The benefits and advantages of Ebooks which are used in the first club loyalty program

Source: http://www.successconsciousness.com

© Copyright Remez Sasson

An ebook is a book in electronic format. It is downloaded to a computer, PC, Mac, laptop, PDA or any other kind of computer, and is read on the screen. It can have numbered pages, table of contents, pictures and graphics, exactly like a printed book.

Ebooks present many benefits and advantages, and this article shows some of them.

It is very simple and easy to purchase and download ebooks through the Internet. It is exactly like purchasing any other product. The only difference is that after payment you will either be directed to a download page or receive the download link in an email. All you have to do is click on the link and the ebook will automatically download to your computer, to a folder of your own choice.

After download you don’t have to be connected to the Internet in order to read the ebook. You can stay offline. If you wish to have it printed, it is very easy. Just click on the print button in the ebook, to print it with your home printer.

So what are the benefits and advantages of ebooks?

1. Ebooks are delivered almost instantaneously. You can purchase, download and start reading them within minutes, without leaving your chair. You don’t have to go to a bookstore to buy them, neither wait for them for days, weeks and sometimes more to arrive in the mail.

2. No trees are required to manufacture paper for the pages of ebooks.

3. When you need certain information, you can get it immediately, by downloading an ebook.

4. Many ebooks are sold nowadays with bonuses, which you usually do not get with a printed book. This adds value to your purchase.

5. Ebooks take up less space. You practically don’t need any space to store them. You don’t need a library or a room for them. You can store hundreds and thousands of ebooks in your computer.

6. Ebooks are portable. You can carry a whole library of hundreds of books with you, on CD, in a laptop, notebook or any ebook reader, without worrying about their weight.

7. With today technology you can read ebooks anywhere, on the bus, train, airplane and while standing in line.

8. Ebooks are more safely stored and carried from one place to another, than ordinary books. They also withstand time more than books.

9. Ebooks can show links, for easy access to more information and related websites.

10. Ebooks are searchable. You can easily search for any information in an ebook, instead of turning page after page.

11. Ebooks can be interactive and contain audio, video and animations, which can enhance the message that the author is trying to convey.

12. As ebooks are delivered through the Internet, there are no packing and shipping expenses.

13. Ebooks can be printable, so that if you wish to read an ebook in the traditional way, you can very inexpensively print it with your home printer or at any printing shop.

14. Fonts in ebooks can be resized, making it easier to read for people with disabilities. With an additional software it is possible to turn some of the ebooks into audio books.

15. Ebooks are very easy to to sell and distribute.

16. It is very simple and easy to purchase and download an ebook. People living in big modernized cities, in a remote village in a far away country or on a small island, can equally access an ebook. It takes them the same amount of time to purchase and download an ebook, provided they have an Internet connection.

17. It is possible to purchase an ebook 24 hours a day, every day of the year, from the comfort of your own house or office. You can purchase and download an ebook, even if you are on a vacation, if you have a laptop and wireless Internet connection.

18. People are already spending a lot of time in front of their computers, so why not read and ebook, instead of doing something else?

Nowadays one can find ebooks about every possible subject, fiction and nonfiction, free and not free.

More than 2 in 5 consumers have had a negative experience with a loyalty program… that’s because they fail to engage with their consumers! Contact us now to know how the first club is the best tool to engage with your audience

source: http://www.customerthink.com

international provider of payment systems, today released the results of a
recent study of consumers in the U.S., which shows that many retail loyalty
programs leave consumers feeling underappreciated and many consumers are
enrolled in a program they don’t completely understand.

Although three out of four Americans are members of at least one retail
loyalty card program, 85 percent of members report that they haven’t heard a
single word from a loyalty program since the day they signed up.  Likewise,
81 percent say they don’t even know the benefits of the program or how/when
they will receive rewards.

“Loyalty programs have long been a logical way to leverage consumer
satisfaction, but retailers are missing the mark when it comes to reaching
out to consumers with information and offers that are relevant to them,”
said Rob Seward, senior industry marketing manager at ACI Worldwide.  “The
end result is that memberships are becoming meaningless.”

While loyalty programs are designed to build devotion, they sometimes
send mixed messages. Whether it was a reward they didn’t want (27 percent)
or a reward that was too small to take seriously (22 percent), more than two
in five consumers have had a negative experience from a loyalty program.

The survey also shows that the majority of American consumers (62
percent) join retail loyalty programs so they can get discounts on the
things they buy most. However, only about one third of Americans (36
percent) received a reward or promotion that made them come back to the
store again and one in four consumers complain they have received a reward
or promotion for something they would never buy.  Conversely, only a mere 27
percent of Americans have received a loyalty program reward or promotion
that made them feel valued as a customer.

“With this consumer dissatisfaction of program benefits, we’ve made sure
our ACI Retail Commerce Server for Rewards Management offers programs that
can be easily marketed to consumers’ specific purchasing history.  Offers
can be delivered to the recipient prior to or during their purchase event,
which maximizes exposure to the loyalty program when it matters most,”
Seward said.

“Successful retailers place the customer experience at the center of
their loyalty and rewards strategy.  ACI is making it easy for retailers to
integrate their loyalty and rewards programs so they can do what the
programs were intended – create greater consumer loyalty,” he continued.

Establishing A Customer Loyalty Program Is A Smart Move To Make !

Source: http://plusstuff.com

As any business owner will tell you, the most important factor to consider in business is your customers. Although many companies spend a huge amount of money every year on marketing for new customers, the majority of a business’s income will be generated by repeat custom. Previous research has shown that it can cost as much as ten times more to gain new customers that it does to retain old customers.

So if improving customer loyalty or creating loyal customers is such a great way to increase sales, how do you go about achieving it? Well, there are a few different routes that you could take, though most companies prefer to implement a customer loyalty program and offer customers a loyalty card. A loyalty card could either be a card that advertises a set discount on certain or all purchases, or it can be used on a points system, giving the customer a discount on certain items when they purchase a defined total value of goods.

One thing that puts off many businesses from introducing a loyalty card is the initial and ongoing costs involved; and coupled with that is the very protracted period until a return on that initial outlay is seen. However, although there could be some financial risks involved, the benefits are extremely rewarding; one particular loyalty guru, Fred Reichheld is adamant that if your business can manage to retain just 5% of customers, then you can expect to see an increase in profits by up to 50% within two years.

Another benefit to customer loyalty programs is that you can gain valuable market research through monitoring the purchasing habits of customers. Most companies will ask customers to fill in a short application form in order to be accepted into the loyalty program, this form will ask for information on names, ages, addresses, employment situations, marital status, average yearly earnings, product preference and buying habits. That information can be extremely useful if used wisely as you will be able to use the information to adapt your marketing techniques towards the demographics to which you already sell to, obviously meaning more effective and cost efficient marketing.

Ultimately, a business must be prepared for the long terms benefits that a customer loyalty program can bring. A loyalty program can cost you as much as 5% of your revenue, but if you are willing to put that much into the task of retaining customers then the likelihood is that you will see a much larger return on your investment within 2 years. Just make sure that the customer can get something out of it; nobody likes being taken for a fool and your customers are certainly not fools, so make it beneficial for them as well as you.

Tangible rewards and true value … that`s what the first club is all about !

Source: http://www.customerthink.com

The keys to a Successful Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs have been around for quite some time. One of the first real loyalty programs was S&H Green Stamps which emerged in the 1930’s. Customers would receive stamps at the checkout counter of supermarkets, department stores, and gas stations among other retailers, which could be redeemed for products in their catalog. In 1981 American Airlines launched one of the first modern day loyalty programs which was quickly replicated by competing airlines, hotels, rental car companies, credit card companies and retailers.

Despite the fact that there are over 1.8 billion loyalty program memberships in the US (according COLLOQUY, 2009), more than half (56%) of those memberships were inactive for a year or more.

There are many reasons why loyalty programs are often abandoned – but first, I think it’s important for companies to realize that loyalty is not just about points or rewards; it is about nurturing existing relationships, initiating new ones and converting first time customers into long-term customers. If done right, companies can reap the rewards of their loyalty programs.

Loyalty programs allow companies to gather and mine an abundance of relevant customer data. But if that data is not used properly – or at all – there is no point in launching or maintaining a customer loyalty program.

The use of that data needs to be used effectively to improve the customer experience and to create a customer-focused strategy. It should be used to identify customer segments, in addition to measuring and understanding customer behaviors. Only then can you effectively communicate with your customers by providing highly targeted offers, communications and rewards based on their interests and past history.

Many of the leading loyalty programs focus on increasing the frequency or amount of purchases over a specified period of time. This gives customers a reason to spend more and to keep coming back.

Developing Your Program

Simplicity – The program that you create needs to be simple and easy to understand. Customers should know immediately what is expected of them and how they can benefit from the program. Additionally, every employee should be educated on the program and should be able to easily explain the process and benefits.

Tangible Rewards – It is important to offer rewards that are obtainable. People are smarter than they appear and will know if your program is too good to be true.

Provide True Value – The rewards you offer must have a perceived value where customers truly feel like they are being rewarded. This includes the intangible benefits, in addition to the monetary rewards and discounts. Customers want to feel appreciated and many times simply recognizing them and keeping them engaged will help them to feel valued and emotionally invested in the program – and with your company.

Customer Data and Preferences – It is important to keep your customers’ information and preferences up-to-date – as this information is sure to change over time. It is critical to keep up with this information to ensure that you are targeting your communications based on this data. To do this, you can send out surveys, or ask them at the point of purchase. Ask them what matters the most or what offers are the most appealing to them. Based on the feedback you receive, you can target your promotions or adjust your program accordingly.

Men stick to one loyalty card, women shop around

Source: http://www.thewisemarketer.com

When it comes to the choices they make about loyalty programme memberships, women are much more likely than men to engage with multiple loyalty schemes, according to a survey by Air Miles Canada.

The survey found that more than 80% of Canadian women belong to more than one loyalty programme, compared to only 69% of men. In fact, one in four women (25%) said they carry at least five loyalty cards in their purse. tholla This article is copyright 2011 TheWiseMarketer.com).

According to Patrick Sojka, founder of Rewards Canada, “Women may want to make the most out of every purchase, signing up for a variety of loyalty programmes, but men tend to have more credit cards. In both cases, consumers will eventually re-assess all the cards they carry to get the most out of them.”

While both men and women acknowledged the need to reduce the amount of plastic in their wallets, their approach to spending and the cards they use are very different.

When it comes to credit cards, men are more likely to have more than one credit card (61% of men, compared to 53% of women), and one in every four men (25%) say they have too many credit cards in their wallet.

Men also appear to be more ‘hands on’ about managing their credit cards, as 42% agreed that they need to reassess the credit cards they have, compared with only 35% of women.

While two out of five men and women (40% each) say they frequently join loyalty programmes to ensure they are getting the best value out of every purchase, more than one quarter (27%) of those polled say they have too many loyalty cards in their wallet and agree that earning more points with fewer programmes would be more beneficial than earning fewer points in more programmes (82%).

Nearly two out of every five Canadians attested to having credit or department store debt, with women being more likely than men to say it affects their spending habits (74% compared to 63%). Despite this, 39% of Canadians said they don’t actually use the loyalty cards in their wallet.

Customers Want More From Their Loyalty Programs

Source: http://www.loyaltymarketing.com

Before I left for Loyalty Expo in Orlando I ran across an article talking about the statistics from an ACI Worldwide study regarding loyalty programs.  By the time I returned from the show these statistics were popping up everywhere along with a number of articles and blog posts dissecting these numbers and discussing what they mean.  Below is a sampling of the statistics I have seen floating around the internet.

• Three out of four Americans are members of at least one retail loyalty card program.

• The majority of American consumers (62 percent) join retail loyalty programs so they can get discounts on the things they buy most, yet only about one third of Americans (36 percent) received a reward or promotion that made them come back to the store again, and 1 in 4 (27 percent) of consumers complain they have received a reward or promotion for something they would never buy.

• A mere 27 percent of Americans have received a loyalty program reward or promotion that made them feel valued as a customer.

• Eighty one percent of American loyalty program members are enrolled in a program that they don’t completely understand. They don’t even know the basics, such as “What benefits do I get and when do I get them?”

• Like a disappointing date, many loyalty programs leave consumers feeling underappreciated; 85 percent of members report that they haven’t heard a single word from a loyalty program since the day they signed up.

• Whether it was a reward they didn’t want (27 percent) or a reward that was too small to take seriously (22 percent), more than 2 in 5 (44 percent) consumers have had a negative experience from a loyalty program.

These statistics undermine the benefits customer loyalty can provide for your business; particularly the statistic regarding lack of communication from the loyalty program since enrollment.  If your loyal customers give you their information why would you not use it?  Maybe it is just because I work in the loyalty marketing industry, but I see a message of opportunity below this disappointment.  I see customers who are expecting communication when they join a loyalty program.  I see customers who want rewards and discounts that are relevant to them.  Most importantly I see customers who are asking for more from the businesses and loyalty programs they belong to.  I often write and talk to prospects and others in the loyalty industry about the importance of communication to customers along with the constant evolution of existing loyalty programs.  Communication needs to be as basic as explaining the loyalty program and as in depth as soliciting your members feedback.

