Be near.



This is a very simple rule of thumb when trying to making customer loyalty programs work. Just start within the area you are most capable of reaching. Don't go over the fence if you have not secured for yourself a very effective and viable base in your own backyard. Be as near to your customers as possible geographically. Be daring enough to expand when you are already well-known in your area. And trust me, you would not even have to try branching out because it will naturally come when the locals are satisfied with what you give them.

Be prompt

Most rebates, incentives and other customer loyalty programs take forever to experience. Some take about a million points just for a few tokens. Make your customer loyalty programs reachable and at the same time easily attainable. Make it in such a way that you don't get a deficit but customers won't accuse you of being a deceptive scrooge. If you are not yet up for this challenge, it is better to do away with the customer loyalty programs than make a very deficient one that will turn off your customers and potential customers off.

Filter your customers

There are customers worth giving loyalty points to. You will have to be able to find ways to screen those who can afford to keep subscribing to you as opposed to those who are just freeloading with goodies. Having a minimal fee for customer loyalty programs is somehow a good gauge. People who are willing to shell out for membership are those who can afford to stay and be loyal to your business.

Count the cost

The purpose of customer loyalty programs is to facilitate long-term income sources for your business. The more people who stay loyal to you, the better and more sustainable it will be for your business. But do not let this desire to build a long-term establishment override your need to earn in the short term. If you are already losing considerable money just to keep your loyalty programs, you may have a healthy host of loyal customers without any genuine income coming in. Make sure that the cost of maintaining the loyalty program is well within your means.

Be as unique as possible

Loyalty programs abound everywhere. Being able to come up with something unique and unseen in other businesses will give you an instant advantage. It is all the more better if the unique program will give them something they perceive to be big enough or a 'bargain'. Innovate and create. Come up with the best and entertain the avant-guarde ways of generating customer loyalty. It need not be based merely on points. Take incentive to a new level and bring rebates a new definition.

Do your homework first

You can never pull off a customer loyalty program if you don't know your customers. Who are they? What do they do? How much do they earn? What do they like? What have worked for them in the past years? Did they have pet peeves, particular interested you could harness to make them like you more? These are just few of the questions you need to be able to answer before concocting a customer loyalty program. If you are well able to answer these questions all the time, you will not just have efficient customer loyalty, but you will also be in the makings of being a household name.