![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/customer-loyalty-programs.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow can it Benefit Your Brand?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are several reasons why an organization needs loyalty marketing. For starters, acquiring new customers is expensive as it costs five times more<\/a> to attract a new customer than keeping an existing one. Secondly, it\u2019s been proven that 40% of revenue<\/a> in the U.S. comes from returning customers \u2014 who represent just 8% of visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These customers are loyal customers to your brand as they make a lot of purchases over a period of time. Third, when you attract loyal customers to your business you\u2019re also potentially turning them into brand ambassadors for your business, who spread positive word-of-mouth<\/a> for your business. They will share their positive experiences with your business with friends, family, and coworkers, which will help you build a solid reputation \u2014 free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you understand the importance of creating a loyalty marketing strategy and how significant they are for marketers and organizations to reach consumers nowadays, let\u2019s explore types of loyalty marketing strategies that you or your organization could implement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Implementing a rewards program is a highly effective marketing strategy for increasing customer loyalty because it literally encourages customers to make more purchases. When customers know that they will be rewarded for the amount of money they spend, how many points they accumulate, or the number of purchases they make, they will want to buy more from you. You can incentivize them with special discounts, free gifts, or free products for every certain number they buy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to build customer loyalty, you need to find a way to connect deeper with consumers. One of the best ways to do this is to facilitate ongoing communication with them, which can be done via email. Create a mail program where you ask customers (or encourage them with special discounts and offers) to sign up for your email program and send campaigns, new offers, birthday wishes, and special discounts electronically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can personalize the experience<\/a> by addressing customers by their first names or sending recommendations for products that are similar to ones they have previously purchased. With these efforts they will feel more special and important to your company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way of building customer loyalty is by building a positive reputation for your business. This can be done by connecting with consumers on a deeper level and showing that you care about them. The last thing you want is to have your customers think that your main focus is on generating profits \u2014 they\u2019ll think you\u2019re solely driven by money and won\u2019t want to buy your products or services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Train your staff to listen to their concerns, answer their questions with detailed answers, and provide excellent customer service. Showcase your brand as one that deeply cares about its customers. A good way to do this is by offering excellent customer support online and by phone, training staff to be friendly and attentive in stores, and responding to social media messages and emails in a timely manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to build a positive reputation for your brand could be to associate your organization with positive causes. For example, you could donate money to charities or adapt environmentally friendly sustainable practices that showcase your business in a positive light. That way, customers will feel good about your organization and<\/em> good about themselves for buying your products or services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When striving to build customer loyalty, your goal is to make consumers emotionally invested in your brand. One of the best ways to do this is to create a community where customers feel like they belong and like they can connect with others. When you provide this platform for consumers, they\u2019ll become more emotionally invested in your organization and feel more connected, and therefore more invested. This can be done by regularly updating social media and being interactive and engaging with consumers. For example, post pictures of other consumers using your products, create contests for followers to participate in, and respond to comments. Make it fun, and watch as you\u2019ll build an audience and attract more loyal customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a promotional products loyalty program is a surefire way to connect deeper with consumers and help them generate positive feelings towards your organization. When you hand out free swag for loyalty that are high in quality and utility<\/a>, consumers will be happy and will likely want to keep them. They\u2019re tangible products, as opposed to promotional marketing that\u2019s done through social media or flyers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re providing an experience<\/em> for consumers to try out your products. Handing out promotional items<\/a> is also likely to strengthen brand recall and encourage consumers or clients to do business with your organization. For example, a study by the Advertising Specialty Institute<\/a> found that as many as 71% of Generation X\u2019ers were more likely to do business with an advertiser they received promotional drinkware from. Consumers are also 2.5x more likely to have a positive attitude towards a promotional product rather than internet advertising.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n As previously described, creating a promotional items loyalty program is an effective way of connecting with consumers and converting them into long-lasting, loyal customers. But when handing out swag loyalty products and corporate gifts for loyalty programs, you\u2019ll want to make sure you\u2019re handing out items that consumers will want to keep \u2014 such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering 71% of Generation X\u2019ers reported being more likely to do business with an advertiser who gave them promotional drinkware, it\u2019s easy to say that handing out drinkware items is a good idea. It\u2019s also been found that 84% of Baby Boomers own promotional drinkware and consumers keep them for an average of 12 months. Drinkware has long staying power and is a good item for connecting with consumers. A few examples of promotional drinkware items<\/a> are reusable cups, straws, bottles, mugs, and sleeves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Advertising Specialty Institute also found that 50% of consumers overall are likely to do business with advertisers who gift them promo bags. They\u2019re kept for an average of 11 months and have tremendous staying power. And because consumers carry bags everywhere with them, from walking on the street to going to work to attending classes, they\u2019ll generate high exposure for your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re also generally large items to carry, so imprints should be large and showcase your brand\u2019s name and logo powerfully. You can find all kinds of promotional bags<\/a> for B2C and B2B loyalty marketing strategies \u2014 for shopping, school, work, travel, and recreational purposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing instruments such as pens, pencils, highlighters, and cases are common promotional items<\/a> for loyalty programs, but they\u2019re effective. They\u2019re small and useful, and are convenient for consumers to keep and carry with them (which means high exposure for your business). <\/p>\n\n\n\n 89% of consumers reported owning promotional writing instruments and keep them for an average of 9 months. They have long staying power and are likely to stay in possession for a long time. There are many types and styles of promotional writing instruments<\/a> to choose from to increase exposure for your brand.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n While all of the above have high staying power, it\u2019s been proven that apparel items have the highest brand recall amongst consumers. As many as 85% of consumers report being able to recall the advertiser that gave them a hat or shirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 63% of consumers reported keeping promo hats because they\u2019re attractive, and 65% of consumers own promo polo shirts. You can choose from a wide range of promo apparel items<\/a> \u2014 shirts, hats, outerwear, shoes, and more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the next best categories for loyalty marketing promo items are desk accessories<\/a>. Whether you\u2019re targeting students or adults, almost everyone is bound to keep accessories on their desks. You can give out calculators, organizers, letter openers, mouse pads, paper clips, staplers, and a wide variety of other items that are needed yet not everyone might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Happy](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/happy-clients.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5 Types of Loyalty Marketing Strategies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Rewards Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Rewards](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/rewards-program-building-loyalty.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Building Long Term Relationships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Build a Positive Brand Reputation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Building](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/building-great-brand-reputation.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n4. Create a Community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Hand Out Promotional Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Follow](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/promotional-giveaways-for-your-next-trade-shows.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/custom-drinkware-for-new-employees.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n1. Drinkware <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2. Bags<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Promotional](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/business-promotional-items-bags.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3. Writing Instruments<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Ultimate](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/ultimate-promotional-pens-guide-2019.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n4. Apparel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/custom-corporate-apparel.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n5. Desk Accessories<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Swag](\"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/swag-for-the-office-desk.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n