For many eCommerce brands, growth doesn’t just come from attracting new customers - it comes from keeping the ones you already have. Studies show that acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing one, while loyal customers spend more and advocate for your brand. Yet too many stores focus heavily on acquisition while neglecting customer loyalty, leaving potential revenue on the table.
At Aware Digital, we work with merchants to build loyalty strategies that go beyond discounts. One of the most effective tools for retention is a well-structured points and rewards program, like those offered by Influence Loyalty.
Why Loyalty Matters More Than Acquisition
Acquisition marketing might bring visitors to your site, and loyalty marketing ensures that these customers are repeat buyers and not just one-time buyers. Loyalty marketing also establishes a greater relationship between your brand and your customers.
When you reward your customers for their engagement, such as leaving a review or referring your brand to their friends, it establishes emotional loyalty. These are not just repeat customers; these are customers who will promote your brand for you.
What Influence Offers
Influence provides a flexible platform to reward customers across multiple touchpoints:
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Points systems: Customers earn points for purchases, engagement, or advocacy.
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Tiers and VIPs: Segment your audience and reward your most valuable customers with exclusive perks.
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Referrals and sharing: Turn satisfied customers into advocates who bring in new buyers.
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Memberships: Offer subscription-style benefits to drive consistent engagement.
The key is to structure your program so it’s rewarding, clear, and easy to engage with, ensuring customers feel motivated to participate.
Seamless Integration with Checkout and Marketing
A loyalty program works best when it’s integrated into the entire shopping experience. Influence can be embedded directly in your checkout, making it easy for customers to earn points while buying.
Integration with tools like REVIEWS.io and Klaviyo allows you to:
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Reward customers for leaving reviews.
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Send automated follow-ups to encourage repeat purchases.
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Personalise communications based on points, tiers, or membership status.
This connected approach ensures your loyalty program doesn’t exist in isolation - it becomes part of a holistic retention strategy.
With tools such as REVIEWS.io and Klaviyo at your disposal, you can:
Reward your customers for writing reviews.
Automatically follow up with customers to encourage repeat purchases.
Customise your messages based on points earned, tier level, and membership.
This integration allows your loyalty program to be part of a much larger and more holistic strategy.
Structuring a Program with Real Customers in Mind
Not all loyalty programs are created equal. To ensure your program has the maximum desired effect, consider the following:
- New Customers - Reward the First Repeat Purchase.
- Engaged Customers - Offer Tiers and VIP Programs.
- Advocates - Reward Sharing and Referrals.
Customer scenarios such as the ones above ensure your loyalty program is relevant and effective.
Measuring Success
The success of a loyalty program can be easily measured through the following:
- Repeat Purchase Rate - Do customers return more frequently?
- Average Order Value - Do points and rewards encourage customers to increase order value?
- Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) - Are customers more valuable as a result of the loyalty program?
- Referral Rate - Do advocates bring in more customers?
With the above metrics in place, brands can easily optimise and improve their loyalty programs.
Why We Recommend Influence Loyalty
At Aware Digital, we are dedicated to assisting businesses in deploying loyalty programs that are strategic, holistic, and quantifiable. Influence is a partner we recommend for deploying flexible and customer-centric loyalty solutions that are beyond mere discounting. When deployed effectively, loyalty solutions are capable of driving increased repeat business, as well as emotional loyalty and advocacy, which are beneficial to your brand’s presence and longevity.
What to Do Next
If your brand is looking to increase repeat business and customer lifetime value, here are some steps to take:
- Consider working with Influence to create a points and rewards program that meets your unique customer needs.
- Integrate loyalty solutions with review solutions like REVIEWS.io and marketing automation platforms like Klaviyo.
- Understand your customer journeys to maximise when to reward your customers.
While a loyalty program may be about points, it’s also about creating a relationship with your customers to create business growth. Get in touch with us to find out more about Influence & their loyalty schemes.