GiftCard Partners Blog

Marketing has come a long way from the days when it relied heavily on intuition. Today, thanks to a wealth of consumer data available through online transactions, social media, loyalty programs, and real-time feedback, companies can develop data-backed marketing strategies. In fact, 90% of marketers say they rely on data to make decisions that improve customer journeys, increase retention, and drive revenue.

April is customer loyalty month, but we need to remember that the root of the customer loyalty lies not in the customer themselves but in their brand experience. Customers are loyal when they have positive brand experiences with happy employees who are knowledgable and motivated doing their jobs. Here are a few ways to keep your employees motivated and promoting a positive brand experience to keep customers loyal:

In the bustling world of consumerism, one demographic holds a significant sway over household purchases, brand loyalty, and repeat business: moms. These influential decision-makers not only drive a substantial portion of household spending but also play a crucial role in shaping brand perceptions and driving repeat purchases. To harness the full potential of this demographic, brands must prioritize engaging moms with tailored strategies that foster brand loyalty and drive long-term growth.

The New York Times reports on an interesting new shape for customer loyalty programs, and it’s not as simple as just maintaining, focusing on, or improving a loyalty program. This centers around GE Capital’s relationship with Kobie Marketing to unify shoppers’ profiles, to not just track purchases and create offers and rewards based on what is paid for on plastic, but also monitoring shoppers’ retail social media interactions. The New York Times article explains, “That means they can be monitored across any platforms they might use to interact with the company, like Facebook, Foursquare or an app, and their purchases can be integrated into that profile regardless of how they pay.” The article shows how, “Membership and loyalty programs have been a part of the retail landscape for years, but they have become increasingly important as retailers vie for customers both online and in their physical stores.” An example of the importance of such programs is Sears Holdings’ rewards program, “Shop Your Way”, accounted for 70% of their 3rd quarter 2013 sales
¹. Sears Holdings’ year end results
² may have been even more disappointing WITHOUT the strong boost their loyalty program offered them. Loyalty program evolution and growth is important to retailers and merchants who continually need new and innovative ways to engage with and retain customers. Click for more of the article GE Capital to help Set Up Loyalty Programs for Retailers. Sources: 1. TNYT: GE Capital to help Set Up Loyalty Programs for Retailers 2. TNYT: Sears’s Sales Fell 9.2% in Tepid Holiday Season

A positive customer experience is something that every company strives for on a daily basis; experience is the main driver for loyalty. Happy customers are loyal customers and loyal customers are brand advocates. Oracle released a global survey of 1,300 senior-level executives from 18 countries that yielded new insights on succeeding in the ‘customer service era.’ Key findings from the survey included: