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5 Ways To Implement Your Own Customer Loyalty Program
June 19, 2007

Customer loyalty programs work and many of us are members of them.  Airlines reward us, restaurants give us free meals after they punch our card ten times, and many big box retailers give us our own little plastic card to carry on our keychain.  The objective is easy:  create a program that keeps customers coming back to buy and then reward them for doing so.  

1. Consider your budget.  How much will the free meals cost you in the long run?  How much merchandise will you have to give away?  Can you afford to do so?  Factor this into your financials first.
2. How will you attract and motivate people to join your program?  Will the cards sit in front of the register?  Will you advertise?  What is the compelling aspect?
3. How will you track and record the transactions?  Some use cards and a pen, others use an electronic program and a web site. 
4. What products are eligible?  Drinks must be bought, with purchase or a certain dollar amount of clothing or furniture has to be reached, or a certain number of games must be attended...you get my point.
5. What are the restrictions you want to impose?  Be sure, when deciding, that they don't do more to exclude your loyal customers than include them.

One of the best ways to decide if this program is right for you is to ask business owners who have established one.  They can tell you what you might expect in your community. 

Posted by Suze Bragg on June 19, 2007 | Comments (0)