A loyalty program that offers personalized discounts will make your customers feel special. According to the 2020 Bond Loyalty Report, customers who experience high levels of personalization are more likely to recommend a restaurant.

Offer free birthday items to your loyal patrons to make them feel like a part of an exclusive club. It will encourage them to bring their friends and family.

Create a Point-Based System

Whether you offer digital or physical cards or a combination, ensure your loyalty program is user-friendly. Some restaurant loyalty programs ideas provide mobile apps, point-of-sale integrations, or QR code-based systems to track customer purchases and reward redemption. Promote these tools on social media and email marketing to increase brand awareness.

Restaurant loyalty programs are most successful when they give customers a sense of accomplishment and belonging. To do this, consider offering them rewards based on the number of visits they make. For example, a “Buy 5 Coffees, Get the 6th Free” promotion encourages repeat orders and builds anticipation for new menu items.

Also, ensure your front-of-house staff understands and values the program and promotes it at every opportunity. That will make it easier for them to help customers redeem their rewards offers at the time of billing. And it will also encourage non-members to enroll in the loyalty program.

Offer a Rewards Program for Online Ordering

One of the best ways to increase restaurant loyalty is to give customers an easy way to place online orders and track rewards. A dedicated app or point-of-sale integration will enhance customer engagement and retention.

Item-based rewards are another creative and effective way to incentivize repeat visits, like “Buy 5 Get the 6th Free” promotions or discounted menu items such as a Meal of the Month deal. Another option is to offer punch cards, which can be redeemed for a free item after a certain number of purchases or visits.

Tiered systems can also motivate customers to return, mainly if they include a top tier offering VIP access and exclusive experiences for your most loyal guests. It is a great way to increase your bottom line and show your appreciation for your most frequent diners.

Create a Referral Program

Restaurant loyalty programs can be a powerful tool to increase customer retention and drive incremental business. However, the program must be easy to understand and implement for your guests. A complicated, confusing program will leave a bad taste in your customers’ mouths and make them less likely to participate in the future.

Offer rewards that can be used for online ordering. It will encourage your customers to order more meals from your restaurant. You can also offer free delivery for loyal members of your loyalty program.

Give your loyalty program members VIP access to coveted dining areas like window tables or your popular outdoor patio. It will create a sense of exclusivity and excitement among your guests and make them feel valued by your brand. You can also partner with local artists or suppliers to offer unique, experience-based perks that can be shared on social media.

Offer a Percentage Off

Restaurant loyalty programs can be complicated, but they provide opportunities to reach a targeted audience with specific offers. For example, you can offer a 10% discount when customers order a meal or run time-sensitive promotions only available to loyal members.

These types of promotions generate a FOMO (fear of missing out) that can motivate non-members to sign up. It can be especially effective when you show that non-members miss out on special deals or exclusive experiences.

Another creative idea is creating a secret menu only for loyalty program members. It can pique curiosity and excitement, motivating customers to return frequently and try new culinary delights.

Offer a Free Delivery Code

Loyalty programs offer many opportunities to engage with patrons in ways that make them feel special. These include secret menu items available only to program members that pique their interest and encourage them to visit regularly to explore new culinary delights.

Restaurants can also create a sense of exclusivity by offering loyalty program members unique experiences, such as a behind-the-scenes tour or tasting session with the chef. These rewards help build excitement and engagement and can be marketed well through social media to attract new customers.

Finally, restaurants can use loyalty programs to promote specific events or holidays that align with their brand. Creating campaigns around national food days, sports events, or even cultural events such as a popular TV show’s premiere can help drive traffic and incentivize diners to visit more frequently. These types of promotions can be boosted through targeted marketing via email or mobile app notifications based on customer data such as their birthday, time of day they usually order, or other factors.

Offer Merchandise

It’s essential that your customers feel like they get something extraordinary when they enroll in a restaurant loyalty program. Consider offering merchandise tied to your brand, such as branded cutlery or a unique seasoning blend, that you can sell in-store or online. You can also offer a tiered system where customers advance through different levels to unlock higher-value rewards and experiences.

Using your customer data to promote targeted rewards and come-back campaigns can help drive enrollment in your restaurant loyalty program. For example, you could send email promos to your top customers for their birthdays based on when they last ordered or when they typically visit. You can also use your data to show customers what they are missing out on by not joining the loyalty program – this creates a sense of FOMO and will encourage non-members to sign up.