Customer loyalty program: how it works for your customers
A customer loyalty program gives people a reason to come back to you rather than somewhere else. Here's how a RewardForge card works from your customer's side, and what you get out of it.
What is a customer loyalty program?
It rewards people for choosing your business again. Each visit or purchase earns a stamp, and a full card earns something free. The promise is simple: stick with us and we'll give you something back.
For the customer it has to be easy. Nobody wants another plastic card, an app they'll open once, or a membership number to remember. With RewardForge the card opens in their phone's browser after they scan your QR code and sign up with their name and email.
For you, it gives regulars a reason to keep coming, and you can see who they are.
What your customers get
From the customer's side of the counter.
They can see their progress
The card shows how many stamps they have and how many are left before the reward.
Rewards straight away
As soon as the last stamp goes on, the reward shows on their card, ready to claim there and then or next time.
Nothing to carry
The card is on their phone. It can't be left at home, lost or put through the wash.
Google Wallet
Android users can save the card to Google Wallet and open it with one tap.
A bonus for bringing a friend
If you switch on referrals, customers get a link to share, and they earn the bonus you set when a friend joins.
Satisfying to fill
Watching the stamps build up is part of the appeal. Each visit is visibly one step closer.
What you get out of it
Why it's worth running one.
Regulars keep small businesses going. A loyalty card doesn't create them from nothing, but it gives people who already like you a reason to come back a bit more often and to pick you over the place next door.
Once a customer has a few stamps, starting again somewhere else feels like a waste. That small pull is often enough to tip the decision your way.
A digital card also tells you something. You can see who has joined, how many stamps each person has and when they were last in, which a paper card never could.
It costs less to run than you might expect. The reward is usually one of your own products, and RewardForge is $26.99 a month after a 30-day free trial.
Digital vs paper loyalty cards
How the two compare for your customers.
Digital loyalty card
- Always on their phone
- Can't be lost or damaged
- No app to install
- Progress shown at a glance
- Google Wallet on Android
- Reward appears as soon as it's earned
- Referral bonuses for sharing
- Stamps only given by staff
Paper stamp card
- Left at home or lost
- Gets worn or soggy
- Needs an ink stamp or hole punch at the till
- Stamps have to be counted
- No digital wallet
- Reward depends on the card surviving
- No way to reward referrals
- Can be faked
How it works for customers
Three steps.
Scan to join
Point the phone camera at your QR poster and sign up with a name and email. The card opens in the browser.
Get stamped
On each visit, open the card and show the code to staff. They scan it and the stamp appears.
Claim the reward
When the card is full, the reward shows as ready. Staff scan the reward code and hand it over.
Set up your customer loyalty card
30 days free, then $26.99 a month. No payment details needed to start.