 If you've got a rewards program, why not create a little holiday magic for your guests? Here are nine strategies for boosting restaurant traffic through loyalty programs this holiday season.by Emily Rugaber — Marketing, Thanx, The holiday season is that magical time of year when businesses are all about spreading joy, boosting sales, and drawing in more customers. If you've got a loyalty program in place, you're sitting on a golden opportunity to make the most of it while increasing foot traffic and revenue for your restaurant in the process. So, let's dive into nine effective strategies to help make your loyalty program work for you during this festive season. Update your points marketplace with seasonal perks: As part of your ongoing loyalty program, guests earn points for each purchase. Why not update your points marketplace with discounted seasonal items or exclusive seasonal perks only available to your most highly valued guests? Drive traffic during off-peak holiday hours: Traffic patterns change significantly during the holiday season due to vacations, school closures, and heightened shopping activities. Staffing up can incur substantial expenses. To optimize operations, leverage targeted marketing campaigns to boost traffic during slower periods by offering exclusive deals only available at certain times of the day. Add a philanthropic angle: Seeking a charitable partner to collaborate with your loyalty program can motivate customers to visit and engage more often. Restaurants utilizing a loyalty program in combination with the platform GiftAMeal can help participants support the fight against hunger in their local community while also keeping them actively engaged in the loyalty program. This approach boosts brand equity and helps you stand out against competitors. Amplify loyalty with collaborations: When your restaurant partners with another brand or influencer, it's all about enhancing the customer experience. Why not update your loyalty program to take advantage of these partnerships? Offer an opportunity for top-tier loyalty members to earn a chance to win a meet-and-greet with your star. Or offer loyalty members the chance to interact with the other brand via a special event (for example: a food tasting). Doing so will encourage top customers to engage with the brand, in turn boosting brand affinity and profitability. Customize and personalize: One way to reel customers in is to create a distinctive brand identity that connects with your audience. Through your loyalty program, you can easily share your brand's voice, values, mission and narrative to clearly build a deeper connection with customers. Updating the look and feel of a loyalty program by enabling customization of image assets and perks across every touchpoint guarantees a consistent brand identity and delivers a unique visual encounter for all guests. Offer exclusive merchandise: The feeling of special access can be a game-changer, and it doesn't have to revolve around discounts. One great example comes from Sajj Mediterranean. When using the restaurant's rewards marketplace, guests unlock exclusive access to swag and merch. Why not try something similar over the holidays? Holiday frequency challenges: Challenge loyal customers to indulge in some friendly competition. Encourage them to make more frequent purchases during the holiday season and reward them for their patronage. For instance, a "12 Days of Frequency Challenge" where customers dine frequently scores bonus points for an exciting new marketplace perk — a real win-win. Experiential marketing: The holiday season is a great time to dive headfirst into experiential marketing. As friends and family come together, consider providing one-of-a-kind experiences to capture even more attention and shine a brighter spotlight on your brand. Offer exclusive content, for example, holiday recipe books, exclusive merchandise, and other non-discount rewards to deepen customer connection. Send reward reminders: Have you ever forgotten you earned a holiday peppermint mocha? Or maybe a BOGO hot cocoa? Stay top of mind with guests without issuing an expensive discount by sending a quick and friendly reminder of existing earned rewards. This approach serves a dual purpose. It not only prompts the customer to make the most of their reward before it expires but also conveys the restaurant's genuine appreciation, making them feel even more valued. How to boost traffic with loyalty programs this holiday season |
