Fall is for Football: Let’s get ready to tailgate and cheer!

Posted on September 5, 2018 by shopkick

Every season feels as though it was designed specifically for the sport played throughout, and the fall makes football feel even more poignant. Perhaps this time of year makes you remember all of the Friday nights you spent under the lights in high school. Maybe you remember attending your very first game with family or friends and finding yourself completely amazed as you took in the sights and sounds of the field and players you cheer on in person. Perhaps it’s simply the joy found in cheering on your college, city, or town as they begin a new road toward records broken and games won. Whether it’s nostalgia that draws you to the sport or a complete devotion to where you reside, football allows those of us who are fans to feel a renewed sense of camaraderie. For these reasons, we cheer for Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays when our fall sport of choice kicks off once more.

Because football season is enjoyed best when you’re prepped and ready for all of the tailgates and cheering to come, we thought we would share our go-to products for you to keep on hand from our favorite stores, all while earning kicks for every $1 spent through your Shopkick app. Make sure to take a peek below or open the app now as we get ready for game time right along with you!

Get ready for Game Time

Walmart.com

There is an art to tailgating, and there’s nowhere better to stock up on supplies than Walmart.com! Add a new portable grill to your cart so you can make the best barbeque, and make sure to add all of your go-to barbeque ingredients to your cart too (hamburgers, hotdogs, rolls, and all of the fixings are key!). You can’t attend a tailgate without drinks, and water and soda are great to buy in bulk. A party isn’t a party unless you can enjoy your food and drinks, so don’t forget to purchase plates, napkins, cups, and utensils (not to mention trash bags!). A canopy tent can save the day when you’re enjoying your party in the parking lot of your stadium on a hot or rainy day. Lastly, would it be a tailgate if you didn’t have a football to toss? Of course not! You will want to add one of those too.

Boxed

Boxed is the place to go to buy in bulk! If you’re a seasoned tailgater, you already know all of your group’s favorite snacks to enjoy. So, why not save time and money by purchasing them in bulk in advance? Simply add bags from your order to your tailgate stash, and you will be ready to go well in advance of kickoff!

Kohls.com

If you’re attending a football game, you have to rep your team! Stop by Kohls.com’s NFL section to add long and short sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more to your cart. You can also purchase an official jersey in honor of your favorite player. There are so many options, you will be able to wear something different for each week your team is in the mix to win! P.S: Your kids likely have spirit days at school, and football t-shirts and jerseys are perfect to wear!

SeatGeek

As much as we enjoy watching our favorite teams at home, there is nothing that compares to cheering on our players in person! If you are hoping to attend even just one game this season, we cannot recommend SeatGeek highly enough. Simply type your team’s name into the search bar on the homepage, press enter, and watch as all of your team’s upcoming games fill your screen. Then click on the one you want to attend. There you will find a whole listing of tickets for a complete variety of prices, and you will be greeted by a map of the stadium so you can see exactly where you will be sitting. Once you find tickets that meet your needs, purchase them! Many are e-tickets you will receive right away.

What are your top tips for tailgating? What team do you cheer on? Let us know in the comments!

Savor Your First Sip and Save with Starbucks

Posted on August 31, 2018 by shopkick

Whether it’s the feeling that time has paused as you enjoy your morning commute momentarily lost in your current read, the luxury experienced on vacation, or a long summer day filled with the perfect mixture of nostalgia from season’s past and a joy for the present moment, all three share a common theme: leisure. But, the happiness and relaxation found in moments of rest does not need to be limited to specific days. Instead, leisure can be cultivated every morning when you savor your first sip with Starbucks.

For many, including us, going to Starbucks for coffee (or tea!) is not something we do to simply check something off of our morning to-do list. Whether we’re on our way to work, leaving the gym, or running through drive through as we take our kids to school, Starbucks is more than coffee; Starbucks is a ritual. Although we’re all often in a rush to get to our destination, we’ve learned the best way to enjoy Starbucks is actually not on the go. Instead, the best way to enjoy Starbucks is slowly and with leisure.

In order to cultivate a more leisurely Starbucks experience, we have started brewing our coffee at home. That’s one of the not-so-hidden gem facts about Starbucks. The drinks you love to enjoy, whether it’s a French Press, pour over, espresso, or even just a regular cup, can be created on your own without a barista in sight with Starbuck’s brew guide. And, now you can save on select Starbucks products with select retailers in store and online with Shopkick! Simply open the app, scan your Starbucks products, and submit your receipt.

How to earn kicks while saving money

Step 1: Get kicks in stores or online by scanning or purchasing select Starbucks products

Step 2: Choose your favorite brew method

Step 3: Enjoy your coffee and savings

With the savings you earn by using Shopkick, you can create even more leisure in your day. Think about purchasing the coffee pot you’ve been eyeing that will make your Starbucks taste even more flavorful, opt to add the book you’ve wanted to read to your cart, or whip together a delicious brunch menu and invite friends over for coffee and conversation. Saving on Starbucks means you can design a better morning during the week or just on the weekend that feels indulgent and fulfilling. There is no better way to enjoy savings than that!

Your first step toward a new leisurely morning routine is as simple as enjoying your first sip of your morning cup with Starbucks at home. Welcome to the Morning Club. We’re so happy you’ve joined us to savor a few slow moments before the rest of the day begins.

Don’t have Shopkick yet?

Download it now to start earning free gift cards the fun and easy way!

These top customer retention strategies are optimal for CPG brands

Posted on August 31, 2018 by shopkick

Customer retention strategies are a high-priority for brands as the cost is significantly less to maintain a consumer’s loyalty than it is to attract a new consumer. Continue reading “These top customer retention strategies are optimal for CPG brands”

Don’t miss out on big Labor Day kicks!

