Author: Kick Writers

Kick Writers are a crew of loyalty lovers and savvy Shopkickers fueled by caffeine and curiosity. From sharing the best ways to rack up kicks to smart shopping hacks, they’ve covered it all — and they’re on a mission to make earning rewards as fun as it is easy.

Shop Amazon Prime Day Deals with Shopkick

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Are you addicted to Amazon Prime? I signed up for a subscription a year ago, and I have been hooked ever since. I love the convenience of shopping online with Amazon, placing orders for the items I need without fear I’ll pay a hefty shipping charge (you never pay for two-day shipping!), and knowing my purchases will be dropped off on my doorstep within two days. Sometimes, I even happen upon a box the very next day! Plus, when you’re a member, you receive access to Amazon Prime Day, which kicks off TODAY!

If you are not yet an Amazon Prime member, I highly suggest jumping onboard right now. Better yet, sign up for your first year of Amazon Prime with Shopkick! When you do, you will immediately earn a $20 Amazon gift card you can use during a future shopping trip. Plus, you will be able to access all of the Prime Day deals happening today through 11:59 p.m. PST tomorrow, July 16.  

Not only can you earn a gift card for signing up for Amazon Prime with Shopkick, but you can also earn plenty of additional kicks when you shop the sale using the app. Here’s how:

Amazon Devices

Amazon Kindles are wonderful because you have access to a never ending supply of books right at your fingertips. If you’re a member of your local library, you can also download books right to your Kindle from your library’s app. It’s wonderful, and it makes traveling even more enjoyable because you can pack light with one device. Shop for a new Kindle through Amazon Devices and SAVE during Prime Day. Plus, you will earn extra kicks!

Amazon Fashion

Take a look at Amazon Fashion while you’re perusing all of the sales! Amazon has their own fashion brands, such as Lark & Ro, Mae, Ella Moon, and Arabella. Expect to find everything from comfortable basics and active wear to outfits perfect to wear to work. Similar to Amazon Devices, you will earn kicks when you shop Amazon Fashion brands through your Shopkick app!

Amazon Subscriptions

Have you tried Audible? It’s part of Amazon Subscriptions, and it’s a complete library of audiobooks. If you’re trying to read more books each month, Audible may be a great choice for you because you can listen on the go or while you’re relaxing on the beach. When you sign up for an Audible Gold membership with Shopkick, you will save. You can also check out Amazon Music Unlimited and Kindle Unlimited memberships.

Amazon Home

Amazon Home is always stocked with the latest finds for your home, whether you’re searching for décor or appliances. Expect to save money because Amazon always has some of the best deals. When you shop via your Shopkick app you will also earn kicks toward a gift card, which feels like getting cash back on your purchases.

 Happy Prime Day shopping, Shopkickers! Let us know your shopping strategy on Facebook.

How to retain customers in retail: 4 strategies to improve retention

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How to retain customers in retail: 4 strategies to improve retention

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Learning how to retain customers in retail is critical as about 65% of a company’s business comes from existing customers. Driving revenue requires a focus on getting customers through the doors, with an emphasis on encouraging them to come back again and again. Many consumers have specific retailers that they frequent for their shopping needs, and they often choose them because of the customer experience they provide. These retailers establish strong connections with consumers that keep them returning to the store time and time again.

A business in the U.S. loses 15% of its customer base per year. Often, these losses come not because the retailer did anything wrong, but because one of their competitors did something better. Leveraging tools like personalization, incentives, activism, and exclusivity in marketing can help to improve retention rates by creating deeper connections with consumers.

The Most Common Methods for How to Retain Customers in Retail

Customer retention in retail requires a consistent, ongoing effort. Customers may begin to explore other options if they believe a retailer has become indifferent to them, so it’s crucial for retailers to avoid this. The most common ways brands retain their customers include:

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Personalization:

Data and technology provide brands with several opportunities to truly personalize the marketing message. Retailers and brands can make recommendations based on a consumer’s purchase history, habits, and personal details. This can drive interest in products and create a deeper connection.

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Incentives:

Incentives like rewards points and discounts make consumers feel appreciated for their patronage. These incentives are low-cost to deliver and can create moments that inspire affinity for a retailer or brand.

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Exclusivity:

Consumers who feel like they’re receiving an exclusive or special benefit from a retailer creates a better connection as these consumers feel they’re getting a VIP experience. Meanwhile, consumers who don’t receive the exclusive benefit are driven to seek that status due to a fear of missing out.

