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For Businesses/Creating Your First Loyalty Program

Creating Your First Loyalty Program

Your loyalty program is the heart of customer retention. This guide will help you create a program that perfectly fits your business and motivates customers to return.

Before You Start

Think About Your Goals

  • What reward will motivate your customers? (discount, free item, exclusive access)
  • How many visits make sense? (3-10 visits, based on typical customer behavior)
  • What's your brand style? (colors, messaging, tone)

Examples by Business Type

  • Coffee Shop: 10 visits = free coffee
  • Restaurant: 5 visits = free appetizer
  • Retail Store: 8 visits = 20% discount
  • Hair Salon: 6 visits = free treatment
  • Car Wash: 7 visits = free premium wash

Step-by-Step Program Creation

Step 1: Navigate to Program Creation

  1. Go to your Business Dashboard
  2. Click "Loyalty Programs" in the sidebar
  3. Click "Create New Program" button

Space for dashboard navigation screenshot

Step 2: Basic Program Settings

Program Name (Internal)

  • This is for your reference only
  • Example: "Coffee Loyalty 2024", "Holiday Rewards"

Visits Required

Choose between 3-10 visits:

  • 3-4 visits: High-frequency businesses (coffee, lunch)
  • 5-7 visits: Medium-frequency businesses (restaurants, retail)
  • 8-10 visits: Lower-frequency businesses (services, specialty items)

Program Settings Form Space for program creation form screenshot

💡 Pro Tip: Start with fewer visits (5-6) to encourage quick wins, then create new programs with more visits later.

Step 3: Design Your Reward

Reward Description

This text appears on customer loyalty cards. Make it clear and enticing:

Good Examples:

  • "Free coffee of your choice"
  • "20% off your entire purchase"
  • "Free appetizer (up to $12 value)"
  • "Complimentary upgrade to premium service"

Avoid:

  • Vague terms like "special offer"
  • Complex restrictions
  • Overly long descriptions

Reward Value

Consider your margins:

  • 10-15% discount is standard
  • Free item worth 10-20% of average purchase
  • Upgrade to premium service/product

Step 4: Brand Your Program

Choose Your Theme Color

Select a color that matches your brand:

  • Appears on customer loyalty cards
  • Shows in progress bars and highlights
  • Should contrast well with white text

Upload Your Logo (Optional)

  • Recommended size: 400x400 pixels
  • Format: PNG or JPG
  • Background: Transparent PNG works best
  • Appears on all customer loyalty cards

Space for branding customization screenshot

Step 5: Preview Your Program

Before publishing, review how your program will look to customers:

  • Digital Card Preview: See exactly what customers will see
  • Progress Tracking: How visits will be displayed
  • Reward Ready State: How completed cards look

Program Preview Space for program preview screenshot

Step 6: Publish Your Program

  1. Review all settings one final time
  2. Click "Create Program"
  3. Your Business QR code is automatically generated
  4. Program goes live immediately

After Creating Your Program

Display Your Business QR Code

Your Business QR code is instantly ready:

  1. Print it: Download high-resolution version for printing
  2. Display prominently: Counter, entrance, table tents
  3. Include instructions: "Scan to join our loyalty program"
  4. Multiple locations: Print multiple copies as needed

Space for QR code display examples

QR Code Best Practices

Placement Ideas:

  • Counter/register area
  • Entrance/exit
  • Table tents (restaurants)
  • Receipt printing
  • Business cards
  • Window decals

Size Guidelines:

  • Minimum: 2x2 inches for scanning reliability
  • Recommended: 4x4 inches for easy visibility
  • Large format: 8x8 inches for wall displays

Understanding the Customer Experience

When Customers First Scan

  1. Customer scans your Business QR code
  2. If they don't have an account, they're prompted to create one
  3. A new loyalty card is automatically created
  4. They see their card with 0 visits

Regular Visit Process

  1. Customer visits your business
  2. Customer generates and shows their Customer QR code
  3. You scan the Customer QR code with your scanner
  4. System adds 1 visit (if none recorded today)
  5. Customer sees updated progress on their device

When They Complete the Program

  1. Customer reaches required visit count
  2. Card shows "Reward Ready" status
  3. Customer generates a unique Reward QR code
  4. Customer presents Reward QR to you
  5. You scan it to process the reward
  6. New card is automatically created for the next cycle

Space for customer experience flowchart

Program Management

Viewing Program Performance

Track your program's success:

  • Total Enrollments: How many customers joined
  • Active Cards: Currently in-progress cards
  • Completed Cards: Customers ready for rewards
  • Claimed Rewards: Successfully processed rewards
  • Conversion Rate: Percentage who complete programs

Customer List

See who's in your program:

  • Customer names and email addresses
  • Current visit counts
  • Join dates
  • Last activity

Space for analytics screenshot

Best Practices

Setting Visit Requirements

Consider Your Business:

  • How often do customers typically visit?
  • What's a reasonable timeframe for completion?
  • Balance between achievable and valuable

Industry Standards:

  • Daily businesses (coffee): 7-10 visits
  • Weekly businesses (restaurants): 5-7 visits
  • Monthly businesses (services): 3-5 visits

Crafting Compelling Rewards

Make It Valuable:

  • Worth at least 10% of average purchase
  • Something customers actually want
  • Clear, specific description

Examples That Work:

  • Free popular menu item
  • Percentage discount (15-25%)
  • Upgrade to premium option
  • Exclusive access to new products

Promoting Your Program

In-Store:

  • Staff mentions to every customer
  • Visible QR code placement
  • Clear signage explaining benefits

Digital:

  • Social media posts
  • Email signatures
  • Website integration
  • Receipt printing

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Q: Customers say the QR code doesn't work
A: Ensure QR codes are large enough (minimum 2x2 inches) and printed clearly. Test scanning yourself.

Q: Why aren't customers joining?
A: Make sure your reward is compelling and your QR code is prominently displayed with clear instructions.

Q: Can I change my program after it's live?
A: Yes! See our Program Updates Guide for details.

Q: How do I know if my program is successful?
A: Track enrollment rate, completion rate, and repeat visits through your analytics dashboard.

Next Steps

Congratulations! Your loyalty program is now live. Next, learn how to:

Understand Program Updates →
Manage QR Codes →
Track Analytics →

Need Help?

Your loyalty program is ready to start building lasting customer relationships! 🎉

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