{"id":6958,"date":"2018-03-21T13:17:55","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T13:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/posbistro-blog-wordpress-new.posbistro.com\/?p=6958"},"modified":"2018-04-24T13:09:40","modified_gmt":"2018-04-24T13:09:40","slug":"the-5-best-types-of-customer-loyalty-programs-for-food-trucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/the-5-best-types-of-customer-loyalty-programs-for-food-trucks\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Types Of Customer Loyalty Programs For Food Trucks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customers may enjoy your mouthwatering food and warm service, but a pleasant experience may not be enough to convert them into regulars. Here are a few ways you can incorporate a customer loyalty program into your food truck business to draw your customers back over and over again.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h5>The Classic \u201cBuy 9, Get 1 Free\u201d Card<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6997\" src=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22112151\/punch-card-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22112151\/punch-card-1.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22112151\/punch-card-1-300x155.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22112151\/punch-card-1-768x396.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>\nYou\u2019re familiar with the reward card that grants you a free item after nine or ten purchases. Maybe it\u2019s a latte, maybe it\u2019s just half-off a sandwich. Whatever the prize, this system has worked for decades for a few reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b><b><b>It\u2019s a physical reminder of your food truck<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. When customers see your punch card in their wallet, they\u2019re reminded of the last incredible dish they had from your truck.<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/b><\/b>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><b>The anticipation builds with every punch<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This isn\u2019t just an educated guess\u2014a psychological study from 2016 proved that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/its-all-in-your-mind\/the-psychology-behind-loyalty-cards-5e330e59d568\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the sense of progress accelerates spending in consumers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this simple system has limitations. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/marketing\/psychology-ecommerce-loyalty-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hubspot reports<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that customers tend to feel like the reward at the end of the card is trivial, since the actual value of the prize is fairly low. Their solution? Make sure you attach that punch of the card to a heartfelt \u201cthank you\u201d to ensure your customers feel not only the financial gain, but the relational one as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another weakness of the physical punch card is the fact that it\u2019s not\u2014of course\u2014digital. You have to manually keep track of how many reward freebies you\u2019re giving out, but more importantly, you\u2019re missing out on powerful data that can take your marketing to the next level.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h5>Digitally Integrated Punch Cards<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6999\" src=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22114146\/digital-punch-cards.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22114146\/digital-punch-cards.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22114146\/digital-punch-cards-300x155.jpg 300w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22114146\/digital-punch-cards-768x398.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there\u2019s no reminder of your business in your customers\u2019 wallets, digital punch cards tend to be a better option for food trucks. Since rewards are tracked via phone numbers or credit cards, customers know they can claim their \u2018punches\u2019 every visit without having to keep up with a physical card.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But digital punch cards aren\u2019t just easy for customers, they empower your business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only can you track exactly how many reward items you\u2019re giving out each week or month, but you are given <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/food-truck-pos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a whole dashboard of data<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on how frequently your customers visit, who the big spenders are, and how they order.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This customer insight is invaluable for even the smallest of food trucks. It allows you to refine and personalize your marketing promotions, loyalty program, and menu to maximize customer satisfaction and revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h5>The Points System<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7001\" src=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121323\/point-system.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121323\/point-system.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121323\/point-system-300x155.jpg 300w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121323\/point-system-768x396.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>\nAnother digital system that\u2019s gained popularity over the last few years is the points loyalty program. In this system, customers earn points based on how much they spend. They can then use those points as a currency toward food items in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach gives your customers flexibility. If they\u2019re not big on tacos, maybe they can instead redeem points on an order of chips and queso. Offering multiple redemption options can draw in customers who may not love the item that would naturally be the \u2018tenth free\u2019 on a punch card.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But reward diversity isn\u2019t the only benefit; personalized engagement is another key aspect. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/helloworld.com\/insights\/whitepapers\/2017-loyalty-barometer-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a 2017 report from HelloWorld<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40% of Millennials believe loyalty programs should offer interactive games, emphasizing the importance of engagement and creating fun, meaningful brand connections<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you go this route, make sure your system follows a few basic rules:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong><strong><strong>Simple reward structures are the most effective<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><strong><strong><strong><strong>Offer a low-point reward to quickly demonstrate the system to customers<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Communicate point values clearly to avoid confusion<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This loyalty program style is particularly well-suited for food trucks, and setup is quick and simple with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/food-truck-pos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the right software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>\n<h5>Multi-Tiered Loyalty Rewards<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7003\" src=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121608\/gift.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121608\/gift.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121608\/gift-300x155.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/posbistro-safe-blog.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/up\/2018\/03\/22121608\/gift-768x398.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>\nIf your customers tend to visit your food truck less frequently than they would a cafe or dessert parlor, consider a multi-tiered program. In this system, customers are continually rewarded with offers of greater value in exchange for repeat business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s an example of how it may work:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b><b><b>Tier 1<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (1-3 visits\/year): A free drink<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/b><\/b>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tier 2<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (4-6 visits): A free side item<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tier 3<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (7-9 visits): A free menu item + a free birthday side<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tier 4<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (10+ visits): A free full meal<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This loyalty-building approach is especially effective when weeks or months go by between customer visits because of higher-ticket items or a less convenient location. The more commitment it takes to purchase from you, the less frequently you are able to reward your customers, and the more long-term you have to plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li>\n<h5>The Non-Monetary Approach<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes the best way to develop brand loyalty is not to offer monetary rewards, but to clearly display that your values align with the values of your customers. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeople do care about being included with a brand\u2019s message, but only when they share the same values. In fact, for those who\u2019ve stated that they have a strong relationship with a single brand, over 64% said it was because they had \u201cshared values\u201d with the company in question.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014 Greg Ciotti, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpscout.net\/consumer-behavior\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help Scout<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One successful example of this is TOMS Shoes. For each pair of TOMS purchased, the brand gives a pair to a child without proper shoes somewhere in the developing world. The brand\u2019s dedication to \u201cimproving lives\u201d connects to the target audience so well that an additional loyalty program would feel overly consumeristic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a food truck, your implementation of this approach would look different. Maybe you donate a taco to a homeless shelter for every ten tacos purchased by a customer. Maybe you allow customers to buy donations to charity with their accrued points.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This strategy, though it doesn\u2019t give the monetary reward back to the customer, can generate immense brand loyalty if a primary value of your target market is \u2018giving back\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key to generating customer loyalty is do <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">something<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Don\u2019t sit back and let loyalty build organically\u2014because it won\u2019t. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/352767\/Bond%20Loyalty%20Report%202017%20Exec%20Summary_Launch%20Edition_US.pdf?__hssc=224095364.1.1518027253067&amp;__hstc=224095364.56dfbe023e8369d0f8feae84ed8c31c9.1518027253066.1518027253066.1518027253066.1&amp;__hsfp=1517646237&amp;hsCtaTracking=dfc495a8-9f91-4359-9b84-232c94dba528%7C79486b45-a8b8-4faf-aafa-86e00e2c49ac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2017 Loyalty Report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> revealed that consumers are 81% more likely to frequent brands in which they participate in a loyalty program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still not certain which loyalty program type is best for your food truck, or want to try a couple different approaches? The built-in loyalty systems of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/food-truck-pos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">POSBistro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be customized to your specific goals and needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a points system, a digital punch card, or a mixture of program types with our intuitive and <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/posbistro.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible loyalty programs for food trucks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Customers may enjoy your mouthwatering food and warm service, but a pleasant experience may not be enough to convert them<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":6964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,21,2044],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-foodtruck","category-restaurant-marketing","category-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6958"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6960,"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6958\/revisions\/6960"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/posbistro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}