As a business owner, you have plenty of decisions to make, but none are as important as those that impact the behavior of your customers. Standalone Loyalty programs can help you reach that goal. You need to do whatever it takes to keep customers coming in the door. One of the best ways to retain customers is by offering a loyalty program – no one can resist getting rewarded for purchases they are making anyway!
Don’t let all of the fancy technological terms scare you – you don’t need to invest in complicated infrastructure to get a loyalty program up and running for your customers in no time. While some may advocate for an integrated program that connects to your Point-of-Sale (POS) solution, that is not the only option.
It’s true that POS integrated loyalty programs offer convenience, but standalone loyalty programs hold a number of advantages, especially for small retailers. Following are three compelling reasons to consider a standalone loyalty program.
Keep Your Loyalty Program Simple
Your customers want a smooth shopping experience – browse, purchase and leave. Nothing fancy! As a retailer, simplicity is also desirable in any solution you adopt. Running your store is complicated enough so you want an easy-to-use loyalty program that doesn’t require you to delve into the inner-workings of your POS system.
Standalone loyalty programs, like the one offered by LoyaltyDog, have a simple interface that is intuitive and easy for you to set up and for your customers to use. Regardless of what POS you choose to use, you can keep your loyalty program separate. Customers sign up faster and tracking purchases and rewards becomes a breeze for you.
Standalone Loyalty Programs are Low Maintenance
If you are running a small retail establishment, you may not have the time to set up, learn as well as train employees how to use a more complex loyalty program that integrates with your POS. With a standalone loyalty program, the entire process can be managed online, with no (or very minimal) technical expertise needed. Generally, all you will need is your mobile phone to scan your customers’ digital loyalty card. This means there’s no need for additional hardware or software installations that need to be managed, taking up valuable time.
Standalone programs typically come with user-friendly dashboards that allow you to manage customer data and keep track of their rewards in a straightforward way. While it may be leaner on fancy visuals or analytics than those offered by some integrated products, you don’t actually need those features to reward your loyal customers and keep them happy. Standalone loyalty programs, like LoyaltyDog, provide the essential capabilities needed for a small business. You can be up-and-running quickly and easily and you’ll have lots of energy and time to spare for running your business and building relationships with your customers rather than wrestling with a complicated loyalty solution.
Low Cost of Ownership
Integrated POS loyalty programs may come at a higher cost and include additional fees or require you to purchase a pricier POS package. This can be a significant up-front investment for a small retail establishment or restaurant. Going with a standalone product, on the other hand, can often save you money. Seek out a solution that offers the features you need at a cost that’s attractive.
In addition to the up-front costs, loyalty programs have ongoing fees, which also add up to a significant expense. Most standalone loyalty programs offer tiered pricing so that you only pay for the services and features you actually use. Transparent pricing structures allow you to budget effectively and avoid hidden costs, knowing exactly what you will spend each month.
The Bottom Line
Most customers today expect to see a loyalty program offered by their favorite store. Adopting a good loyalty program can make the difference between retaining your customers or watching them go to your competitors.
But, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg nor does it have to be the most complex loyalty program with hundreds of features that you’re unlikely to use anyway. Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest and that’s where a standalone loyalty program comes in.
While there are conveniences that go along with integrated POS loyalty programs, if you are after simplicity, low maintenance, and cost savings, then definitely consider standalone programs.
With Loyalty Dog, you get the same features and stellar customer service whether you choose the standalone solution or our integrated Shopify loyalty program, EPOS Now loyalty program, or WooCommerce plug-in.
Click here to learn more about Loyalty Dog’s features.