As I was sifting through my Google Alerts this morning I read an article posted on CBS Money Watch discussing the statistics from a customer standpoint.  The article from CBS Money Watch is actually titled “Loyalty Programs: A Pain in the Neck?”  Any business that has a loyalty program knows that this is not the result you are anticipating when you start your customer loyalty program.  A quick Google search on the statistics will lead you to a number of articles and blogs highlighting similar sentiments.  The articles and blogs written in response to these statistics need to be read by businesses and marketers alike.  We need to listen to what consumers are saying and find a way to create value in our loyalty efforts instead of confusing or failing to deliver the communications and rewards they are expecting and deserve. These statistics should push businesses to evaluate not only their loyalty programs but how they are treating their loyal customers.

Generating the right feeling in people and engaging emotions is the key

Source: http://www.thewisemarketer.com

 

It’s easy to get so involved in the intricacies and technicalities of loyalty programmes that the most important part – the human aspect – gets neglected. The technology involved is a marvellous tool – without it, loyalty programmes as we know them would not be possible. But we must remember that loyalty (and its opposite, the desire to simply walk away) are both intensely human emotions. And, unless the programme generates the right feeling in people, it won’t work.

We must also remember that humans aren’t as predictable as technology. Actions that might make one person loyal could well turn off someone else. It gets even more complicated: something that could engender loyalty in someone on one day might do the opposite on another day.

Customers are human, and loyalty is a strong emotional link…
Who is more qualified than customers to tell us what customers want, and what they don’t want? For this reason, much of the research presented here looks at the customer/supplier relationship from their side.

One thing is certain: the building of loyalty will not get any easier. While advances in technology have made loyalty programmes more effective, accurate and appealing to customers, these same advances have made it much easier for customers to switch suppliers. Comparisons of stock, prices, trading policies and delivery times and costs are now only a mouse click away from many customers. And if the item is to be sent to them, need they care from where it comes? Many suppliers are apparently equally trustworthy and reputable. It is important to have some unique property that makes you stand out from the crowd. All other things being equal, a good loyalty programme can do just that.

Brands must embrace digital to remain relevant

Source: http://www.dmnews.com

 

To maintain their relevance, brands must adapt to the unprecedented rate at which consumers are using technology, said Bonin Bough, global director of digital and social media at PepsiCo, on March 23.

Bough, delivering the keynote address at The Social Consumer: Case Studies and Roundtables 2011 event in New York, said marketers must recognize the importance of technologies such as mobile and social media in consumers’ lives and reflect that with their brands.

“Digital is at the heart of our consumers, and it needs to be at the heart of our brand,” he said. “Organizations have failed to adapt to change, and what we’re facing is a gap between where society is digitally and where organizations are.”

Bough added that marketers must close that gap by not being afraid to experiment  with digital channels for consumer engagement.

“When you look at the companies that are winning, the ones that are winning have an iterative mindset,” he said, adding that PepsiCo’s senior leadership has recognized the need for this transformation.

For example, Bough said that the Pepsi Loot app, gave the company an understanding of consumer foot traffic while rewarding consumers who checked in at participating locations. The company relayed that information to participating outlets, and offered deals on days when there was slow foot traffic, he said.

“I think digital fitness means the ability to adapt to changes in the digital environment, and the way you get digitally fit is the same way you get physically fit,” said Bough. “It takes training. It takes rigor. It takes commitment. It takes pushing yourself past the point of where you want to say no.”

The future of hotel loyalty programs

Source: http://www.travelwires.com

Airlines, Hotels, and Retailers take notice:  the popularity of loyalty programs is growing; but so is the dissatisfaction over program benefits and rewards when it comes to the high number of points or miles necessary for redemption, and rewards that consumers recognize to be valuable.

Brands must understand this new evolution of loyalty consumer demand, and a new whitepaper from the first club™ “Loyalty: Looking Forward: The State of the Loyalty Industry and its Digitized, Instant Future” provides insight into the next generation of loyalty programs.  “Loyalty: Looking Forward” focuses on the challenges of low motivation at the lower spectrum of loyalty program customers.  What can brands do to prevent flight of customers who maintain low accumulations of points?  The broad answer:  provide incremental rewards that are relevant to the consumer, easily attainable, and instantly available through digital content.

68% of consumers feel that a loyalty program can strengthen their relationship with a brand, and successful rewards programs will cater to this demand for relevant offerings by providing a wide array of instantly-available digital content. “Loyalty: Looking Forward” provides specific industry data for airlines, hotels, and retailers: information that is essential to the loyalty program manager striving to prepare for the digital reward evolution.

