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In part one of this article, we’ve broken down the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/blog/making-sense-of-loyalty-programs-part-i/" target="_blank">main differences of 4 common loyalty programs</a>&nbsp;used in the hospitality industry. When done right, a loyalty program can contribute a good revenue proportion to your bottom line. However, there’re a few things to consider before launching your loyalty program to make it a success.



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-things-to-pay-attention-to-when-creating-your-loyalty-program">5 things to pay attention to when creating your loyalty program</h4>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Go digital</h4>



We are on our phones a lot of the time.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2020/05/07/50-stats-that-show-the-importance-of-good-loyalty-programs-even-during-a-crisis/?sh=6711d36c2410" target="_blank">75% of customers would engage more with a loyalty program if they can access it from their phones</a>, so reach them where they are.



Going digital not only comes with benefits for customers but also provides businesses with valuable data they can use to better communicate with their customers for an even higher retention rate.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Set up rewards</h4>



How do you best determine the number of stamps or points required for a customer to claim their reward? After all, customers will only stay engaged if they see the rewards as achievable within a reasonable time frame.



Have a look at your&nbsp;average customer visit frequency&nbsp;as well as the&nbsp;average amount they spend. This will give you an idea of what rewards are right for your business.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Types of rewards</h4>



The most important part of a successful loyalty program is&nbsp;creating incentives with enough perceived value&nbsp;to bring customers back, whilst also keeping it financially viable for your business.



Here are some questions to keep in mind:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Which rewards would be valued most by your customers?&nbsp;</li><li>Would they prefer a free meal/drink or a cash discount?</li><li>Are your rewards relevant to your business?</li><li>Have you asked your customers? Gather some feedback beforehand through a survey or poll</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Customise it to your brand</h4>



Make your loyalty program&nbsp;unique to your business&nbsp;and recognisable for your customers by incorporating your brand colours, logo, etc.



Also, be creative with the naming (Dunkin’ Donuts ‘<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.dunkindonuts.com/en/dd-perks" target="_blank">DD Perks</a>’, Brewdog’s ‘<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.brewdog.com/blog/the-brewdog-app-loyalty-scheme-and-equity-for-punks" target="_blank">Equity Punks</a>’) to create a community feeling. Being part of something special will increase customer engagement and create a fear of missing out amongst those who haven’t joined yet.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. Encourage sign-ups</h4>



Placing your stamp cards next to your till and hoping that customers will take them, probably won’t do the trick. You need to&nbsp;actively encourage&nbsp;sign-ups.



Ideas to boost sign-ups:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Reach out to your customers via email &amp; SMS</li><li>Promote special sign-up offers and deals</li><li>Promote it on your social media on a regular basis and use pinned posts</li><li>Create a pop-up or banner on your website</li><li>Turn your loyal customers into advocates &#8211; “Refer a friend and get 10% off” or “Get extra points/stamps if you refer a friend”</li></ul>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://atisfood.com/" target="_blank">atis</a>&nbsp;restaurants did a great job with their loyalty card intro email which they sent to their whole database. They included a QR code so that customers can directly download their digital stamp cards from the email.



What’s next?&nbsp;&#8211; the work is not done once they’ve signed up for your loyalty program.&nbsp;



You have to&nbsp;build and nurture your customer relationship&nbsp;through regular communication to make your loyalty program a success. Send out reminders via email &amp; SMS to keep customers filling up their stamps and collecting points (“One more stamp to go …”).&nbsp;



You can also further increase interaction with special treats on birthdays or give them early access to the new menu, event bookings, etc.



Not sure which loyalty program is right for your business? Have a read of <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/making-sense-of-loyalty-programs-part-i/">Part I of this article</a>, where we&#8217;ve compared 4 common loyalty programs for you.



