Who do you reward?
Regular customers who visit often, new customers you want to bring back, or members who pay for session packages.
Loyalty program: how to start one for your business
A loyalty program rewards customers who come back with points, stamps, discounts or membership benefits. Choose a model, set clear rules and give customers a card they always have with them, on their phone.
What is a loyalty program?
A loyalty program (also called a customer loyalty scheme) is a set of rules under which customers earn a reward for coming back. Customers collect points, stamps or sessions on a card, and you learn who your regular customers are and how often they visit.
Before you choose a model, answer three questions:
What does the customer get?
A free product, a discount, an extra session or a special benefit. The reward should be worth the effort for the customer and affordable for you.
How do you track progress?
With stamps on paper, manual records, or a digital card that instantly shows points, sessions and the expiry date.
Types of loyalty programs
Choose a model a customer understands in a few seconds at the till. For a small business, a simple model usually works better than a complex one.
Points program
Customers earn points for purchases or the amount spent and exchange them for a reward or discount.
Example: a drugstore or pharmacy gives points for every purchase, and a set number of points unlocks a discount.
Stamp card
Every visit or purchase earns a stamp. When the card is full, the customer gets a reward.
Example: a café gives every tenth coffee free.
Membership card
Customers pay a membership fee for a number of sessions or a period. The card shows the remaining sessions and the expiry date.
Example: a gym or yoga studio sells a package of 16 sessions a month.
Permanent discount and tiers
Members get a permanent discount, and higher tiers unlock bigger benefits as spending grows.
Example: a beauty salon gives members a permanent discount and an extra benefit to its most loyal customers.
How to start a loyalty program in six steps
Order matters: the goal sets the model, and the model sets the reward, the card and how it is checked.
Set the program goal
Do you want more frequent visits, a higher average purchase or more session packages sold? One main goal makes it easier to choose a model and measure results later.
Choose the model
Points, stamps, membership or a permanent discount. Stamps often suit a café, a membership card suits a gym, and points suit a shop.
Set the reward and rules
Write down what the customer gets, after how many purchases or visits, and whether the reward expires. The rules should fit in two short sentences.
Choose the card
A paper, plastic or digital card on the phone. Your choice decides printing costs, how progress is tracked and what happens when a customer forgets the card.
Prepare your staff
Decide who checks the card, how a visit or point is recorded and how the reward is given. Staff should be able to explain the program in one sentence.
Announce the program and measure results
Announce the program at the till, in your venue and on social media. After a month, compare the number of active cards and visits with the goal from step one.
Paper, plastic or digital loyalty card?
The card is the part of the program customers see every time. Here is how they differ in day-to-day use.
| Criterion | Paper or plastic card | Digital card in the TapTapp app |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | Printing and reordering cards. | No printing or reordering of cards. |
| Customer forgets the card | The benefit is lost or recorded by hand. | The card is on the phone the customer carries. |
| Tracking progress | Stamps on the card or manual records. | Points, sessions and the expiry date are visible instantly, to the customer and to you. |
| Checking at the till | Staff look at the card or add a stamp. | Authorised staff validate the card with a mobile phone. |
| Communication with customers | The card has no messaging channel. | Messages about sessions, events and offers in the app. |
| Changing the design | A new design means a new print run. | Change the text, colours and branding at any time. |
| Reports | Counting stamps and records by hand. | Monthly or custom reports in PDF, Word or Excel format, by agreement. |
A loyalty program in the TapTapp app
TapTapp is an app for digital loyalty cards, memberships and tickets. Your program's card lives on the customer's phone:
- A branded card with your program's text, colours and design, with multiple designs for different programs.
- Customers keep the card in the free app for iPhone, Android and Huawei and show its code at the till.
- Authorised staff validate the card with a mobile phone.
- Points, rewards, sessions and the expiry date are visible in real time, for supported cards.
- Messages to users about sessions, events and offers through the app.
- Monthly or custom reports in PDF, Word or Excel format, by agreement.
- Your card is visible to all TapTapp app users, not only your existing customers.
FAQ
Loyalty program questions
Answers for businesses considering digital loyalty cards.
How much does a loyalty program in the TapTapp app cost?
The price depends on the type of program and the plan. Business programs for loyalty cards, memberships and tickets have separate pricing, and you confirm the scope with the TapTapp team. Storing and using cards in the app is free for your customers.
See pricingDo customers need to install the app?
Yes. Customers keep your card in the free TapTapp app for iPhone, Android and Huawei phones and show its code at the till.
See how cards workHow do staff check a customer's card?
In your business account, assign staff the validator role. Authorised staff then check the card with a mobile phone, and you see the card's status and last use in one place.
Can I change the card design later?
Yes. You can change the card's text, colours and branding at any time, without reprinting. You can also have several cards with your own design for different programs.
Can TapTapp connect to our existing system?
You can choose self-service setup or arrange integration with your existing infrastructure. Confirm your integration, reporting and communication requirements with the TapTapp team for your program.
Send an enquiryWhat if we want our own loyalty program app?
The TapTapp team builds custom web and mobile apps for loyalty programs, membership cards and digital tickets.
Custom app developmentReady to start a loyalty program?
Send a short description of your business and the type of card you want. The TapTapp team then confirms the scope, validation, reports and communication for your case.
