cash back Archives

3 best practices for retailers expanding from online to in-store

Posted on December 21, 2021 by shopkick

As the world reopens, retailers are focused on safely welcoming back customers and resetting operations. Many brands, including digital pure plays, are eyeing new customer journeys and new business models.

For example, Fabletics and Amazon are taking advantage of retail real estate vacancies and launching or expanding their physical presence. To the surprise of many pundits, physical store expansion plans continue to outpace closures. According to U.S. store tracking by Coresight Research, national retailers have announced 3,199 store openings and 2,548 closures year-to date.

The evolution of e-commerce brands to omnichannel retailers has been measured. Many are new to store operations and the realities of in-person experiential retail. This will demand they form new capabilities and competencies that meet the customer wherever they are and on their terms.

Let’s explore several best practices for success as retailers adjust to the real world.

Understanding consumer expectations

Shopping pathways and buying psychology vary dramatically by customer journey. For many, shopping is a social connection and an interpersonal experience. At the same time, online shopping may offer more convenience; discovering products while browsing is a key factor that brings consumers in store.

Before the pandemic in the 2019 Oracle Retail consumer study, 36% of consumers ranked discovery as a space to experiment and try new products and a top priority on their shopping journey. Also, as state restrictions lift, consumers return to stores, and brick-and-mortars need to have fully stocked inventory ready for the influx. If retailers can’t provide, shoppers will take their wallets elsewhere. According to a 2021 Oracle Retail study, 34% of respondents said out-of-stock merchandise topped their list for a bad shopping experience, 33% said they weren’t willing to wait for an item to be back in stock before trying another brand, and 27% will go to another retailer.

Even as they return to stores, shoppers are still focused on health and safety. Today’s consumers demand a clean and healthy environment while on their shopping journeys. This isn’t an issue that e-commerce companies will have encountered online; however, this will need to be a top priority for brands looking to pivot. According to the same 2021 Oracle study, 80% of shoppers are ready to shop in a retail store as long as safety precautions are in place (e.g., wearing a mask, cleaning procedures, etc.), with 28% of shoppers reporting a lack of social distancing/unclean environment would result in a bad shopping experience.

Incorporating retail technology

As digital brands are extending their operations to the main street, they bring a wealth of technology and insights. e-commerce offers brands countless ways to personalize the shopping experience and provide convenience to consumers. Direct to consumer brands and pureplay retailers will need to figure out how to translate these strategies to real life in the offline world. Digital brands looking to pivot will need to reimagine how their online strategy will work in-store. Utilizing the right technology is vital, and choosing a robust POS and retail platform is integral to successful in-store operations. It is not as simple as adding a cash drawer to your website and hoping it all goes well.

No matter the channel, customers want convenience in their shopping experience. As consumers will far outnumber store associates, retailers looking to pivot will need to explore innovative options, such as self-checkout, BOPIS, pay-by-link, pay-by-QR code, and other tech-forward ways getting customers out the door.

Instead of spikes in web traffic, new brick-and-mortar retailers will need to anticipate the ebbs and flows of in-store demand. These retailers should consider demand forecasting technology to predict everyday traffic and get ahead of the busy end-of-year holiday season. They will need a system that utilizes next-generation retail science and exception-driven processes to predict demand accurately.

Upgrading with staff training

As new brick-and-mortar stores open, retailers will naturally need to hire and train new staff to keep up. However, for the road ahead, staff training will need to go beyond the basics and be integral to physical stores’ success. As vaccinations usher in return to normalcy for retail, store associates who came aboard during the pandemic will need to adapt to growing foot traffic and the associated demands.

Customers will want to know where every product is, what discounts are available, if more stock is in the back, and which check-out lane is the quickest. They’ll expect the associate to handle every inquiry and meet every demand quickly. For example, 44% of consumers ranked unhelpful staff as defining a bad shopping experience, which shows how imperative knowledgeable staff is, per the 2021 study.

Store associates will need to be well-equipped to handle all expectations and questions that come their way. Retailers moving from online to the real world can help bridge the gap by integrating mobile devices or tablets for associates to use, putting information at their fingertips. These devices can help staff locate items and inventory, highlight customer profiles and suggestions to help associates provide better service, and can even serve as the point of sale for check out. Training staff for this experience will be imperative so associates can make the most of in-store technologies and leverage them to provide an excellent customer service experience.

Breaking into brick-and-mortar can be an exciting next step for e-commerce brands, but it requires proper planning and preparation. Customers, and their needs, are different in each arena, and retailers will need to understand how to cater to the two. As digital retailers step into the real world, ultimately, they will need to anticipate the behaviors and demands of in-store consumers, incorporate technology to offer a more seamless experience, and train their staff adequately to make the entire customer journey worthwhile. With the world moving towards reopening, it’s time to step into (or back into) the real world and prepare for the future of retail.

Millennials and Brand Loyalty

Posted on December 21, 2021 by shopkick

Why is brand loyalty important? For any business, large or small, customers matter. One of the main goals for many it to ensure customers continually come back for product or service. That’s why building brand loyalty is of the utmost importance. While there are hurdles to get any age group to become brand loyal, Millennials can be a complicated group to convince to commit. Here are some tips on how to increase brand loyalty among the age demographic.

Get to Know Millennials

Compared to Baby Boomers, you may have the perception that Millennials go rogue on brands. While they are more likely to experiment with different businesses, Millennials actually want to be brand loyal. In fact, they’re 1.75x more likely than Boomers to say they’d like to be brand-loyal. So what’s stopping them?

Income

One factor is income. It may come as no surprise that as household income increases, so does the likelihood of loyalty. In a survey by Facebook IQ, people surveyed who report a household income of $150,000 or more are 32% more likely to be loyal than those who report a household income of under $35,000. A higher income brings flexibility in choices. With more money, you have the ability to pick companies that match your values, meet your needs, and deliver on promises. If you don’t have a lot of wiggle room in the budget, you may need to shop around for desirable sales and cost effective options more often.

