How to Schedule Automatic Discounts in WooCommerce

Discounts have always been one of the most effective ways to drive sales. But in 2025, running discounts isn’t just about slashing prices — it’s about timing. Shoppers expect flash sales, weekend specials, or midnight deals that feel exclusive and exciting.

If you run a WooCommerce store, you’ve probably wondered: How can I automatically start and stop discounts without constantly changing prices myself?

The answer is simple: scheduled discounts.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to schedule automatic discounts in WooCommerce using the Midnight Deals for WooCommerce plugin, why it matters, and how you can use it to boost sales.

Why Scheduled Discounts Matter

Manual discounts are time-consuming and easy to forget. Scheduled discounts, on the other hand, let you:

• Save time: No need to manually update prices before every sale.
• Create urgency: Discounts that appear and disappear automatically trigger FOMO (fear of missing out).
• Run campaigns at scale: Plan ahead for Black Friday, holiday sales, or daily midnight drops.
• Stay consistent: Customers learn to expect and trust your promotions.

Example: Imagine running a “Midnight Madness” sale where prices automatically drop 20% at 12:00 AM and go back to normal at 6:00 AM. You’re asleep — but your store is still converting shoppers.

How to Schedule Automatic Discounts in WooCommerce

While WooCommerce itself doesn’t provide advanced scheduling out of the box, plugins like Midnight Deals for WooCommerce make it possible.

Here’s how to do it step by step:

1. Install and Activate Midnight Deals for WooCommerce

• Go to your WordPress dashboard → Plugins → Add New.
• Upload and install Midnight Deals for WooCommerce.
• Activate it.

2. Set Discount Rules

Inside the plugin settings, you can:

• Choose which products or categories to discount.
• Set the discount type (percentage or fixed amount).
• Define the discount value (e.g., 25% off).

3. Schedule Start and End Times

• Pick the exact start date and time for your sale.
• Choose when it should automatically end.
• You can even set recurring schedules (e.g., every Friday night).

4. Customize the Display

Midnight Deals can show timers, banners, or labels so customers know the sale is time-limited. This creates urgency and boosts conversions.

5. Let It Run Automatically

Once set, your discounts activate and deactivate on schedule — no manual work required.

Real-World Use Cases

• Flash Sales: Surprise discounts for a few hours to drive quick sales.
• Daily Midnight Deals: Perfect for stores that want to attract night shoppers.
• Holiday Campaigns: Automate your entire Black Friday to Cyber Monday sale schedule.
• Clearance Sales: Automatically mark down slow-moving stock during specific weeks.

Example: A clothing store schedules a “Weekend Warm-Up Sale” every Friday from 6 PM to 11:59 PM. Customers learn to expect it, boosting repeat visits.

Why Midnight Deals for WooCommerce Stands Out

There are discount plugins for WooCommerce, but few focus on time-based automation. Here’s why Midnight Deals is unique:

• Built specifically for timed discounts (not just generic coupons).
• Supports one-time and recurring schedules.
• Let’s you add urgency features like countdown timers.
• Lightweight and designed for speed — won’t slow down your store.
• Pairs perfectly with major sales events (Black Friday, BFCM, seasonal campaigns).

FAQs

Q: Can I run multiple scheduled discounts at once?
Yes. Midnight Deals for WooCommerce allows you to schedule different discounts for multiple products or categories simultaneously.

Q: Will the discounts stop automatically after the end time?
Absolutely. Once the schedule ends, products automatically revert to their original price.

Q: Can I schedule recurring sales (e.g., every weekend)?
Yes. The plugin supports both one-time and recurring discounts.

Q: Do I need coding knowledge to use Midnight Deals?
Not at all. Everything is managed through the WooCommerce dashboard with a simple interface

Key Takeaway

Scheduled discounts are no longer a “nice-to-have” — they’re a competitive necessity in 2025. By automating your sales with Midnight Deals for WooCommerce, you can:

• Save time
• Increase conversions
• Build urgency
• Run campaigns while you sleep.

If you want to create excitement, attract repeat shoppers, and simplify your marketing, setting up automatic discounts in WooCommerce is the smartest move you can make this year.