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Top 5 Digital Cafe Loyalty Card Features to Wow Your Coffee Customers

Written by 
Chloe Komesarook
 - 
October 4, 2023
Loyalty Programs
Small Business

Want to upgrade your digital cafe loyalty card? With over 90% of businesses having some form of loyalty program, it is incredibly important to find new ways to distinguish your cafe from the competition. 

The secret lies in packing your loyalty card with special features and engaging with your customers, even when they’re not in your cafe. This is a great way to increase your sales, as it’s reported that highly engaged customers will make a purchase 90% more often

But how do you keep your cafe loyalty program members engaged? Well, we’ve compiled a few features that can elevate your program to further drive retention, satisfaction, and sales. 

Gamify Your Loyalty Card 

Graphic of scratch and win prog with Stamp Me.

Let’s start with the 2023 trendsetter – gamification. Recently, gamification elements in loyalty programs have transformed the way we attract and retain loyal customers. The infusion of gaming aspects into loyalty cards has revolutionized customer engagement, ushering in a new era where fun meets loyalty. By implementing a gamification element into your cafe’s digital loyalty program, you could see a 47% increase in engagement from your customers. 

To further ignite customer excitement, brands can introduce leaderboards, enabling healthy competition among users within your digital cafe loyalty card as they strive to climb the ranks by earning more points or achievements. As well as this, challenges or quests can be designed to get customers involved in a virtual adventure, completing tasks for lucrative rewards. 

Rounding off the gamified experience, brands can offer interactive quizzes and surveys, or “Scratch & Win” games to keep customers coming back for more. 

“Scratch & Win” is a thrilling gaming experience for your cafe loyalty program, offering customers the chance to win exciting rewards with a simple scratch on their digital card. This approach not only incentivizes repeat visits but also enhances the overall customer experience. 

Communicate With Your Customers 

Communicating directly with your cafe customers is a simple yet incredibly effective way to boost engagement for your digital loyalty card app. Communication shows a direct interest and personalized experience for your customers, which will make them feel special. 

As well as this, with the average person checking their phone 144 times a day, sending direct notifications through SMS and Push Notifications will be better received and provide a subtle avenue for communication for your digital cafe loyalty card. 

Imagine greeting your customers with warm “Happy Friday!” messages accompanied by enticing offers to kickstart their day, or sending them personalized discounts such as “Hey Sarah, we know how much you love our hot cocoa! Here’s a voucher for a free one on your next visit!” for a free voucher on their favorite beverage. 

As well as this, taking advantage of communications features will allow you to keep your customers up to date and in the loop about the happenings at your cafe. Whether it updates on new operating hours or changes in your menu, keeping your customers informed is an excellent way to retain more cafe customers and create a more enriching cafe loyalty program experience. 

With the majority of individuals incessantly checking their phones, incorporating timely SMS and push notifications can serve as gentle nudges, encouraging them to visit and rediscover the cozy corners of your cafe. 

Start Your Customers Off Strong

Someone handing a gift to someone else image.
Image source: Canva

The first interaction sets the tone for your entire relationship with a customer. This holds even more weight when considering the initial experience of a new member joining your cafe's digital loyalty card program. An enticing start can solidify your place in the customer's daily routine and create an immediate sense of connection.

Launching a new member with a sign up reward can have a powerful impact. Think of it as a digital cafe handshake; a friendly welcome that says, "We're glad you're here!" Offering an immediate small reward, like a discounted beverage or a complimentary pastry, not only acknowledges them but appreciates them from the beginning. They see an immediate value for signing up and keeps them coming back for more. 

A strong start isn’t just about a one-time offer, but it’s an investment in fostering a bond that will see customers returning, stamping, and raving about your cafe time and again. And with a gesture as simple as a free stamp or a discount beverage, you’re positioning your cafe digital loyalty card for sustained success. 

Surprise & Delight Cafe-Goers with Rewards 

In the dynamic world of cafes, maintaining a persistent connection with your customers is vital. Yet, there are times when even the most loyal ones might drift away due to various reasons. 

