LivingSocial

What is LivingSocial

LivingSocial is an online marketplace that offers users discounted deals on local experiences, services, products, and travel. Its main purpose is to connect local businesses with a large audience of consumers looking for great value. Users can browse and purchase vouchers, or "deals," for a wide range of activities, from dining at a new restaurant to spa treatments, fitness classes, and vacation packages. Founded in 2007, LivingSocial grew quickly as a pioneer in the daily deal market. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and now operates as a part of Groupon, after being acquired in 2016. The platform functions by taking a percentage of the revenue from each deal sold, providing a performance-based marketing channel for merchants.

LivingSocial Features

LivingSocial provides several features designed to help users find and enjoy deals in their area and beyond.

• Local Deals: Discover discounts of up to 80% on services and activities in your city. This includes restaurants, bars, beauty salons, spas, fitness centers, and entertainment venues.
• Travel Deals (Escapes): Find curated deals on hotels, resorts, and vacation packages. These offers cover both domestic and international destinations, providing affordable travel options.
• Product Marketplace: Shop for discounted goods across various categories like electronics, home goods, fashion, and gadgets. Products are shipped directly to your home.
• Category-Based Browsing: Easily search for deals by specific interests, such as 'Food & Drink', 'Beauty & Spas', 'Things To Do', and 'Health & Fitness'.
• Personalized Notifications: Opt-in to receive email alerts about new and trending deals in your area, tailored to your interests.
• Mobile App: A dedicated app for iOS and Android allows users to browse, buy, and redeem deals directly from their smartphone, making the process convenient.
• Easy Redemption: Vouchers purchased can be accessed through your account and are often redeemable by simply showing the voucher on your mobile device to the merchant.

LivingSocial Pricing Plans

LivingSocial is free for consumers to use. There are no subscription fees or membership costs to browse the website, sign up for an account, or receive deal notifications. Users only pay for the specific deals they choose to purchase. For businesses that want to feature a deal on the platform, LivingSocial operates on a commission-based model. The business does not pay an upfront fee but shares a percentage of the revenue generated from the deals sold through the platform.

LivingSocial Free Plan

There is no "free plan" as LivingSocial is not a subscription service. Access to the platform is entirely free for all users. You can create an account, browse all available deals, and subscribe to email newsletters without any charge. Payment is only required when you decide to buy a voucher for a specific product, service, or experience.

How to use LivingSocial

Getting started with LivingSocial is a simple process.

1. Create an Account: Visit the LivingSocial website or download the mobile app and sign up using your email address or a social media account.
2. Set Your Location: The platform will ask for your location to show you relevant deals in your city. You can change the city at any time to explore deals elsewhere.
3. Browse for Deals: Explore different categories like 'Food & Drink', 'Things To Do', or 'Beauty & Spas'. You can also use the search bar to look for specific businesses or types of deals.
4. Purchase a Deal: Once you find a deal you like, click on it to read the details, terms, and conditions (the "fine print"). Pay close attention to expiration dates and any restrictions. Add the deal to your cart and complete the purchase using a credit card or other available payment methods.
5. Access Your Voucher: After purchase, your voucher will be available in the 'My Stuff' section of your account. You will also receive it via email.
6. Redeem Your Deal: Follow the instructions on the voucher to redeem it. This usually involves presenting the voucher (printed or on your phone) to the merchant before the expiration date.

Pros and Cons of LivingSocial

Pros:

• Significant Savings: Offers substantial discounts on a wide variety of goods and services.
• Discover New Places: A great way to find and try new restaurants, spas, and activities in your local area.
• Wide Variety: Provides a diverse range of deals, from local services to travel packages and physical products.
• User-Friendly Interface: The website and mobile app are easy to navigate and use.
• Gifting Option: Many deals can be purchased as gifts for friends and family.

Cons:

• Restrictions and Fine Print: Deals come with specific terms, conditions, and expiration dates that must be followed.
• Variable Merchant Quality: The quality of the experience can depend heavily on the individual business offering the deal.
• Customer Service Issues: Resolving problems with a voucher or a merchant can sometimes be a slow process.
• Impulse Buying: The deep discounts can encourage spending on things you don't necessarily need.

LivingSocial integrations

For consumers, LivingSocial operates as a standalone platform and does not offer integrations with third-party applications like productivity suites or calendar apps. The primary interactions are contained within the LivingSocial website and mobile app. For business partners, there may be integrations with certain booking or point-of-sale systems, but this is not a feature available to the general user base.

LivingSocial Alternatives

• Groupon: As the parent company of LivingSocial, Groupon offers a very similar service with a larger selection of deals in more locations. The user experience and business model are nearly identical.
• RetailMeNot: This platform focuses more on providing coupon codes, promo codes, and cash-back offers for online and in-store retailers rather than prepaid vouchers for local experiences.
• Honey: A popular browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout when you shop online. It is focused on e-commerce savings rather than local services.
• Rakuten: Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten is a service that gives users cash back for shopping at over two thousand online stores. Its focus is on rewarding online shopping, not on local deals.
• Travelzoo: Specializes in curated travel, entertainment, and local deals. It is known for its high-quality, well-vetted offers, often focusing on more premium experiences.

LivingSocial API

LivingSocial does not provide a public API for general developer access. However, its parent company, Groupon, offers a partner API through the Groupon Partner Network. This API allows approved partners to access Groupon's deal inventory to feature on their own websites or applications. Developers interested in a potential partnership would need to apply to the Groupon Partner Network for API access. There is no publicly available documentation or method for individual developers to obtain an API key for LivingSocial directly.

LivingSocial Affiliate program

LivingSocial's affiliate program is managed through the Groupon Partner Network. Affiliates can earn commissions by promoting LivingSocial and Groupon deals on their websites, blogs, or social media channels. To join, you must apply to the Groupon Partner Network through a major affiliate network like CJ Affiliate or Rakuten Advertising. Once approved, you gain access to tracking links, banners, and other promotional materials. Commissions are paid as a percentage of the sales generated through your unique affiliate links. The specific commission rates can vary based on the product category and promotional terms.