Therefore, standing out amongst your competitors and driving your customers to come back again should be ALWAYS your number one priority to survive in the long term whether you’re still in the process of launching your new restaurant or have been running one for a while now.
As a brand owner, you might make the mistake of investing heavily in acquiring new customers (sure, this is a great way to increase your customer base) However, attracting new customers is not your only way of boosting revenue because customer retention comes at a lower cost with higher potential.
And with a successful customer loyalty app in place, you’ll be able to keep your current customers loyal and retain them by a long shot.
Why is a loyalty app so important for your Food and Beverage business?
Here are a few good reasons:
- Fosters loyalty
- Boosts word-of-mouth referrals
- Increases ROI
- Retains customers
- Stands out from competitors
Speaking of retaining customers, research shows it costs 5 times more to acquire a new customer than it does to keep your existing ones.
With that said, let’s zoom in on 3 significant reasons why you should consider a loyalty app for your restaurant or café so your customers won’t bury your brand “in the forgotten restaurant’s graveyard” early. 💀
1- Keep your customers looped in
Food and beverage brands can establish customer loyalty to encourage their customers to come back again, repeat their purchases, and refer to other buyers by offering them a tailored loyalty program that works best with their business goals.
There are different types of loyalty programs but points-based loyalty programs are the most common type in the food and beverage world. It works out by rewarding your customers with several points for every order they make. Customers can later redeem these points to enjoy some perks such as offers, cashback, or free rewards.
For example, Domino’s Pizza has once offered its customers the opportunity to win 10 points for every order they make by using the app and once they accumulate 60 points they can earn a free pizza. This technique increased customer engagement and made customers more willing to spend money on Domino’s Pizza.
2- Build a lasting name and reputation
By offering rewards and gifts through a customer loyalty app, they’re more likely to feel special and valued by your brand. For this, your business will get entrenched in their minds and they’ll become loyal to you.
Customer loyalty makes your food and beverage business entrenched in people’s minds. By offering rewards and gifts to retain your customers, you’re certain that your brand name will have a lasting name in their memory. As the more you make your customers feel special, the more they will become loyal to your brand and consider it the go-to for their favorite drink or meal.
3- Personalize your brand’s offers
A loyalty app helps you collect relevant data and insights about your customers and their buying behavior. You can utilize these insights to send more personalized rewards based on your customers’ purchase history for example. In addition, many buyers have purchased products they didn’t plan to buy after they received a notification from the seller on their smartphone in the form of a personalized offer or recommendation.
Starbucks is an excellent example when it comes to providing a unique customer experience and iconic loyalty programs at the same time through its mobile app.
Perks of Starbucks Customer Loyalty App:
Starbucks retains and communicates with customers better by providing a personalized and effortless experience for its users. Here’s how:
- Users can win two stars for each $1 spent using either the mobile app or a registered gift card.
- Members can use the app to see if they have rewards at their disposal, skip the wait, and know-how to earn stars.
- Members can enjoy quality-of-life features that will make their life easier at the tip of their fingers thanks to the mobile app.
- Adding a hint of personalization, customers can choose between several beverage variations in each gift bracket.
Now you’re aware of how vital it is for your food and beverage business to have a loyalty app. Loyalty apps have proven over the last decade, that they’re a super-effective way to boost revenues, increase customer retention, and stand out from the competition.
If you’re unsure how to navigate around the world of customer loyalty, or you need help incorporating a customer loyalty app into your brand. Get in touch with us, and our team at Zeal can help you set an epic customer loyalty app that’s tailored for your business needs 🚀