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Corporate responsibility:

Socially conscious marketing helps retailers give their brand personality. When making a commitment to offer aid to those in need, protect the environment, or focus on sustainability, brands are also connecting with consumers who share these values. This value alignment can easily drive repeat business for a brand while positively impacting society.

These four methods offer retailers a path to creating ongoing relationships with the consumers they serve. As competition both online and in brick-and-mortar locations increases, these tactics will be necessary to maintain market share and convert loyalty to sales.  

1. Use Data to Personalize the Consumer Experience

Data is a great way to connect with new customers, but it’s even more powerful when leveraged to drive repeat sales. This is because the brand already has access to the consumer’s preferences, shopping habits, and purchase history—all of which can be used to target consumers.

One common tactic in reaching out to consumers based on their prior retail or brand interactions is remarketing. In remarketing, brands and retailers target consumers who have visited their website before but may not have made a purchase. The website collects data from the consumer which can be used to create a unique identifier for that individual. Then, brands and retailers can create ads that specifically focus on the items consumers purchased or viewed in the past. The results are extremely powerful. In fact, one European auto parts retailer reported a 161% rise in conversion rates by implementing a remarketing campaign, while also reducing their overall programmatic costs.

The high conversion is a result of leveraging warm leads and repeat customers. Marketers know it’s much easier to convert a consumer to sale if they are already familiar with the product or retailer. By using this strategy along with existing consumer data, marketers can personalize the message and keep customers coming back.

2. Leverage Exclusivity With Membership-Based Incentives

Exclusivity triggers a psychological need in consumers and is an effective marketing technique. Consumers want to believe they’re within an inner circle, or receiving benefits that others aren’t. In some cases, consumers are even willing to pay a premium to enjoy this exclusivity.

Amazon Prime is an excellent example of exclusivity in marketing. By paying an estimated $119 per year, consumers enjoy the benefits of free shipping, access to digital content, exclusive sales and other incentives. More than 62% of Amazon customers are members of Amazon Prime. In addition, Prime members spend nearly double what their non-Prime counterparts spend, averaging about $1,300 per year. This program is probably one of the most popular retailer-specific rewards programs in the world. Amazon managed this by:

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Providing real value:

Amazon Prime members have access to several exclusive benefits. The free shipping option alone will easily pay for itself after only a few purchases. In addition, these individuals gain access to music, movies, and television shows that they’d have to pay for otherwise, which makes this an appealing platform even for those who don’t do a lot of online shopping.

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Offering flexible membership:

While the $119 price tag may be a little steep for some consumers, they offer members the option to pay on a monthly basis, which makes the cost less intimidating. They also offer some specific programs that individuals can take part in, like Amazon Student, which provides additional discounts.

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Holding annual events:

One annual event that provides Prime with its biggest boost in participation is Prime Day. Every year, the retailer holds a single day of deals targeted at Prime customers which are announced on social media. In 2018, the retailer reported over 100 million products sold following the 36-hour event.

Retailers and brands that wish to inspire loyalty through exclusivity should look to Amazon’s Prime program as an example of how a retailer rewards program should work. By offering added value to the shopping experience, Amazon inspires consumers to return to their online store and enjoy the exclusive benefits their membership provides. 

3. Use Third-Party Mobile Rewards to Reach New Customers

Sometimes, retailers and brands don’t have their own in-house loyalty programs. Either they don’t have the resources to create or manage one, or they’re unable to see how a loyalty program would significantly benefit their business. In that case, retailers and brands turn to third-party options like Shopkick to incentivize consumers and reward them for shopping.

When eBay wanted to expand its presence and drive sales specifically in the mobile commerce space, the online retailer decided to contact Shopkick. Through the Shopkick app, eBay rewarded consumers for viewing its mobile site and interacting with products. Additionally, Shopkick showcased some of eBay’s top products to drive awareness, and provided kicks (rewards points) to consumers for taking actions like installing eBay’s mobile app or purchasing products. Overall, eBay saw a 6% app install rate and a 62% increase in new audience visits.
Working with a third-party app like Shopkick allows brands and retailers to reach new consumers, as these apps come with built-in databases of highly engaged users. The incentives encourage consumers to interact with products and establish positive brand and retailer affinity. In addition, these mobile rewards provide a better return than standard discounts and sales, as they do not require the retailer to immediately take a loss on the product, or dilute margins. Instead, these incentives are fueled by rewards points that consumers can later redeem for gift cards.  