Verticals

Vertical markets, or “verticals,” are business niches where vendors serve a specific audience and their set of needs. When we look into specific verticals, we can see some variations among Millennials. Furthermore, in some verticals Millennials are just as likely to be brand loyalists as Baby Boomers.

Looking into verticals where experience and price play a bigger role, we lose loyalty among the age group. For example, this can include airlines and hotels. Here are more barriers Millennials face when making the decision to stay loyal within different verticals.

2.00x more likely to cite a store’s level of hygiene as a barrier for HOTELS
2.00x more likely to cite a lack of healthy options as a barrier for RESTAURANTS
2.50x more likely to cite a store’s level of hygiene as a barrier for GROCERY
1.44x more likely to cite a move in location as a barrier for AUTO INSURANCE
2.33x more likely to cite a difficulty to reach or contact as a barrier for AIRLINES

New Parents

Another factor that impacts how Millennials spend in a huge way is whether they are parents. When a child is in the mix, a customer is going to be hyper aware of what they are spending where. They will be looking for the best fit for their family. Once they find it, they’ll typically stick with it. In fact, 42% of new parents describe themselves as loyal compared to 36% of non-parents.

Interestingly enough, new parents tend to be more loyal in verticals that non parents are not as loyal in, like hotels. This is especially true of verticals with products and services that tend to be more experiential. Based on Facebook IQ’s study, our best guess is that the desire to experiment with different businesses gets replaced by the need for stability. Parents want to stick with what they know works and cut out the other fuss.

How Can I Build Brand Loyalty?

Those surveyed were asked, regardless of household income, to describe the brands they love most. When divided into features of brand loyalty – consistency, cost, quality and experience – the largest group of words was under experience. Though price matters, experience seems to outweigh them all.

Experience

Be sure to put focus on delivering an exceptional experience, no matter the service or product. According to the study, creating a meaningful, memorable and noteworthy experience is critical to cementing a brand’s relationship with people. Also consider ideas that celebrate the good times had between you and customers.

Personalization

You can also connect through personalized communication. This is one way to build trust. Use personalized service through 1:1 communication. Companies are increasingly using messaging tools to better meet the needs of their audiences.

Authenticity

Because of the digital sphere and online technology, people are oversaturated with advertisements 24/7. Now, they crave realness. When a brand is authentic and transparent, it stands out against the noise. In fact, 66% of consumers think transparency is one of the most attractive qualities in a brand. And in a study run by Cohn & Wolfe, 63% of consumers said they would rather buy from a company they consider to be authentic over a competitor.

Foursquare partners with Shopkick to enhance in-app experience and more

Posted on December 16, 2021 by shopkick

Shopkick will use Pilgrim SDK and FSQ/Places Database to help brands and retailers uncover consumer insights and deliver more rewards to app users.

With the holiday season upon us, shoppers are on the hunt for the best deals and rewards – both online and in-store. Meanwhile, after many months of shifting consumer behaviors due to the pandemic, retailers are in need of data that can provide consumer insights, purchasing habits, and preferences. To help guide customers as they shop and help businesses better understand consumers’ shopping behaviors and needs, Foursquare is announcing its partnership with Shopkick, a leading shopping rewards app.

Come 2022, Shopkick will launch a revamped new app experience using both Pilgrim SDK and Foursquare Places data. Foursquare’s technology and data will enable the Shopkick app to deliver relevant, insightful push notifications and branded content directly to app users based on their location. The result? Greater rewards for shoppers and richer consumer insights for businesses.

How Does The Shopkick App Work?

Shopkick is a mobile rewards app that was acquired by Trax, the leading provider of retail computer vision solutions and analytics, back in 2019. The Shopkick app sends proximity-based push notifications to help lead the shopping journey, encouraging customers to take certain actions like enter a specific store or engage with in-aisle and branded in-app content. The app’s “kicks” feature enables shoppers to earn rewards and gift cards by simply purchasing products and uploading the receipts.

Additionally, this mobile experience helps Shopkick’s brand and retail partners learn more about their customers and determine how best to engage with them.

Leveraging Foursquare’s Location Data Technology

Prior to partnering with Foursquare, Shopkick had previously relied on a combination of in-house solutions and external tools – such as geofencing – in order to identify customer presence in a store to provide relevant in-app and proximity messaging.

Foursquare will now be the sole provider of Shopkick’s location capabilities with our Pilgrim SDK, which includes our unique Snap-to-Place technology — an algorithm trained by more than 15 billion signals over the past 12+ years that is able to more accurately determine where and when a mobile device visited a venue compared to geofencing and other technologies that rely solely on GPS signals. Our proprietary mall mode feature, for example, allows our Pilgrim SDK to more accurately identify visits to “super venues,” which are locations of extreme density that often encompass several other venues.

This level of precision is especially useful to apps like Shopkick, whose users frequent malls and other commercial venue-dense environments.

Shopkick will also be utilizing Foursquare Places as their system of record for layering their own data, deals, rewards, merchant database and more.

“Foursquare’s technology not only helps accurately reach Shopkick users but also gives them the opportunity to earn kicks at more places,” said Sheila Mefta, Vice President of Product and Design at Shopkick. “In the testing phase, Shopkick found Foursquare’s Pilgrim SDK to be extremely accurate in identifying thousands of unique locations out of the box, making this partnership with their stellar team a no-brainer.”

Using Location Data To Bridge The Gap Between Brands With Consumers

Shopkick’s ultimate goal is to engage with customers at the right place and right time, and Foursquare will help it do just that.

“Shopkick is a leader in mobile retail beloved by many millions of consumers — their team carries wide-ranging expertise with location technology and this partnership only further validates Foursquare’s market-leading position,” said Patrick Hu, Managing Director, Business Development & Product Partnerships at Foursquare.

