6 Ways to Elevate Your Customer Rewards Beyond Purchases

An engaging loyalty program is vital to forming meaningful customer connections. Notice the keyword here: “engaging.” To create a loyalty program that holds the attention of your customers, you need to incorporate variety.

Often, the baseline for a loyalty program involves giving out rewards in return for purchases. However, there are many other types of rewards you can offer to your customers that will elevate their experience far more than if they were to receive the same old purchase rewards every time.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to excite your loyal customers! Instead, try out these 6 fun and creative ways to diversify your customer rewards and take your loyalty program to the next level.

1. Social Media Engagement

Social media is currently one of the most effective ways to quickly gain brand visibility, especially for local businesses. Rewarding customers for engaging with your business’s social media accounts (following you, liking posts, sharing content, using special hashtags, etc.) can significantly boost your online presence.

This strategy not only incentivizes your existing customers to interact with your brand in new ways, but it also helps in customer acquisition as their interactions broadcast your business to others in their network. Consider creating fun social media challenges or campaigns where customers can earn rewards while also showcasing the special moments they have with your business.

2. Referrals

Many local businesses rely on word-of-mouth marketing to spread the word about their products and services. For this reason, implementing a program that allows customers to earn points for referring friends and family can be a win-win for both you and your customers. By offering special rewards like extra points or a complimentary item in exchange for successful referrals, you can bring in more business and excite your regular customers at the same time.

To make the referral process even more effective, you can even add tiered rewards where customers can earn better and better prizes as they refer more and more new customers.

3. Content Creation

Encouraging customers to create content related to your brand can be incredibly beneficial. User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool for building trust and authenticity around your brand. Examples of UGC include reviews, unboxing videos, or even simply a photo of customers using and enjoying your product, all of which can double as valuable marketing material.

Try hosting contests or challenges where customers can submit their content for a chance to earn points or exclusive rewards. Taking the time to show customers that their creative contributions and individual ideas are valued in this way can help establish a fun and engaging community around your business.

4. Fun and Educational Events

Whether virtual or in-person, hosting events can be a great way to engage with your community. Events are an opportunity to create more memorable experiences for your customers to enjoy, which, in turn, makes them feel more connected to your business. Offering rewards for attending those events can help encourage even the shyest of customers to show up when they otherwise might have opted to stay home.

Some examples of events that are often a hit with customers include Q&A sessions, workshops, expert talks, live streams, food or drink tastings, classes, webinars, and more. Incorporating educational events in particular positions your brand as a valuable resource and encourages customers to become more knowledgeable about your product or industry.

5. Anniversary and Milestone Rewards

Celebrating milestones with your customers can greatly increase their connection to your business. It’s important to show your gratitude for their continued engagement with your business by offering rewards on significant dates such as their birthday or the anniversary of them becoming a member. You can personalize these rewards even further by offering special perks or exclusive offers based on their unique preferences.

You can also create a reward system where customers can unlock higher levels of rewards as they reach more and more milestones. This will motivate your customers to remain loyal and engaged with your brand long-term.

6. Charity and Community Involvement

Modern customers are increasingly looking to support businesses that align with their values. In the United States, 69% of the population donates to charities regularly. Offering rewards for charitable actions, such as donations or volunteering, establishes your business as a positive force in the local community while also helping customers understand your values.

You can even create special campaigns that give customers the ability to convert their points into charitable donations, allowing them to make meaningful contributions to the causes they care about the most directly through your business.

Build Your Loyalty Program With Ostana

If you’re looking for a simple way to implement these strategies into your business’s loyalty program, look no further than Ostana.

Ostana is a loyalty & engagement software packed full of all the features a small business needs to thrive. With Ostana, you gain access to powerful tools that enable you to create top-tier reward programs that will exhilarate your existing customers and attract new ones.

Reach out to our team today to discover how Ostana can help you elevate your customer loyalty strategy and unlock the full potential of your business’s rewards program!