4. Align With Customers Through a Cause

Retailers can reach their target markets by aligning themselves with causes that are important to the consumers they serve. Sharing a passion for protecting the environment, improving society, or helping those in need can enhance a brands reputation and build a sense of humanity. Whole Foods is one retailer that has used its activism to align with its target market.

Whole Foods’ Environmental Stewardship initiative focuses on leading the way when it comes to green initiatives. To support this, they’ve taken steps to eliminate food waste, implemented solar energy programs at 60 of their stores, rolled out a fleet of electric delivery vehicles, and developed green building standards for locations. All of these efforts solidify Whole Foods as a leader in “going green,” and for this reason, consumers who consider this a priority choose to shop with them. Whole Foods’ cause-based marketing works because it:

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Provides real results:

When sharing details regarding an activism program, it’s important to show real results and statistics that indicate the company is making progress. When sharing its results, Whole Foods specifically highlights the efforts they’ve taken to improve the environment and reach their sustainability goals. This underlines that the campaign isn’t just a marketing initiative; it’s about making a real difference in ways that matter.

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Gets consumers involved:

Individuals who follow brands or retailers because of their activism are always looking for new ways to contribute. By providing initiatives that help people get involved on a personal level, retailers can spread the message and widen their efforts. Whole Foods offers tips and tricks for individuals who want to reduce their carbon footprint and get involved in sustainability efforts in realistic, everyday ways. This helps the company align the individual consumer to their cause.

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Offers support at a community level:

Focusing on local communities is important in sharing activism efforts, as individuals want to see how these programs impact them directly. Whole Foods works with local organic producers and farms to further their sustainability efforts and reduce their carbon footprint. This is beneficial for the communities they serve which helps to drive interest in their stores.

Activism-based marketing must come from a genuine place to create a connection with consumers. When the message is real, actionable, and effective, consumers are far more likely to align themselves with a brand or retailer and make future purchases with them.
Options for retaining customers in retail should center on connecting with them through added value. Apps and programs that offer incentives can help to build customer affinity and expand the brand or retailer’s reach to new consumers. Meanwhile, cause-based marketing aligns those consumers with companies that support the things that are important to them. The ability to retain customers is crucial in retail which is why brands should consider proven options in building mutually beneficial relationships.  
Shopkick aids our partners when they’re looking at options for how to retain customers in retail by providing a unique and engaging shopping app. To see how our program has helped other brands and retailers, review some of our success stories. 
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How to Take 10,000 Steps with Shopkick

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Do you have a step goal? Do you try to reach it daily? Rumor has it, we’re supposed to reach 10,000 steps per day, which is equivalent to just under five miles. That’s quite a walk! If you live in a city and walk from place-to-place or you’re a runner, it likely isn’t terribly difficult for you to reach that milestone. However, it can present a challenge for those of us who don’t live in cities or run and work while sitting down during the week. With that in mind, I have discovered three 10,000 step hacks thanks to our Shopkick community on Facebook. A hint? Scan everything! Let’s get into the details.

1. Complete a Scan Scavenger Hunt

We asked fellow Shopkickers why they enjoy earning kicks, and many were quick to note the app helps them get their steps in! The top way our users are reaching 10,000 steps per day is by taking a walk and participating in their own scan scavenger hunts while shopping in-stores. To join in on the 10K step fun, simply open your Shopkick app when you walk into stores, like Walmart and Target, where scans are plentiful. Then try to scan every item on the scan list! You will find you will take a tour of the store as you attempt to find each item, which means you will take plenty of steps.

2. Run all of your errands in one day

Another great way to get your 10,000 steps in is to save all of your errands for one day. I frequently do this during the summer because I find I would rather skip single errands in favor of creating more time to spend by the pool or at the beach. In the span of a few hours on Saturday or Sunday, I can pick up a birthday gift at the mall (and do an extra lap to clock even more steps!), stop by Best Buy to purchase new headphones (and earn kicks with my QR code!), stroll through Target (and earn kicks for scanning and submitting my receipt!), and stock up on my weekly groceries. It’s a win all around!

3. Head to the mall

Not only is the mall a great place to go to earn kicks at stores like H&M, Harry & David, and Yankee Candle, but it’s also one of the best places to go to walk. The mall is like a more fun version of a track: it’s air conditioned, completely protected from the elements of the outdoors, and there’s plenty to see to keep your mind occupied if you’re not a huge fan of exercise. Think about inviting friends along, so you can catch up while you stroll (and earn kicks!). You could also pop in earbuds, sign up for Audible or Music Unlimited through Amazon Subscriptions on your app, and listen to either while you walk.