Want to take your paper stamp cards to the next level? Check out our&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/loyalty/" target="_blank">digital stamp card</a>&nbsp;systems or&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai?subject=&amp;body=" target="_blank">get in touch</a>&nbsp;with our team to find out more.&nbsp;

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Making a Success of Loyalty Programs [Part II]

[vc_row bg_type=&#8221;image&#8221; bg_image=&#8221;15605&#8243; bg_image_size=&#8221;responsive&#8221; bg_position=&#8221;center-top&#8221; padding_top_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; padding_bottom_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; equal_column_height=&#8221;middle-content&#8221;][vc_column vertical_content_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; el_class=&#8221;on-top&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1583792399340{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Our mission is to empower physical businesses with world class digital tools&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:div|font_size:40px|text_align:left|color:%231f2888|line_height:52px&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][fildisi_empty_space height_multiplier=&#8221;custom&#8221; height=&#8221;18px&#8221;][vc_column_text el_class=&#8221;main-page-text&#8221;]Since 2015, Stampede has provided businesses with intuitive tools enabling them to grow their business, whilst delivering an exceptional experience for their customers at the same time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1/6&#8243; el_wrapper_class=&#8221;sliders&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1532536140578{padding-top: 20px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;m-hide&#8221;][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;We want to change the way offline businesses engage with customers online&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:30px|text_align:right|color:%231d1e2c|line_height:42px&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding_top_multiplier=&#8221;3x&#8221; padding_bottom_multiplier=&#8221;3x&#8221; columns_gap=&#8221;60&#8243; section_id=&#8221;contact&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][fildisi_gmap map_zoom=&#8221;5&#8243; map_height=&#8221;530&#8243; map_mode=&#8221;multiple&#8221; map_marker=&#8221;15975&#8243; map_points=&#8221;%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Stampede%20Scotland%22%2C%22marker%22%3A%2215975%22%2C%22lat%22%3A%2255.9770448%22%2C%22lng%22%3A%22-3.1731086%22%2C%22infotext_open%22%3A%22no%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Stampede%20Wales%22%2C%22marker%22%3A%2215975%22%2C%22lat%22%3A%2251.479754%22%2C%22lng%22%3A%22-3.1556141%22%2C%22infotext_open%22%3A%22no%22%7D%5D&#8221;][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1/2&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Contact us&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:56px|text_align:left|color:%231f2888|line_height:60px&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text el_class=&#8221;main-page-text&#8221;]Drop by our Scotland office at: 
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In a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-guide-on-current-hotel-industry-challenges/">previous article</a>, we talked about nurturing and ensuring guest loyalty being one of the top challenges in the hotel industry at present. With customers quick to go elsewhere if hotels don’t offer them their ideal experience, and painfully high expectations, loyalty is hard to win and easy to lose. There are many tips and tricks for increasing loyalty in hotel customers, such as <a href="https://stampede.ai/">WiFi marketing for hotels</a>. So what are the top ways to do to it?







<h4 class="wp-block-heading">First impressions and consistency</h4>



It’s an old saying but first impressions count. You need to get your branding spot on from the moment someone comes in to contact with your hotel (on or offline). You must then continue with utmost consistency through every experience they have with you.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Meet all general expectations without question</h4>



There is no room for second chances in the hotel world today. Everything from perfect housekeeping through to seamless check-in processes needs to be done correctly 100% of the time. A guest will never return if you can’t get the basics right.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Offer incentives and offers at the right time, in the right way</h4>



It’s not enough to offer generic offers. Offers need to be tailored to the individual. They then need to be given at the right time, when they are most likely to be acted on. Furthermore, you need to deliver them in the way which most likely prompts a response, such as physical coupons, text message offer codes or email promotions.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Get personal</h4>



Personalisation is perhaps one of the biggest opportunities to boost loyalty in hotel guests. We all like to be treated as individuals and that should be your aim, no matter how large your hotel business is.&nbsp;



To do this you’ll need to understand your customer. This requires hotel customer data. Collect this data right in the moment using your <a href="https://stampede.ai/product/how-it-works/">hotel’s WiFi login page</a>. It’s clever and will give you the information you need to personalise a guest’s stay. For example, this may allow you to leave a gift for a birthday or a bottle of fizz for an engagement.