The partnership additionally opens the door for greater business opportunity and growth. Location data continues to help drive real, impactful business results and Foursquare’s work with Shopkick will help generate new or greater collaboration with brands and retailers.

“2022 will prove to be a critical year for retail and other brick-and-mortar industries that were heavily impacted by the pandemic,” Hu said. “As consumers have shifted toward on-demand delivery, location technology and data have become vital components for bridging the online-to-offline gap and delivering a high-value in-person experience. Foursquare looks forward to collaborating more deeply with Shopkick and other Trax solutions, along with others across the broader mobile and retail space.”

Shopkick is available for free on iPhone from the App Store and for Android from Google Play. For more information, please visit www.shopkick.com.

Use one shopping app to make money at your favorite stores

Posted on March 24, 2020 by shopkick

When I was little, my mom had a plastic case to store all the coupons she cut out of the newspaper. Her coupon case was red and inside it looked like a miniature file cabinet with little tabs for all the different stores that she and I shopped at all the time. When she got to the cash register at many of these stores, she would put on her glasses and tab through, looking for the perfect coupons to match her purchases. I was a little kid then, but I remember thinking: “there has to be a better way!”

Thankfully, nowadays, there is a better way. If you’re a savvy tech-friendly shopper like me, you have moved on from using coupons, and instead, you’re using a shopping app to make money. A lot of stores have their own shopping apps or rewards programs, which you can pull out at the register just like my mom used to do with her coupons. The apps for specific stores are fine, but they’re really just like fancy coupons in my opinion. I prefer to use one shopping app that can be used at my favorite stores.

If you’d like to reduce the number of apps you have to use to make money or earn rewards points at stores, you’ll definitely want to check out what I have to say.

How to Use One Shopping App to Make Money

As I mentioned before, there are a number of store-specific shopping apps that reward you for being loyal to one store; these are fine but not as versatile as I’d like. That’s why my favorite type of shopping app to make money is a shopping rewards app, which—as the name implies—gives you rewards for shopping!

Find a Shopping Rewards App That Works for You

One challenge with shopping rewards apps is that there are quite a few out there, which is why I suggest putting some thought into what would make you want to use a shopping rewards app each time you go shopping—which is very important because, in order to really maximize your rewards, you need to use the app frequently.

I like shopping apps that work with both Android and Apple smartphones. I have an iPhone but I like to share different deals with my mom who has a Samsung Galaxy. I also like a shopping app that works both in stores and when I shop online. I’m about 50:50 when it comes to how much shopping I do in-person versus online, and so I need an app that works for both. Finally, I want a shopping app that’s fun to use! That way I don’t have to try hard to remind myself to use it when I go to the store.

Give Shopkick a Try

With all of that in mind, my favorite shopping app is this app called Shopkick! In my opinion, it’s the perfect shopping app to make money at your favorite stores. The way that Shopkick works is that it gives you points it calls “kicks” for doing things you do when you shop already, things like walking into the store, scanning barcodes on items, and making purchases both in-store and online. Once you’ve earned enough kicks, you can trade them in for store gift cards—which are just as good as cash. I’ve redeemed some of my gift cards to restock my groceries for the week or buy household items.

My favorite thing about Shopkick is that it turns every trip to the store—in person or online—into a fun scavenger hunt to earn kicks. Once I started using Shopkick, I found myself actually looking forward to shopping. I also love that I’m rewarded for learning about new products by watching videos on the app. Not only is Shopkick fun, but it’s also helpful; the “Discover” tab in the app is great when you need recipe inspiration or want to learn about new products.

My favorite thing about Shopkick is that it turns every trip to the store—in person or online—into a fun scavenger hunt to earn kicks.

Shopkick really is an amazing thing—a single shopping app to make money in the form of gift cards that can be redeemed at your favorite stores. If you already have shopping apps you love, you can even pair Shopkick alongside them to earn kicks through Shopkick while claiming discounts or points through other apps. Shopkick is also available for both Android and Apple smartphones, and you can use it for both online shopping and when you go out to the physical store. That kind of versatility is just so valuable, and I can’t say enough good things about it.

It’s time to get your kicks with one shopping app at your favorite stores! Shopkick makes shopping a rewarding experience. Download the app today and start earning kicks today!

Image courtesy of Dean Drobot

How to maximize credit card rewards with Shopkick

Posted on February 27, 2020 by shopkick

I’m usually the one in my group of friends with all the hacks when it comes to shopping. But after meeting up with my girls for lunch last week, I found out that I’ve yet to master the art of shopping.

Somehow we got on the topic of credit cards and I told them that while I do have them, I’d always preferred using cash or my debit card to shop because I didn’t want to have to worry about paying it off later. They immediately told me that I was doing it all wrong and how much I was missing out. Since I love to shop, they told me how often I could be earning points towards cashback, gift cards, and frequent flier miles just for using a credit card to shop. I’m always down for getting the most out of my shopping trips, so I took their advice. And let me tell you, I’m definitely glad I did. I even found out how to maximize credit card rewards by using my favorite shopping app.

If you’ve been in the dark about credit card rewards like I have, you’ll definitely want to pay close attention while I tell you just how you can maximize credit card rewards by using a mobile shopping app.

What I’ve Learned About Credit Card Rewards

One thing I’ve learned about maximizing credit card rewards is that there are so many different ways to do it; you just have to choose the method that works for you. For instance, I have a friend who travels regularly for work. She uses her own credit card to pay for her flights, hotels, and rental cars, and then she has her job reimburse her. This might seem like a lot, but she swears by it—insisting that this way, she gets to keep all the rewards that she earns from the initial purchases.

I don’t travel for work—and maybe you don’t either—and that’s okay because there are plenty of other opportunities to maximize your credit card rewards by making everyday purchases. One way that I’ve found that works for me is by using a shopping rewards apps—an app that I’ve downloaded and linked my credit card to in an effort to really maximize my rewards.

