The first steps in customer loyalty stem from recommendations, or more commonly known as: “word of mouth”. I recommend a store to my friends and those around me because I was satisfied with it.
Digital customer loyalty
Then perks, cards, and vouchers came along to give customer loyalty a tangible form. The Loyalty Card is proof that you appreciate a Brand.
The arrival of the internet in our pockets turned the Loyalty Card digital. It’s still in our wallet, but it has moved into our smartphone: the mobile Loyalty Card. This is how the traditional Loyalty Card became a “connected Loyalty Card” and the word-of-mouth concept spread across the web. You can share your opinion, recommend or not recommend a brand or a store, at any time, from anywhere, with minimal effort.
Loyalty Cards and social media influence: the power of reviews
Social media quickly grasped the power of consumer reviews and took hold of it. Take the example of Foursquare, a social network built entirely around user reviews. A rating on Foursquare can make or break a brand’s reputation. There is no longer an ad campaign or event broadcast without the now-familiar links to brands’ social media accounts.
Using social media to build loyalty
Today, they are indispensable. Brands like Starbucks have built a strong reputation in a short time thanks to social media influence. The brand now uses social media to launch customer loyalty campaigns and encourage its customers to use their Loyalty Cards. The true power of customer loyalty therefore lies in the use of smartphones through the Loyalty Card and social media.
Loyalty Cards and social media influence: think about building loyalty by leveraging social media and mobile. Get your customers to follow you online. Avomark has been a professional customer loyalty specialist since 1989 — feel free to get in touch with us.