Reaching 10,000 steps per day no longer has to feel like a stretch, especially if you make your steps fun and engaging with Shopkick! Make sure you’re part of our Facebook community for even more tips.

The top 5 most effective advertising techniques

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The top 5 most effective advertising techniques

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The most effective advertising techniques for CPG brands create top-of-mind awareness when the consumer is in the store. By establishing personal and engaging connections, brands can stay at the top of consumers minds when they discover a need for a product. These techniques are often technology-focused, yet they provide a human-centric experience that gives a brand personality.

Technology provides brands with several opportunities to create messages that resonate with consumers. Mobile video, in-store apps, programmatic marketing, and emerging platforms offer ways to target the right individuals as they’re in a purchase mindset and drive them to specific products in the store. These five effective marketing techniques help brands connect with consumers in ways that increase interest and drive sales.

#1: Branded Storytelling on Social Media

Creating a compelling narrative for a campaign can help humanize a brand, and keep it top-of-mind for consumers when it comes time to shop. Like in any story, these campaigns need characters, a plotline, and a satisfying ending to keep consumers intrigued with the premise. Most importantly, these stories need an emotional component that drives affinity.

Purina provides an excellent example of the effectiveness of branded storytelling with their  Service Dog Salute, in which they set a goal to raise $500,000 to support Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. To engage consumers, Purina provided a price matching option to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of various products. 

To drive awareness, Purina partnered with BuzzFeed on a content campaign that told the stories of real armed forces veterans, and the service dogs that supported them. The touching stories shared how each pair found each other, and included details of their lives together. By telling the stories of these veterans and their pets in a real and engaging way, Purina was easily able to drive campaign interest and reach its goals.
The cleverest tactic in Purina’s strategy was involving real people. This is a critical component of any charitable campaign, as the consumer wants to see who they’re helping when they spend their money or donate. By telling the true stories of these veterans and featuring them in their advertising, Purina created a human connection which is crucial in brand storytelling.

#2: Programmatic Marketing Through the Internet

Programmatic marketing is an absolute must for any marketer that wants to keep pace with the rapidly moving digital landscape. Most marketers recognize this trend, as it’s estimated that programmatic ad spend will reach $69 billion by 2020, and these purchases will account for over 90% of the digital ad spend category. Marketers choose programmatic because it offers a wide range of benefits, including:

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Mass marketing access:

Google gets an estimated 40,000 searches per second, which presents a lot of potential for ad buys. Whether brands are paying to be in the sponsored section of the search results or gaining real estate in the sidebar of a popular website, these numbers are promising. Through programmatic marketing, brands can reach millions of consumers with a single search.

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Targeting potential:

Programmatic marketing offers the opportunity to pick and choose who sees certain ads, meaning that brands can control the delivery of the message to ensure that it’s viewed by the most engaged audiences. Marketers can break the delivery down by categories such as gender, interest, and socioeconomic status to ensure they only reach those most likely to purchase their products.

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Streamlined ad buying and tracking:

Prior to programmatic marketing, marketers had to request proposals, negotiate prices, and manually insert advertisements. All of this took time and money. Additionally, they had to follow up to ensure there was a reasonable ROI on their purchases, and that they didn’t waste money on the wrong platforms. With today’s tools, marketers can manage their payments and automatically purchase ads based on digital bidding options. They can also access at-a-glance reviews of ROI and monitor for issues like ad fraud in reporting.

Programmatic ad buys give marketers the best of both worlds. They can reach mass audiences but only pay for views where users are engaged in their ads. As such, it’s incredibly important that brands look for ways to leverage programmatic marketing across the internet to improve brand recognition and conversion.

#3: In-Store Marketing via Mobile Apps

One of the most effective advertising techniques is in-store marketing that encourages consumers to engage with products. With a mobile shopping app, like Shopkick, consumers are incentivized to scan product UPCs in exchange for rewards points (or kicks). This drives shoppers to seek out products at-shelf, which significantly increases purchase potential.