Here is where the ingenious feature of lapsed customer re-engagement with your digital cafe loyalty card comes into play. This tool allows you to automatically reach out to customers who haven't visited or engaged with your cafe in a while. This leads to a more personalized experience for your customers, which can lead 40% of consumers to spend more with your cafe

Some examples of lapsed customer messaging could be: 

Graphic with text and icons of bell and loudspeaker.

By sending random automated messages or rewards, you not only remind them of the delightful cafe experience that awaits them but also show that their presence is valued and missed. And more importantly, who doesn’t like receiving a gift?

Utilizing platforms like Stamp Me, you can seamlessly integrate this feature into your digital cafe loyalty card, creating an atmosphere where joy and rewards are not just confined to planned promotions, but sporadically sprinkle the customer’s journey, making each interaction with your cafe a cherished and exciting experience. 

Celebrate Them on Their Birthday

Graphic of phone screen with icons for birthday club.

As a cafe owner, you know the importance of making your customers feel special. One way to improve your cafe loyalty card is through celebrating them on their birthday. 

Introducing a Birthday Club in your loyalty program not only serves as a delightful surprise but also goes a long way in making your customers feel valued and special. This helps to create an emotional connection between your cafe and your customers, which can lead to a higher lifetime value and more referrals. 

Customers with an emotional relationship with a brand have a 306% higher lifetime value and are 71% more likely to spread the word to friends

At the heart of this initiative is the effort to infuse a personalized touch into your customer’s special day. Through the Birthday Club on your digital cafe loyalty card, you can automate the process of sending heartfelt messages or exclusive rewards directly to the members on their birthdays. 

For instance, with a Birthday Club, your customers can wake up to a warm birthday notification paired with a voucher for a complimentary cup of their favorite beverage or a special discount. This kind of personalized engagement elevates their experience from a mere transaction to a more nurturing and celebratory interaction. 

Case in Point: 

At the heart of Melbourne’s vibrant coffee scene, Ottimo Coffee stands distinct, marrying quality and sustainability with a personal touch. Their use of the Stamp Me Birthday Club feature in their coffee shop digital loyalty card takes customer appreciation to a new level, offering personalized birthday greetings and complimentary coffee vouchers, directly through the app. This not only adds a sprinkle of excitement to each customer’s special day but also fosters a tighter community for Ottimo Coffee. Read more about their loyalty journey here

How You Can Implement These Features With Stamp Me 

Implementing transformative features into your cafe digital loyalty card doesn’t have to be a difficult process. It can be incredibly seamless and hassle-free with the help from the right partner. Enter Stamp Me, a dynamic platform that is designed to help cafes like yours to elevate their customer engagement strategies effectively. 

With its user-friendly interface and robust functionalities, Stamp Me is the ultimate digital loyalty stamp card

But it’s not just a tool: it’s an extension of your cafe’s commitment to offering a delightful and personalized customer journey. From setting up a gamified loyalty system with thrilling features such as “Scratch & Win” to crafting personalized communication strategies, Stamp Me stands as a comprehensive coffee shop digital loyalty card. 

Graphic with features of Stamp Me benefits.

As well as this, the implementation process is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, providing you with an easy-to-navigate platform where you can track customer engagement levels, analyze data, and continuously refine your strategies to achieve the best results. 

While simplicity is key, that doesn’t stop Stamp Me from equipping your cafe with a range of savvy features: 

  • Easy signup process for your cafe customers
  • No signup fees or messy integrations for your cafe 
  • Easily manage your loyalty program from the Stamp Me Merchant Console
  • Update customers on new menu additions, loyalty progress, or offer a complimentary pastry — all seamlessly with Stamp Me’s SMS and push notifications
  • Access to valuable cafe customer data and insights 
  • CRM integration capabilities for further communication capabilities 
  • A range of engagement campaigns including Scratch & Win and Re-lapsed customers to further drive engagement 

And much more. 

Stamp Me has become a go-to digital cafe loyalty card app in 80 countries; helping cafes boost customer loyalty and satisfaction across the globe. And yours could be next

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