couponing goes, and what you’ve found that works for you and your family!