The Best Type of Shopping App to Maximize Rewards

If you have never before heard of shopping rewards apps, that’s okay. It wasn’t too long ago that I hadn’t either, and now I consider myself a bit of an expert on how to combine shopping rewards apps with my credit card to really maximize my reward-earning potential. The first step is to understand what shopping rewards apps are available to you and how they work. There are several different kinds, ranging from apps that reward you for shopping at certain stores to apps that reward you for particular types of purchases such as gas or coffee.

The best type of shopping rewards app to link with your credit card is one you can use at several different stores—both online stores and physical locations. You can obviously use your credit card almost anywhere, so you’ll want to get a shopping rewards app that is equally as versatile; otherwise, you’ll be as my friends say, “missing out.”

Maximize Credit Card Rewards with Shopkick

My favorite shopping rewards app is Shopkick. I’ve been using Shopkick for years but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to link my credit card with the app. You see, before, I was using Shopkick any time I went out shopping for the essentials because it’s so easy to use that I’ve incorporated it into my routine. Before leaving the house, I would look up nearby stores that were offering rewards points (also called “kicks” in the app). Some of these stores offer kicks for simply walking in. Then, I would open the app to see what products I could locate to scan for even more kicks; it’s like a fun scavenger hunt for rewards. Once I’d earned enough kicks, I could trade them in for a gift card to do even more shopping!

Now that I’ve linked my credit card, I have the chance to earn even more rewards. The credit card that I use already gives me a percentage back on purchases, so by linking it with Shopkick, I’m rewarded for using the app too! Once I discovered this, I couldn’t wait to tell my friends how I’d taken their advice up a notch. They told me that they’d expected nothing less of me since I was the self-proclaimed “Master Shopper.”

Now that I’ve linked my credit card, I have the chance to earn even more rewards.

I know from experience that figuring out how to maximize credit card rewards can seem intimidating, but it’s really not. There are so many different programs these days that reward you for using credit cards. Whether you’re interested in earning points for travel or getting cash back on your purchases, there’s a program out there for you. If you’re looking for the best program, I highly recommend downloading Shopkick and linking your Visa or MasterCard. In no time at all, you’ll go from a newbie user to an expert at getting your kicks and, most importantly, trading those kicks for gift cards to do even more shopping to maximize your earning potential!

It’s time to get your kicks! Shopkick makes shopping a rewarding experience, helping you truly maximize your credit card rewards. Download the app today and boost your shopping budget!

Image courtesy of Nattakorn_Maneerat

Wouldn’t it be fun to earn cashback when you shop? Learn how.

Posted on February 25, 2020 by shopkick

I used to think there was nothing more fun than shopping. I loved going to stores, browsing for hours for new clothes, finding crazy deals on electronics—I loved the entire experience. I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve become such a dedicated shopper over the years. Though, I must admit, that my love for shopping has taken a toll on my budget now that I have more responsibilities as an adult. Thankfully, I recently discovered how to turn my love for shopping into a way to earn cashback. That’s right! There’s a way to earn cashback when you shop!

Admittedly, this is an easy concept to love. It’s the same as shopping, but when you’re done, you earn cashback, or you earn rewards points towards things like gift cards—which are just as good as cash if you ask me.

If you’re a dedicated shopper like me, wanting to shop without destroying your budget, you’re definitely want to read on to discover how to earn cashback when you shop!

How to Earn Cashback When You Shop

There are many ways to earn cashback when you shop. In fact, you’ve probably been doing it for years without even realizing it. Specials and promotions such as buy-one-get-one sales, rebates on electronics, or even customer loyalty programs all qualify as ways to earn cashback when you shop. The problem for me, however, is that these all occur too sporadically for my tastes. Luckily, there is a new way to earn cashback when you walk into a store to shop or even if you make an online purchase; it’s called a shopping rewards app.

Learn About Shopping Rewards Apps

If you’re wondering what exactly is a shopping rewards app, the answer is simple—it’s an app that gives you rewards for shopping. The way a shopping rewards app generally works is that you download the app on your phone and use it every time you go shopping. There are several different types of shopping rewards apps—including store-specific apps and apps you can use at any participating store—which is why it’s so important to understand how they work.

The more you know about shopping rewards apps, the better job you can do selecting the perfect choice for your lifestyle. My personal favorite type of shopping rewards app is one that operates on a point-based system and can be used at many different stores—both online and physical stores. I also prefer a system that’s fun to use and doesn’t feel like work. I absolutely love shopping, and I don’t want my desire to earn cashback to change the experience for me in a way that leaves me less excited to shop.

Use Shopkick to Earn Cashback When You Shop

My personal favorite way to earn cashback while shopping is with an app called Shopkick. Shopkick is one of those apps that I described above; you can use it when you shop online as well as when you go into your favorite stores. Shopkick rewards you in “kicks” (points) for the things you already do while shopping such as walking into stores, scanning barcodes, watching promotional videos, and making purchases.

I’ve tried other shopping rewards apps, and I can honestly say that Shopkick is by far my favorite. What I like most about Shopkick is that it turns the shopping experience into a fun scavenger hunt for kicks. You can invite friends to download the app and get in on the fun, too—earning you even more kicks. Once you’ve earned enough kicks, you can trade them in for gift cards, which are just as good as cash. Doesn’t that sound fun?

I’ve tried other shopping rewards apps, and I can honestly say that Shopkick is by far my favorite.

So, there you have it, my own personal fun and secret way to earn cashback when you shop. It’s especially useful for me since I love to refresh my wardrobe each season. And, what better way to shop than to do it to earn cashback? Earning cashback makes every trip to the store so worth it!

If you’re looking for a fun way to earn cashback when you shop, check out Shopkick. I promise you’re going to love it so you should download the app today and start earning kicks!