This was something Kellogg’s learned when they chose to contact Shopkick to assist in a new product launch. The brand was rolling out its Nutri-Grain Bakery Delights Crumb Cakes and wanted a way to boost awareness of this new product, and stay top of mind by engaging with consumers along the entire path to purchase. Shopkick first built pre-shop consideration and educated consumers about the new product with engaging in-app content. In-store, Shopkick incentivized shoppers to interact with, and ultimately purchase, the featured product by rewarding them throughout their shopping trip. This integration of digital and physical experiences provided strong results for the brand. Overall, they saw a 35% purchase conversion rate and a 5 to 1 ROI through this strategy.
In-store engagement is a particularly strong tactic for a new product launch as it gets consumers to seek out the product in the store. Handling the product creates a sense of ownership which drives them to buy. Rewards then offer greater brand affinity that can make them a loyal purchaser down the road.

#4: Partnering With Emerging Voice Platforms

The voice ordering market is expected to reach $40 billion in sales value by 2022, meaning now is a wise time to optimize product listings for audio content. Smart speakers are the primary drivers of this use, but other wearables like smartwatches or even smart appliances will likely play key roles in the growth of this market. 

Brands should look to the providers of voice platforms to enhance their marketing potential before these platforms become saturated. Increasing brand awareness and reputation on voice search platforms is crucial, as product reviews will drive the search results in these mediums. Some brands have even chosen to roll out voice-centric apps to increase recognition in this space. 

For example, Campbell’s added in an Alexa skill to their Campbell’s Kitchen app to optimize on the growing voice trend. Consumers attempting to follow an online recipe are often challenged by using screens, as their hands are full and scrolling on a screen is not conducive to preparing a meal. By making recipe instructions hands-free with voice interaction, Campbell’s improved the customer experience and heightened the impression of their brand. That positive affinity carries over to their reviews, which increases their visibility in the search results.
Now is the time for brands to use voice to stand out through digital marketing. As these platforms are still emerging, they’re not yet saturated, meaning brands have several opportunities to gain market share as the voice market grows.

#5: Co-branding to Reach Larger Audiences

Some products naturally complement each other. Whether it’s chips and salsa, shampoo and conditioner, or sports games and beer, there’s a natural segue that brands should take advantage of. Cross promotions may involve teaming two of a brand’s existing products together, or even crossing paradigms and working with an entirely new partner. An example of this strategy can be seen in Budweiser’s partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

The partnership involved an AR experience tied to live games. During these games, attendees could use their smartphones to play virtual basketball games only available by scanning the scoreboard. Consumers at home could also enjoy the exclusive event by scanning Budweiser specific merchandise, providing them with a similar in-game experience. The branded opportunity helped engage consumers in the Budweiser brand and provided added value for game attendees.
Cross-branding doesn’t need to occur on a major AR level, either. Brands can simply place products next to each other on store shelves, or offer common partnering options via e-commerce platforms. The key is discovering these trends when they’re still emerging and then capitalizing on them in time to reach consumers.

In-House Creation or Partnerships for the Most Effective Advertising Techniques

When leveraging the most effective advertising techniques for CPG brands, a mix of in-house development and digital partnerships will be critical. Brands should consider what they’re willing to develop on their own, and then use strategic mobile app partnerships to fill the gap.

Target serves as a prime example of this kind of mix. The retailer develops its in-house apps to improve the customer experience, such as augmented reality apps to help consumers pick furniture and cosmetics. They also provide e-commerce platforms for consumers who prefer to shop online, and blur the line by allowing those consumers to use those e-commerce apps to schedule curb or in-store pickup of orders. The retailer uses digital options to improve its supply chain, enhance customer service, and supplement in-store shopping.

At the same time, Target also participates in third-party rewards programs to reach consumers who might not use the brands other services. This relationship is reciprocal, as the rewards program encourages consumers to visit Target, both through rewards they get for walking through the door, and gift cards they can earn by gathering kicks. The partnership also creates a virtual greeting that encourages users of the app to visit the store.

For brands that find it too expensive to manage their own rewards, third-party shopping apps provide a solution. As CPG brands often can’t connect their rewards to a store’s POS system, they may suffer from limited participation, as consumers don’t want to carry additional cards or enter details on websites later. Third-party apps cut out the barriers that hinder participation by allowing consumers to use their smartphones in the store to gain rewards.

The most effective advertising techniques leverage both available and emerging options in technology to improve the customer experience. Brands can provide consumers with rewards, reach larger audiences, and improve their branded experience overall by leveraging mobile marketing. There are many effective advertising techniques brands can use to gain market share, but these five represent the best to implement with the highest potential ROI.   

Shopkick offers our partners the most effective advertising techniques by providing a mobile app that engages consumers in the shopping aisle. Our success stories provide several examples of how brands best use our mobile app to connect with consumers. 
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