Whether your restaurant has had a loyalty program for years, or you’re just getting one off the ground, it’s always a good idea to keep trying to acquire new members. Read ahead to find out what you can do to make your restaurant’s loyalty program bigger than ever.

Instant reward for signing up. Sometimes, the most compelling way to get someone into a loyalty program, is to offer a reward that will provide them with instant gratification. If I’m at a restaurant, and my server informs me that I’ll be able to save $5 off the meal I just ate, and all I have to do is sign up for the loyalty program real quick, you bet that I’m going to do it. This tactic can prove even more effective if you’ve trained your staff to highlight the various benefits and rewards the customer can receive in the future.

Host exclusive loyalty member contests. Being rewarded for patronage is a part of nearly every loyalty program. But what about the prospect of winning something? That’s where contests come in. Hosting the occasional contest is a great way to not only engage your loyalty members, but also attract new ones. You can promote these contests in-store, on social media, via email, or anywhere else. Just make sure that signing up for your loyalty program is a requirement for entry. Need some ideas? We’ve got you covered. Click here for five easy contest ideas your restaurant can try out.

Referral bonuses. Offering referral incentives to loyalty members is one of the most tried-and-true methods for getting customers into your program – and for spreading some solid word-of-mouth. By implementing a referral system, you’ll start encouraging your current members to get their friends and family on board. Set up a nice bonus for both parties involved to seal the deal.

Rewards that customers will care about. When it comes down to it, you can’t have a successful loyalty program without the right rewards. According to Oracle, nearly half of restaurant operators (47%) feel that their loyalty offerings are mostly relevant. In reality, only 27% of their customers feel the same way. Don’t water your program down with rewards that your customers have no interest. Tap into what’s popular. Find ways to reward that coincide with why people visit your restaurant.

Easy signup. Even when a free burrito is on the line, many people still won’t take the time to spend a few minutes entering in their personal information. Why? Short attention spans, privacy concerns, etc. The easier the process, and the less information you require to sign up, the more likely it is you’ll get them through. Keep it simple for the best results.

Digitize your loyalty program. Speaking of an easy sign up, giving your restaurant’s loyalty program a digital makeover is a great way to give customers more flexible options to join. Hole-punch and membership cards get lost too easily, and in 2019, they just feel antiquated.

Want to set your restaurant up with an affordable, text-based loyalty program? Get started with CoGoBuzz.

Our state-of-the-art service comes packed with powerful WiFi, SMS, and Email solutions guaranteed to bring customers into your loyalty program. CoGoBuzz simplifies customer engagement down to a simple text message. Leveraging your in-store WiFi, we’ll get you more loyalty members automatically. Because customers login through WiFi with their Facebook profile, email, or phone number, we even produce fully realized customer profiles.

Click here to learn more about CoGoBuzz!

Does your restaurant have a loyalty program? What incentives do you provide to get customers interested? Let us know in the comments!