Image courtesy of Syda Productions

Prime opportunity: How to earn cashback on Amazon purchases

Posted on February 5, 2020 by shopkick

I had a teacher who once asked our class if there was anything we couldn’t live without. Some of my friends said their phones, others said their video game systems, and some said totally random things like candy. I was one of those who said I couldn’t live without my phone back then, but now that I’m a little older, I’m sure that my answer would be Amazon Prime.

Whenever I need household things like paper towels or toilet paper, I can place an order through my Amazon Prime account and it comes in two days or less. I even use it to order last-minute gifts that I can always count on being on time for birthdays and holidays. I love that Amazon makes shopping so easy. And, if there’s one thing I love even more than Prime itself, it’s knowing that I can earn cashback on Amazon purchases.

If you’re an avid online shopper like me, you’ll want to read on and learn how to earn cashback on Amazon purchases.

How to Earn Cashback on Amazon Purchases

Take the Credit Card Route

One way to earn cashback on Amazon purchases is to apply for one of the various credit cards offered through Amazon. With the cashback cards, Amazon Prime members can earn up to 5% back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases; 2% back at participating restaurants, drug stores, and gas stations; and earn 1% back on all other qualifying purchases using the card. These percentages eventually add up and can equate to dollars to be used on future purchases. If you’re wondering how to calculate, consider that 5% Back equates to $0.05 in % Back rewards, which is equal to 5 points, for each $1 spent. “% Back rewards” are tracked as points and each $1 in % Back rewards earned is equal to 100 points.

Personally, I love knowing that for as much as I order on Amazon, I’m earning points that will eventually turn into cashback. For those of you who aren’t sure about applying for another credit card, worry not; there’s another way to earn cashback on Amazon purchases.

Get Familiar With Shopping Rewards Programs

There are many shopping rewards programs out there but not all of them work the same. Many shopping rewards programs reward you for your continued loyalty to one store. For example, you might receive a free cup of coffee after buying ten cups at your favorite coffee shop. But, the best shopping rewards programs can be used at almost any store—including Amazon, of course!

The Best App to Earn Cashback on Amazon Purchases

If you’ve never used a shopping rewards program before, I actually have a recommendation—it’s an app called Shopkick, and I absolutely love it. You can use Shopkick each time you go out and buy something at the store or online, and it gives you points in return called “kicks.” When you’ve earned enough kicks, you can trade them in for a gift card to a participating store on the list. And you guessed it, Amazon is on the list of stores from which to choose a gift card! And, in my opinion, gift cards are just as good as cashback because they spend just the same.

What’s also great is that Shopkick turns every trip into the store into a fun hunt for kicks. You can earn kicks for doing things like walking into a store, scanning the barcodes of certain items, and making purchases. And here’s the (Shop)kicker (ha!): You can take your Visa or MasterCard—the same one you use for Amazon—and link it to your Shopkick account to earn kicks at participating stores while also earning points that could go toward earning cashback with Amazon. Now that’s some great earning potential! I just love finding out how many kicks I can earn for doing certain things. Trust me, you will too.

If you’re looking for a way to earn cashback on Amazon purchases, I highly recommend downloading Shopkick.

If you’re looking for a way to earn cashback on Amazon purchases, I highly recommend downloading Shopkick. You can shop at many of your favorite stores directly through the app. I use it pretty much every day, and the rewards just keep coming. I also have my friends, family, and parents using Shopkick, and they all love it too.

It’s time to get your kicks! Shopkick makes shopping a rewarding experience by helping you earn Amazon gift cards. Download the app today and start earning your own Amazon gift cards now!

Image courtesy of Nicole Glass Photography

3 rewards app hacks (that you didn’t hear from us)

Posted on January 8, 2020 by shopkick

Sometimes I don’t think people really know the meaning of the phrase “hack.” For example, I’ve been taking a class at nights and one of my classmates recently said to me: “So, life hack: the best way to get ahead on this next test is to do all the reading and study the night before.” He said it like he was giving me some secret information that only he had figured out. I thought to myself, “Um, that’s not a life hack…that’s just life.”

If you ask me, a life hack is a way to do something much easier. It’s usually something that’s not quite obvious and that a lot of people don’t already know about. I have friends who have told me about really valuable life hacks for things like washing their cars. But I think I’ve discovered some of the most valuable: rewards app hacks—all of which are so valuable, that if anyone asks, I’d deny telling you about them!

So without further adieu, let’s get to the three rewards app hacks that you didn’t hear from me!

The Best Rewards App Hacks

1. Find a Rewards App to Use Online

My first rewards app hack is a simple one: find a rewards app that you can use online. I know, it sounds obvious, but I just know so many friends who think in order to use a rewards app, you have to go to a physical store. That is true for some, but it’s not always the case. That’s why the first rewards app hack that I have to share with you today is to make sure you get one you can use both online and in brick-and-mortar stores.

Why is this a valuable thing to do? Well, because let’s face it, nobody has time to go to the store to do all of their shopping these days, and even if they did, there are some deals that you can only find online. It’s valuable to have a rewards app that you can use online because I’m pretty sure that all of us these days are doing some, or even most, of our shopping online. By only getting an app that you can use in-person, or even worse not realizing you can use the rewards app you have online, you could be leaving valuable rewards on the table. For obvious reasons, you don’t want to do that!

2. Use Two Rewards Apps at Once

Now that you’re using your first rewards app hack, and collecting your rewards both online and offline, it’s time to move on to our next rewards app hack. This is one that I’ve been using for years. What you do is basically use two rewards apps at once. So, let’s think about the different types of rewards apps.

There are store loyalty apps, like those that you can download from Target or Starbucks. There are also some rewards apps that require picking certain deals from a list that the developers update every week. There are also credit card rewards apps and programs that give you points every time you buy certain things with your credit card. Finally, there are rewards apps that you can use each and every time you go out shopping. The trick to this is to just remember to use more than one. So, let’s say you use your credit card that gives you 2% back on purchases. When you do, remember to also use a rewards app that gives you points each time you go out shopping, which is a nifty hack to basically double your savings! It really is that easy.