A look inside “Loyalty: Looking Forward”:

Digital Content

48% of consumers spend more with a company whose loyalty program offers content that is relevant to them personally.  65% have purchased digital content online.  It is imperative, therefore, that brands implement programs that offer a wide array of content that is available digitally and easily.

Airlines

The modernization of airline FFPs to include digital rewards will substantially decrease airlines’ exposure to financial liability (by encouraging the incremental redemption of miles), and will resonate with consumers who clearly desire more value from their airline loyalty program.

Hotels

In today’s online deal-shopping atmosphere, consumers are less responsive to in-hotel premium services.  The days of offering elite “status” or premium service for customer loyalty are eroding.  The new day requires an offer or promise of tangible added value: 47% of consumers are motivated to join programs that provide instant gratification.

Retailers

Offering direct discounts for loyalty program members gives retailers the ability to immediately impact consumer decisions; these discount incentives, however, are easily duplicated by competitors.  The result: price wars within the segment.  Instead, companies have market expansion opportunities via loyalty programs or promotions that engage consumers.

“Loyalty: Looking Forward” provides:

• A look at what digital content consumers are demanding.
• Explains how digital rewards provide hotels a cost effective opportunity to match these consumer demands.
• Explains how cross-promoting across brands through digital rewards will expand a retailer’s market and increase margins.

Featuring latest statistics and defining characteristics of various industry loyalty programs presented by the first club™, “Loyalty: Looking Forward” will help program managers grasp emerging loyalty trends and their digitized, instant future.  To download a copy of the whitepaper, please visit  http://www.thefirstclub.net/en/white-papers 

About the first club™

the first club™ is the first global solutions provider to present a new, better, and more effective way to offer rewards and build loyalty by delivering relevant, digital content that is instantly gratifying to today’s consumers.  the first club™ digital solutions can enhance loyalty, promotions, incentives and any type of rewards programs by offering the latest in premium content that will engage consumers worldwide, with attainable low-level rewards. Consumers can redeem rewards instantly to access the very latest in digital content in 12 languages, including millions of music tracks, mobile phone apps, games, eBooks, audio books, and soon casual games, digital magazines, movies and TV shows to engage with their favorite brands. the first club™ solutions are easily integrated into existing loyalty and reward programs, are cost-efficient and scalable to encourage low level reward redemption, increase customer loyalty and create additional revenues for brands.

The Next Wave of Legislation Affecting the Loyalty Industry?

Source: blog.colloquy.com

For months now, the FTC has been calling for a “do not track” list. Similar to the past efforts to roll out the popular “do not call” list, the FTC had been urging businesses to self-regulate their monitoring of consumer activities on the web.

But, the legislative tone on this issue just heated up. Yesterday, Senator Kerry called for governmental legislation and indicated that he is working with Senator McCain on possible wording of a Senate “privacy bill of rights”. Add that to a bill that was proposed in the House of Representatives last month and you can see that there could very well be legislation on the way that affects the broad spectrum of web commerce, direct marketing and loyalty initiatives.

I shudder to think about federal legislation or the launch of a “do not track” opt-out list for consumers. Surely, direct marketers have learned that proactive self-regulation and sound practices offering choice to our best customers is a much better path. Sadly, it could already be too late as a “privacy bill of rights” is an easy, populist banner for politicians to wave.

Whether the legislation gains steam or not, loyalty marketers should take stock now of their privacy policies to get them in shape. Here are 3 activities that you should undertake immediately to get started:

* Do you have a published privacy promise for your customers? If not, draft one immediately and make easily accessible. Clear disclosure of what data you are collecting on your customers is a must-have and the most basic of table stakes. As customers enroll in your loyalty program or CRM initiative, make sure customers have access to that policy as part of your standard terms and conditions.

* Add an opt-out – specific to tracking on-line behavior – to your existing opt-outs on receiving mail, email or call/text communications. Allowing customers the choice to decide how and when they want you to collect information and communicate with them is the customer-friendly approach that today’s business environment demands. Just be sure to explain the benefits of tracking information in an easy-to-understand manner. It is easy for customers to say “yes, protect my privacy!” when the media hypes the debate points. But, they are just as demanding in their calls for more relevance from the companies they do business with.

* Emphasize the win-win. Remember the “3 R’s” that COLLOQUY talks about regularly: Rewards, Recognition and Relevance. For loyalty marketers, that’s our ace in the hole. When customers see a meaningful value proposition, they are willing to exchange information with the companies they do business with. For 30 years, customers have opted-in to identify themselves and have their purchase transactions be tracked in exchange for tangible rewards, perks and benefits that show their loyalty is valued and communications that are tailored to their needs and preferences.