Our marketing software allows you to collect these valuable guest data. It provides you with analytics and tools to turn one-time visitors into loyal customers. Why not give it a try at your hotel?



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Get big</h4>



You don’t just need the microdata on the individual, but you’ll also be able to nurture loyalty by utilising big data. Big data allows you to look at the bigger picture of patterns and preferences in your guests including things such as seasonal fluctuations or health suite usage by different customer types. This allows you to move on to bolster your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Segment your marketing activities</h4>



It’s not enough to just offer incentives or send out generic marketing messages. With the right data at your fingertips, you can <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/email-marketing-tips-for-the-hospitality-industry/">segment your marketing activities</a>. This way you can offer the right incentives to the right individual.&nbsp;



For example, offer a pleasure traveller with a family a free hour in your business centre and you’ll make them feel uncared for. Yet offer that same incentive to a business customer who you know uses the business centre and you’ve got a hook.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Make the guest experience a priority</h4>



We are in the age of experiences. Millennials are the future of travel. <a href="https://www.globalwebindex.com/millennial-statistics-1?utm_campaign=Reports&amp;utm_source=ppc&amp;utm_medium=google&amp;utm_term=millennials-2019&amp;utm_content=millennials-2019&amp;utm_source=ppc&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_term=millennial%2520generation&amp;utm_campaign=GWI+-+US+-+EN+-+Beauty+Buyers+-+Cosmetic+Industry+-+BMM&amp;hsa_kw=millennial%2520generation&amp;hsa_grp=77486027452&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_acc=9903771596&amp;hsa_cam=2037591804&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-1319018645&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_ad=355840759592&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA5dPuBRCrARIsAJL7oejriihIzJwvxgfkkSvaIimndCeKsiesfG-uFbkZJnIrcf6x4SFNfboaAgTqEALw_wcB">Millennials value experiences</a> in a way generations before them tended to value things. Indeed, many argue that it is this drive for experiences that has <a href="https://skift.com/2019/04/30/airbnb-experiences-makes-growth-a-priority-over-all-else-executive-says/">fuelled the popularity of Airbnb</a>, a major disruptor to the hotel sector.



Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that hotels focus unrelentingly on the guest experience and how they can improve it.&nbsp;



The guest experience begins long before check-in. From how you communicate about bookings through to interaction during their stay with you, you build a positive experience rooted in trust. Guest experience also involves helping them to enjoy their stay through everything from information on local events or places to eat.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Use loyalty programs that guests care about</h4>



With many loyalty programs, guests simply ‘make do’. They accept what you offer and it doesn’t necessarily nurture loyalty. Back with our millennials, <a href="https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4091173.html">68%</a> show loyalty to a hotel which offers the most rewards.&nbsp;



So make a more <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/building-customer-loyalty-with-blackbx/">conscious loyalty program</a> by considering what your guests actually want. You can then reward their repeat stays in a more meaningful way.



Furthermore, structure your loyalty program in a way which rewards your guests in both the short and long term. You need to entice them to make the next booking but you also need to lure them in longer to coming back again and again.



Don’t forget to reward those most loyal customers for leaving reviews too.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Use the right technology and with confidence</h4>



Nothing will undermine a guest’s loyalty to you like a data breach or technology which doesn’t work as they expect it to. From smooth booking and check-in processes through to in-room smart features, your technology needs to be safe and secure as well as intuitive and user-friendly.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Exceed customer expectations</h4>



You need to go beyond what your customers expect and deliver them an experience which exceeds their expectations. Again, you’ll need to understand your guest to be able to achieve this.



Exceeding expectations may involve things such as remembering a specific request, follow-up emails containing thanks and rewards, to unexpected gifts in the room.&nbsp;



Nurturing customer loyalty is a vital strategy for success in your hotel. Remember, it’s easier to keep a customer than to win a new one, so it’s really worth the effort.



Want to learn a bit more about the importance of customer loyalty?



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10 Tips on Nurturing Customer Loyalty in the Hotel Industry