If your restaurant doesn’t already have a rewards program, now is a great time to start one! Restaurant rewards programs are a great way to create steady streams of revenue from loyal customers. They can lead to dependable revenue and a great community of “regulars”. Loyalty programs or rewards programs can lead to higher spending from customers and more regular visits, which is great for any business.
However, establishing an effective restaurant rewards program isn’t as straightforward as you might think. You need to consider the rewards that customers will consider to be worth their while without causing your business to lose money overall. Today, we’ve collected some tried-and-true and creative restaurant rewards program ideas that will help your business get customers to sign up and make purchases.
Loyalty Point Systems
One of the most common types of restaurant rewards programs is the point system. This style of loyalty program functions by having customers earn points per dollar spent at your restaurant. They can then “cash out” these points for a variety of different rewards. This system is usually integrated into your restaurant’s app, but it’s essentially a high-tech version of an analog punch card where customers rack up purchase punches to earn rewards.
You can step up your point rewards system by adding tiers. Once customers reach a certain number of points, they’ll move up to a higher tier–think bronze, silver, and gold. Setting expiration dates for points and tempting rewards for higher tiers will keep customers coming back and making more purchases.
Referrals
Referrals are another feature that your restaurant can integrate into their rewards system. When one customer refers another to your restaurant, both customers will get rewarded, usually with a coupon or other discount. Referrals usually work by having one customer–who is already signed up for your rewards program–input the email of another customer. That customer will receive an email with the coupon code, which they can use in your restaurant after signing up for your rewards program. Once they use the referral link to sign up and make their first purchase, the member who invited them will also be rewarded!
Reward Options for Restaurant Rewards Programs
Having fun and worthwhile rewards is an essential part of creating an effective rewards program. Here are some of our personal favorite options!
- Free Delivery: If your restaurant offers delivery, free services can be a great reward option.
- Birthday Discounts: Most rewards programs require customers to input their birthday when signing up. This gives you the ability to offer birthday rewards, like free desserts or appetizers.
- Secret Menus: Offer a secret menu to your most loyal rewards members. It doesn’t have to be a huge selection for it to feel like a great reward!
- Credit Rewards: Credit rewards are simple but effective. They give customers a dollar-amount credit to your restaurant that they can use toward their next purchase.
- Free Menu Items: Give rewards members bonuses like free chips and salsa, breadsticks, or ice cream.
We hope that these ideas will be useful to you as you work to develop an effective rewards program for your restaurant. Best of luck!