3. Learn to Love Shopkick

Okay, so my final rewards app hack might fall into the category I described at the start, but I still really want to share it because it’s also my absolute favorite. Basically, this one entails simply downloading and using this app called Shopkick. That’s really all there is to it. You go to your smartphone, find Shopkick, download it, and use it each and every time you shop. Why do I like Shopkick so much?

Well, I’ll happily tell you! Shopkick is just a blast to use. It gives you reward points, which it calls “kicks,” for going shopping and doing things like walking into stores, scanning barcodes of participating products, and, of course, making purchases. You can also use it when you go shopping online, getting points for making purchases that way too. Before long, you’ll even start to like shopping more with Shopkick because it turns each and every trip to the store into a fun scavenger hunt for kicks. I just love it, and I’m sure you will too!

We all know life and shopping can be a hassle at times, but with these hacks, it’ll be that much easier for you!

There you go, three great rewards app hacks that you can start using today. So remember, the first step is to download a shopping rewards app—don’t forget my favorite, Shopkick. The next step is to go shopping. You can go shopping online or in-store and you can use Shopkick at the same time you’re using some of your other favorite rewards apps, such as the credit card that gives you a percentage back on purchases or the branded app to your favorite store. We all know life and shopping can be a hassle at times, but with these hacks, it’ll be that much easier for you!

It’s time to start earning kicks! Shopkick makes shopping a rewarding experience. Download the app today and start using all of our rewards app hacks to earn kicks!

Image courtesy of WAYHOME studio

How to earn cashback on household bills—the easy way

Posted on January 3, 2020 by shopkick

When you live in a household with three boys like my husband and I do, very few things are predictable. We never know how much they’re going to eat in one day, although we do know it’s a lot. We never know what kind of mess will be made but we know there will be a big one. In fact, I like to joke that the only things that seem to remain constant in our house are the utility bills and the need to go back out shopping.

As you can imagine, those are also the things that put the biggest strain on my budget each month. For many years I’ve often found myself wishing there was a way to save on one or the other. Well, as fate would just so have it, I recently found a way to save on one by doing the other—I found out how to earn cashback on household bills by shopping. That’s right! You can use your everyday trips to the grocery store to help out with other expenses around the house.

Earn Cashback on Household Bills

If bills are straining your budget like they’re doing mine, you’re going to want to check out these ways to earn cashback on household bills.

Instacart

The first way I’ve found to earn cashback on household bills is by using Instacart. When I was first introduced to this app I was thrilled at the idea of having someone do the grocery shopping for me. Now, my budget doesn’t always allow me to take advantage of that. But thankfully, there’s another side of Instacart that I’ve found to be pretty beneficial.

The way you can earn cashback on household bills through Instacart is by sort of reversing it and being the person who goes out and does the shopping. It’s really that simple. Someone like me who is just too busy to get to the store needs some shopping done, you go out and do that shopping, and then you have the extra cash to put toward your household bills.

Starbucks App

I guess I was maybe a little less than accurate earlier when I said that the only two things that stay constant in my house are my household bills and my need to go shopping. If I’m being honest, there’s also a third constant in my house—my own personal need for Starbucks, specifically flat whites, which are my absolute favorite. Even in the summertime, I’ll find myself stopping by Starbucks for a quick pick-me-up. And, there’s also a way to earn cashback for household bills in the process.

The way to do this is by downloading the Starbucks app. That way, every time you go into Starbucks, you’re getting points that eventually pile up and help you get free drinks. And you know what? If you’re anything like me, the money you’re spending on Starbucks drinks goes a long way, and it can really help you put a dent in your household bills. Oh, and one more tip: you can also use the Starbucks app to have your drink waiting for you when you arrive so that you can even skip the line!

Shopkick

The last way to earn cashback on household bills also happens to be my favorite. It’s a shopping rewards app called Shopkick. What Shopkick does is give you points, which it cleverly calls “kicks,” that you can trade-in later for cashback through PayPal cash credit, or for gift cards to many of your favorite stores. Shopkick turns your everyday shopping into a way to earn rewards that you can use on later trips so that you have more money to put toward your household bills. It’s pretty awesome!

Why Shopkick is my favorite, though, is because it also turns every trip out to the store into a fun scavenger hunt to get your kicks. With Shopkick, you get kicks for things like walking into certain stores, scanning barcodes of certain products, and, of course, making purchases. I find myself looking forward to running out to the store just so I can push myself to get as many kicks as possible. When I don’t feel like going out, I can also earn kicks at home by shopping online or watching videos about partnering products in the app. Essentially, Shopkick is not only fun, but it’s also easy to use. In my book, there’s no better way to earn cashback on household bills.

So there you have it, three great ways to earn cashback on household bills.

So there you have it, three great ways to earn cashback on household bills. While I like them all, and I have been known to mix and match them in the past, I do have to say that Shopkick is my overall favorite. With three growing boys at home, I find myself doing quite a bit of shopping, especially grocery shopping. Thankfully, I have Shopkick to make it worth my while.

It’s time to get your kicks! Shopkick makes shopping a rewarding experience. Download the app today and start to earn cashback to put toward your household bills now!

Image courtesy of George Rudy

Can I use a shopping app to earn money?

Posted on December 12, 2019 by shopkick

When you’re growing up, you always hear people using the term “broke college student.” It wasn’t until I became one that I understood what it truly meant. With my hectic schedule that includes classes, internships, and trying to find time to have even a little bit of a social life, it’s very hard to find time to get even a part-time job for extra money.

You might be thinking to yourself, “Well why would you even need a job with all of that going on?” The problem is, I’ve always liked to shop, and I can’t just turn that off now that I’m in college. I’ve had to figure out other ways to continue with my hobby but on a tighter budget. One way I’ve done this is by using a shopping app to earn money. That’s right, I’ve found a way to do what I love while also earning money. Here’s how.

