Any successful business out there remains successful because of the bond they create between themselves and their customers. Repeat transactions and return visits are the key to any healthy bottom line. The more you can keep customers happy and coming back, the better your profits will be far into the future.
Running a customer loyalty program of some sort is a great way to keep consumers coming back for more. There are a number of different customer loyalty program ideas that you might consider integrating into your business.
Which one will be right for you and your goals? Only you can decide. Read on and we’ll walk you through a few of our favorites.
1. Celebrate Customer Birthdays
This loyalty program is a tradition that dates back past our current conception of what a loyalty program could be. Businesses were celebrating the birthdays of their patrons for years and years.
Why? It’s a great way to show that you care, make a customer feel special, and to offer a once-a-year incentive to come in and do business.
What you do to celebrate the birthday of your customers is something you can decide on your own. You’ll likely want to surprise them with a message, with perhaps a large coupon or discount included.
Many establishments offer free items on people’s birthday as a hook to get them to come in on that particular day.
This method is sure to make your customer feel special and look favorably at your brand. It might only happen one day a year, but the positive impact of this program should shine on your business year-round.
2. Rewards for Referrals
Another popular program that a huge number of businesses use is a referral reward program. This is when you incentivize current loyalty members to convince their friends and family to join the program as well.
Often, companies will offer discounts or freebies to those willing to get others to sign up. Some even offer cash rewards to both the referrer and the referee.
This is a great way to make your existing customers feel cared for and excited, but it works even better as a way to spread word of mouth marketing about your company. It can be much harder to bring in new customers than retain existing ones, and this program can be a great way to get new buyers on your side.
You might want to invest in a customer loyalty software to help you manage this kind of program and keep track of everyone’s information.
3. Thank Your Customers Publicly
You likely run a social media account or two for your business. This is a great place to start to create a sense of community around your company. One way to foster this sense of community care is to highlight certain customers and thank them for their patronage.
Highlighting them with a photo and a quote about their experience or their history with your brand will help them feel as if they are a part of something bigger than themselves. It will also demonstrate to other followers that you as a brand care about your customers on a personal level and take a deep interest.
Of course, before you post anyone’s likeness on your accounts, you’ll want to get their consent! Posting about someone publicly who doesn’t want that kind of attention can really backfire. Most people, however, will be happy to be included on your page.
4. Partner With Other Businesses
Your loyalty program doesn’t only have to impact you. A good way to properly incentivize customers is to offer them value not only at your establishment but also at locations across the neighborhood.
If there are other small businesses in the area with complimentary services to yours, it can be well worth reaching out to see if they’d be willing to set up a mutually beneficial program with you.
What might this look like? A common example is a movie theater working with eateries in the area to allow their members to get a small discount on meals. This incentivizes members to join the theater program, but also helps to bring new business to these restaurants that might otherwise not attend.
What kind of mutually beneficial program you’ll be able to set up will depend on the service you provide and the nature of the businesses in your immediate area.
5. Fresh and Creative Experiences
What other ways can you provide value to your customers and spice up their day to day life? When coming up with your own program, don’t forget to think outside of the box and get creative.
You could create mystery grab bags that contain new and old products that are for members only. You can host a party or event for your customers who purchase a certain amount by the end of the year.
Most of your customers are working to get through each week and providing them something special, different, and exciting to look forward to can do wonders in getting them to look favorably at your company.
If you can do that for them, they are much more likely to keep coming back, time and time again.
Customer Loyalty Program Ideas Worth Considering
Keeping your customers happy and returning to your businesses is the cornerstone philosophy of any successful enterprise. The above customer loyalty program ideas are all great ways to incentivize consumers to return repeatedly to your business.
Need more advice for running a successful business? Keep scrolling our blog for more.
