The Benefits Of Starting A Customer Rewards Program

Businesses in all sorts of different industries use a rewards program or loyalty program as a means of attracting customers and increasing sales. Basically, a rewards program rewards customers for using your products and services. In the modern marketplace, loyalty programs are more of a necessity than a choice in certain industries. Businesses routinely use email, newsletters, website updates, in store notifications and social media as a means of keeping in touch with rewards program members. There are several benefits to starting one up for your business.

Customer Retention

Over and over throughout the years it’s been said acquiring a new customer will cost five to seven times as much as retaining current customers. Having a solid rewards program is a good way to keep customer retention high, because you’re always engaging with the customers you know are comfortable buying from you. That’s not to say bringing in new customers isn’t important, but using the program as a way to keep your current customers coming back is a wise business move.

Increased Revenue

When the prize offered as part of a rewards program is substantial, the company offering the prize can often expect a surge in revenues as more and more people try to cash in. If the business offering the program has products that lend themselves to bulk purchasing, revenues may even increase dramatically for as long as the program runs.

Learning Your Customers’ Buying Behavior

Aside from handing out prizes and jacking up revenues, rewards programs are also a smooth way to set up future marketing campaigns. A good marketer always has to be playing one or two steps ahead, so knowing how customers are going to act is a huge bonus. By using a club card or similar system, a business can gather purchasing information that can help shape business strategy down the road. Studying the data, marketers can determine trends and patterns that will prove valuable when new products or services are launched.

Associate Your Brand With Fun and Winning

For the customers, the benefits of a rewards program are rather obvious. The chance of winning prizes along with your purchases is going to appeal to just about anyone. This is especially true if the program is attached to products that you would have bought anyway. Collecting points, getting a percentage of your purchase rebated, getting some free gas or a break on future purchases are always going to be popular with shoppers in virtually any industry.

Lots of Options – You Can Find the Right One

A business that is starting up a rewards program has many different types to choose from. Essentially, any type of program where customers are rewarded for purchases will do, but some common ones include cash back, travel rewards, gas rebates and points programs. Certain types of programs work better for certain businesses, but often it is through trial and error that you find the best kind of program for your business. You can also take the time to survey your customers to find out if they’re interested in one at all, and if they are, what type will work best for them.
 
Learn about customer loyalty marketing and rewards programs, and how they can benefit your business. Click here for the latest news and research from the leading journal on building customer value through customer loyalty programs.

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