For a long time, loyalty cards were the holy grail of commerce.
A small piece of plastic to be stamped or scanned, designed to reward customer loyalty.
But let's be honest, today, they don't have as much impact.
Either people don't want to sign up for them, or they hardly ever use them.
And yet, customer loyalty remains a powerful lever for growing your revenue.
According to Bain & Company, a loyal customer can spend up to 67% more than a new customer.
Not bad, right?
The good news is that the concept of loyalty cards can still work wonders... provided they evolve with the times.
Gone are the days of paper cards and rigid systems.
Make way for smarter, more flexible programs that are integrated into your e-commerce tools.
In this article, we'll help you understand how to transform an outdated loyalty card into a modern loyalty strategy.
Because it's always more profitable to keep a customer than to find a new one.
A well-designed loyalty card increases repeat purchases, boosts average order value, and reduces your acquisition costs.
And that's not just a feeling.
According to Loyoly's Industry Report, 38 % of consumers are willing to join the loyalty program of a brand to which they feel loyal..
That's why investing in a loyalty program is a long-term commitment.
It's also a powerful strategy for strengthening your brand image.
You create a real, lasting relationship with your customers.
And in e-commerce, where competition is fierce, this relationship also involves varied, personalized rewards that can be activated anywhere.
In short, a modern loyalty card is no longer a gadget.
It's a growth lever.
Before reinventing everything, it's a good idea to know the classics.
Here are the three most commonly used formats and how to adapt them to e-commerce.
This is the best known format.
For every dollar spent, customers earn points.
These points can then be redeemed for discounts, gifts, and other benefits.
Simple to set up, it can be easily integrated into an online store.
But be careful: it's no longer enough to stand out from the crowd.
You need to rethink it, gamify it, and connect it to your other tools.
Loyoly does this very well.
Perfect for rewarding your best customers.
The more you buy, the higher you climb... and the more attractive the rewards.
A good way to create a club effect and strengthen long-term engagement.
Top up now, spend later.
It's effective in areas where purchases are frequent: cosmetics, food, healthcare.
It creates immediate engagement and encourages repeat business from the very first order.
Let's be clear, your customers no longer want to take out a card when they pay.
They want benefits, yes, but they want them to be accessible with a single click, visible on their account, and usable everywhere.
Physical cards have their limits.
They get forgotten.
They don't keep up with mobile usage.
They aren't connected to your ecosystem.
So they fall by the wayside.
On the other hand, a well-designed program integrates into the customer journey.
It rewards in real time.
It tells a story and creates a relationship.
And above all, it makes people want to join.
👉 To find out how to encourage your customers to join your loyalty program, read our 15 techniques to convince a customer to join a loyalty program.
Moving from a basic card to a digital loyalty program is not something to be done on a whim.
Here is the plan to follow for e-merchants who really want to take action.
Build loyalty, yes, but what for?
More repeat business? A higher average order value? More community engagement?
Set the framework from the outset, otherwise the program may miss its target.
Points, tiers, referrals, UGC missions...
Each e-commerce model has its own mechanics.
What matters is alignment with your purchase frequency, average order value, and personas.
A good program is not isolated. It integrates with your CMS, CRM, and emails.
Loyoly loyalty programs, for example, connect to Shopify, Klaviyo, Brevo, and Hubspot.
Loyalty is earned at every touchpoint.
Before the purchase with a banner, during with an incentive in the shopping cart, and after with a follow-up email.
Consistency is what builds commitment.
👉 To do this, understand each step of the customer journey
Pssst... You might find this interesting!
Loyalty programs are strategic for your brand, and we can probably help. Check out our platform!
A good loyalty program is good.
A visible program is better.
For your customers to use it, they need to know it exists.
Here are three channels to activate first.
This is your first showcase.
Display your program on the homepage, product pages, shopping cart, and customer account.
Don't limit yourself to a simple “Loyalty Program” page in the footer.
Add a banner at the top of the page, a “+X loyalty points” button on products, or a section in the customer account to view rewards.
The more visible it is, the more engaging it is.
On this shopping cart page, an incentive message informs the customer that they can earn up to 20 loyalty points by confirming their order, while inviting them to log in to view and use their available rewards.
Email is a powerful channel for activation and reactivation.
Consider sending an email as soon as customers sign up to explain the benefits of the program.
Schedule reminders for points to be used, personalized offers based on levels reached or pending missions.
For example, has a customer reached a new level?
Automatically send them an email: “Congratulations, you've unlocked 10% off your next order!”
It's simple, personalized, and makes them want to come back.
Customers love to share their good deals.
Give them a good reason to do so.
Showcase your rewards, share testimonials, and highlight your most active members.
Content generated by your customers (reviews, photos, posts) boosts the visibility and credibility of the program.
And no cardboard card can do that.
Once customers have signed up, the work doesn't stop there.
A program that sleeps is a program that is forgotten.
You need to create momentum, maintain the relationship, and rekindle interest.
This involves regular reminders, new features to unlock, and missions to complete.
In short, opportunities to return to your site.
The more active it is, the more it converts.
At Loyoly, we don't just talk about loyalty cards.
We're talking about the post-purchase experience.
With referral campaigns, product reviews, and community challenges, your customers don't just accumulate points.
They get involved. They participate.
They become your best ambassadors and help your business grow.
And all this in a fun, automated way that's aligned with your business objectives.
Loyoly is a post-purchase engagement platform that orchestrates journeys via +40 mechanics to boost LTV and social proof, while reducing CAC.