How to Use a Shopping App to Earn Money

Here are three easy steps that will help you get familiar with using shopping apps to earn money, too.

1. Make Sure You Have a Compatible Mobile Device

Look, I know this one sounds a little basic, but the first step to really learning how to use a shopping app to earn money is making sure you have a smartphone. I know, I know…if you’re anything like me, you can’t live without your smartphone, so this should be an easy one, but it’s still worth going over. The fact is, all of my favorite shopping apps require a smartphone to use them.

I’m personally an Apple iOS user, but I have a lot of friends who use shopping apps with Android systems, too. I’m told they both work equally as well. If you already have a smartphone with the capability to download apps, you’re one step closer to earning money.

2. Download Shopkick

So, to be totally honest, I’m a little biased here, because I have a personal favorite shopping app that I want to recommend. My favorite shopping rewards app to use is Shopkick. Trying Shopkick involves more than just downloading it, of course, so I also want to tell you a little bit about how it works.

The way you can earn money with Shopkick is through getting what the app calls “kicks.” You can earn kicks by walking into certain stores (a favorite of mine as a college student), scanning the barcodes of participating products, buying things, and even doing activities at home like making purchases online or watching videos. After you’ve earned enough kicks, you can trade them in for gift cards to some of your favorite stores, which are just as good as cash. It’s really cool, and I’m sure once you try it, you’ll love it as much as I do.

3. Use Shopkick Frequently

In order to earn money with Shopkick, you’ll most definitely want to use it as much as possible. There are a lot of different free apps to earn money, but I love Shopkick because it turns every shopping trip into a fun scavenger hunt for kicks. I love that I can use Shopkick at many of my favorite stores, earn kicks while shopping, exchange those kicks for gift cards, and turn around and use them to shop even more.

Another reason I love Shopkick is that I can also use the app to earn kicks online. And, obviously, I don’t have to go anywhere for that. I can do it from my dorm, the library, the coffee shop, or wherever else I happen to be. Shopkick being this easy to use is definitely one of the reasons I love it, and I’m sure you’ll agree once you give it a chance, too.

Shopkick being this easy to use is definitely one of the reasons I love it, and I’m sure you’ll agree once you give it a chance, too.

Want to Earn Money with a Shopping App? Try Shopkick

If you’re really busy because of school, or for any other reason, I think you should give Shopkick a chance. The way it works just makes it so easy to use; whether you’re earning kicks for shopping online or at your favorite store. Shopkick can help you get kicks that you can eventually turn into gift cards that are as good as cash.

I really love college. I know I talk about how busy I am, and that’s all true. Still, I’ve never had such a good time doing so many new things. Now I don’t have to give up my favorite hobby, because I’ve been using Shopkick as a shopping app to earn money. I just can’t recommend it enough!

Want to use a shopping app to earn money? Check out Shopkick! It makes it easy for everyone to earn money, even the super busy college kids. Download the app today and start getting your kicks now!

Image courtesy of Jelena Zelen

The most legit cashback apps for shopaholics on a tight budget

Posted on December 5, 2019 by shopkick

I used to hear people talk about a tight budget all the time, but, to be honest, I didn’t really realize what being on a tight budget meant until I became a full-time college student. Between my classes, my internship, and trying to have some sort of social life, I just don’t have much time to get a real job that can support my love of shopping. Luckily, I’ve found a solution…or three. They’re called cashback apps, and they’re fantastic.

Cashback apps are exactly what they sound like—apps that you can use to get cashback. I don’t know about you, but I love this idea. So, I’ve been trying out as many of them as I can, and I’m proud to say that I’ve nailed down a list of some of the most legit cashback apps for shopaholics on a tight budget, whether they’re in college or not. And today it’s my pleasure to share them with all of you!

3 Legit Cashback Apps

Check out this list below. I’ve got three very different types of apps that do different things, but I hope you’ll find them all to be as totally legit as I do.

1. SurveyJunkie

Okay, so this first one on my list of legit cashback apps is actually one that you can use during downtime while you’re shopping. It’s called SurveyJunkie, and you can use it from your smartphone to take surveys that give you cashback. My friends and I like to use SurveyJunkie while we’re waiting in line, taking a break somewhere and grabbing a coffee, or anywhere else we have a few free moments between classes.

One thing to keep in mind is that you have to be at least 18 years old to use it. How much cash you get back from this app really depends on how much you use it. There are some days I’m really busy with classes and whatever else, and I only end up getting $5 from it, but there are other days when I have plenty of time to use it to shop. During those weeks, I’m able to get as much as $50 cash back just for taking surveys. It’s great, and it’s so nice to have that extra money. I highly recommend it, even if you only use it while you’re standing in line to check out!

2. PayPal

This sounds funny, but the most important cashback app is the one that literally gives you cash back. I’m talking about PayPal, which is the site you can use to move cash around online, get gifts from your relatives (always the best), and do whatever other financial business you have on the internet. There is one thing to note: In order to receive cash back, shoppers must use the PayPal Cashback Mastercard which offers 2% back on everyday purchases as opposed to other apps that give you free gift cards.

An added bonus with this one is that my parents are totally cool with it too, because it’s known for being secure. I can already tell this is going to be an invaluable app for me, especially when it comes to shopping online. Plus, most of my favorite online stores accept PayPal. So, if you don’t have a PayPal account, I highly recommend creating one, because it’s one of the easiest ways to get cashback.

3. Shopkick

Don’t get me wrong, the last two legit cashback apps I discussed are great, but this one is my absolute favorite. It’s called Shopkick, and I use it any time I do any shopping, which, if I’m being honest, is a lot. Shopkick is great because you can use it for both your online and in-person shopping to get cashback or free gift cards.

Shopkick is pretty simple and actually a lot of fun. This legit cashback app basically turns every trip to the store into a fun scavenger hunt for points called “kicks.” You can get your kicks in all kinds of ways, but the ones I like the best are walking into stores, scanning certain items, and, of course, making purchases. You can then trade your kicks in for gift cards to your favorite stores, which given how much I like to shop, is just as good as cash. In addition, with Shopkick you can also earn money shopping online, get kicks for making purchases, or even just for watching videos. It’s great, and, after Instagram, it’s probably the app that my friends and I have been using the most lately. I can’t recommend it enough!

On a Tight Budget? Try Shopkick

It can be hard to find the most legit cashback apps. Some apps don’t have as many great benefits as others, while some apps might not suit your personal tastes. Take it from me, a certified self-declared shopaholic, these are three of the best out there, and I’ve been using them all quite a bit lately.

Take it from me, a certified self-declared shopaholic, these are three of the best out there!

As I said above, though, Shopkick is easily my favorite cashback app. I love it, and not just because I can use it at so many awesome stores, but also because it turns all of my shopping trips into fun scavenger hunts for kicks. I also love that on the days when I don’t feel like going out—or when classes are too hectic—I can still get my kicks by shopping online. Basically, it makes being a shopaholic even more fun than it already is!

It’s time to get your kicks! Shopkick is one of the most legit cashback apps, and it just makes shopping such a rewarding experience. Download the app today and start getting your kicks ASAP!

Image courtesy of Dean Drobot

The best ways to earn cash back for shopping with friends

Posted on November 12, 2019 by shopkick

My best friend Ella and I have known each other for a very long time. We’ve conquered middle school together, high school, and now we’re so happy to be college students. Of the many things we do together, one of our favorites is shopping—we’re most definitely shopaholics. Ella always snags the best finds but I’m always on the hunt for the best bargains and deals. One day we were out shopping at Ulta and I asked her if she had any rewards to redeem for cash back and she had no idea that was even a thing!

I’m not going to lie, it felt good to be the one helping Ella discover something new for a change. We spent the weekend chatting and I told her everything I knew about how shopping rewards programs help me stretch my money now that my budget is pretty tight in college. Together, we came up with three easy ways to earn cash back shopping with friends—and now we want to share with you, too!

Use Store-Specific Apps to Earn Cash Back When Shopping

The first idea for how to earn cash back shopping with friends that Ella and I came up with was to start using those apps that are specific to certain stores. Some of our favorite places to both shop and hang out—like Starbucks, Target, and Ulta—have their own apps. The point is to reward loyal shoppers there, and we’re happy to accept. If you have a different favorite shopping mecca, look them up on the app store. Chances are, they’re as tech-savvy as we are.

I just realized that coffee can taste as good as it smells (thank you, white chocolate mochas), so I’ve been using my Starbucks app a lot lately. Starbucks rewards you with special free items when you’re a frequent visitor, which my friends and I are—especially when we’re fueling up for a shopping spree or study session.

My forever favorite, though, is the Target app. Target gives you special notifications about deals and sales so you never miss out on stocking up on lip gloss and other essentials at killer prices. And, if you like to sometimes just hang out and browse around at Target like we do, you can even use it to find out what’s in stock and what’s not.

Some of our other favorite store apps include:

Fandango
Sephora
Marshalls
T.J. Maxx

Become an Instacart Shopper to Earn Cash

Expenses as a college student seem to rack up, especially when you have to buy actual textbooks. One way we’ve found to earn some extra cash for school expenses is by working part-time for Instacart. Basically, Instacart is a job where you get paid to go shopping for other people. This is what we’ve started to call the other Insta (the first one being Instagram, obviously), and Ella and I have already found plenty of ways to love it.

Here are some reasons we are Instacart-ing super hard lately:

Flexibility: The best part about Instacart is that it’s flexible, so we can go after classes, on weekends, or whenever else we feel like it, really.
Cash: Plus, this is literally someone else paying you to go shopping. They tell you where to go and what to buy, and you get paid for it—sometimes as much as $20 an hour.
Time with Friends: And since it’s so flexible, you can easily make plans to do this together, which for obvious reasons is just so much more fun than doing it on your own—although that’s always an option, too.

How Shopkick Helps You Earn Cash Back Shopping with Friends

The last (and, tbh, the best) way to earn cash back shopping with friends is through this app called Shopkick. There’s a lot to love about Shopkick, but, personally, I think the best part is that you can combine it with all the other ways to shop that we talked about above—especially the Starbucks and Target store apps. See, Shopkick turns going shopping into a scavenger hunt: you hunt down featured products to get your kicks (kicks are points that you can later turn into free gifts cards or cash back).

Ella and I absolutely love Shopkick, and there are endless ways to earn kicks, like shopping for leggings at Fabletics, checking out the newest makeup at Ulta, or even getting tickets to the movies early with Fandango through Shopkick’s mobile shopping option. We’ve been using it pretty much whenever we buy anything, whether it’s while we’re hunting for deals at the mall, working part-time for Instacart, or even just to earn money shopping online while hanging out in each other’s dorms.

Shopkick turns going shopping into a scavenger hunt: you hunt down featured products to get your kicks.

So yeah, those are the best ways to earn cash back for shopping with your friends that I’ve found so far. Shopkick is probably our favorite because you can combine it with the other two. They’re all good, though, and it’s crazy to think that we ever went shopping before without earning points and rewards for it.

I hope this helps you up your own shopping game. Oh, and if I can give you one last piece of advice, it would be to combine Shopkick with your own Instagram stories. You don’t have to be as good at it as my best friend Ella (really, no one is), but you can have a lot of fun showing everyone that you know how you get your kicks. I know I do!

It’s time to get your kicks by earning cash back for shopping with friends! Shopkick makes shopping a rewarding experience in so many cool ways. Download the app today and head out on your own shopping scavenger hunt to start earning kicks instantly!

Image courtesy monstArr on BigStock