Posted on August 30, 2018 by shopkick

Ready for more kicks? Celebrate Labor Day with great deals and big kicks all weekend long! Earn tons of kicks in stores when you walk in and purchase using your linked card. Plus, earn kicks for every $1 spent online through the Shopkick app.

View the kick plan below or open your app to start earning. Happy shopkicking!

Get big kicks in stores

8/31 – 9/3

4 kicks/$1

was 2 kicks
*using your
Shopkick QR code

8/31 – 9/3

150 kicks

9/1 ONLY

150 kicks

9/1 ONLY

6 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks

9/2 – 9/3 ONLY

150 kicks

9/1 ONLY

6 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks

8/31 – 9/3

150 kicks

9/1 ONLY

6 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks

8/31 – 9/3

150 kicks

9/1 ONLY

6 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks

8/31 – 9/3

100 kicks

8/31 – 9/3

10 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks

8/31 – 9/3

200 kicks

8/31 – 9/3

8 kicks/$1

was 4 kicks

8/31 – 9/3

2 kicks/$1

was 1 kick
*also available at
fabletics.com

8/31 – 9/3

Linked debit cards must be run as credit in order to receive your kicks.

Get big kicks online

8/31 – 9/3

25 kicks/$1

was 8 kicks

25 kicks/$1

was 15 kicks

20 kicks/$1

was 9 kicks

20 kicks/$1

was 10 kicks

15 kicks/$1

was 7 kicks

10 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks

10 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks

10 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks

10 kicks/$1

was 7 kicks

6 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks

6 kicks/$1

was 4 kicks

Some exclusions may apply. Please check the app for more information.

Still need the app?

Download Shopkick today to start earning your free gift cards?

Get the Best Deals on Amazon With These 8 Techie Hacks

Posted on August 30, 2018 by shopkick

Amazon is something I’ve come to rely on in my life pretty heavily, and I have a sneaking suspicion I’m not alone. Scratch that! I know for a fact I’m not alone! Since first coming on the scene about two decades ago, Amazon has steadily gotten bigger and bigger, reshaping the way we shop, budget, and overall live. I know that’s definitely true in my life.

One of Amazon’s biggest success tactics has been a simple one: reeling people in with deals they just can’t refuse. Prices are low on Amazon, often lower than what you might find at the store. One of the things you’ve probably noticed is prices for items on Amazon can sometimes fluctuate, meaning you have to do your due diligence to keep an eye on them. Simply put, finding the best deals on Amazon can be a bit like wandering a maze. Well, with that in mind, what I want to give you today is the map or cheat sheet for finding the best deals on Amazon.

These eight great hacks for techies like me involve finding efficient ways to stay on top of prices or using apps to earn free Amazon gift cards. While a little different, all of these hacks offer a great way to get the most out of your budget and ultimately save yourself money. That’s something I know I’m excited about, and I’m sure you are too. So, without further ado, let’s get into eight techie hacks to get the best deals on Amazon.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 1: Search Online

Okay, so this piece of advice about how to get the best deals on Amazon might sound a bit obvious and not exactly like a techie hack, but the simple truth is it really works. You can often find the best deals on Amazon by using your favorite online search engine and entering “best deals on Amazon.”

The reason why this is so effective is there are plenty of publications out there that regularly round up the best deals on Amazon. Seeing as prices on the website tend to change all the time (sometimes from minute to minute if you click away) this is a really helpful thing to know about. Of course, these roundups won’t always have exactly what you’re looking for, but, who knows, you could end up getting a great price on something you forgot you needed.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 2: Join Amazon Prime

To get the best deals on Amazon, it’s crucial to join Amazon Prime. When users purchase a new Amazon Prime membership (the $119 membership, specifically) through Shopkick, they receive a $20 gift card. For that price, you get unlimited two-day shipping on the millions of items included in Amazon Prime, as well as associated discounts. I mean, I don’t think there’s any question about this one. If you don’t sign up for Amazon Prime, you just won’t be able to get the best deals on Amazon, no matter how many of the other techie hacks on this list you use!

In addition, signing up for Amazon Prime also gets you access to the Prime Video service, which has all kinds of cool movies and TV shows you can watch on your compatible devices. Plus, Prime Music has approximately 2 million songs that you can stream without having to listen to ads. You can pre-order video games through Amazon, often discounted by 20 percent.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 3: Learn to Love the Amazon Best Sellers List

Did you know that Amazon keeps a running list of its best-selling items? Well, if you didn’t, now you do! It’s really helpful when it comes to finding the best deals on Amazon. Why? Because it turns out that the overwhelming and vast majority of people really like to save money, and as a result, items that are marked down and listed at extremely affordable prices.

It’s also super easy to sort through the Amazon Best Sellers list because it breaks it down items into more than 30 different categories. There are also easy-to-read red and green arrows on the list that show you which products happen to be rising or dropping in popularity. That doesn’t necessarily help you find the best deal, but it is a cool little thing to check out. I highly recommend making this list a usual part of your regular Amazon browsing.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 4: Clip Amazon Coupons

Remember when you were a little kid and your mom or dad used to clip actual coupons out of the newspaper or from junk mail? I do. My mom used to keep her coupon clippings in a kitchen drawer. She must have gotten some great deals that way because she did it throughout my entire childhood. Part of getting the best deals on Amazon involves collecting coupons, too.

Thankfully, like everything on Amazon, you do it entirely online. You just head on over to the Amazon Coupons Hub and check out the digital coupons that are featured. When you find one, use the “Clip Coupon” button to save it to your cart. Then, it’s automatically applied to your total at checkout. It’s definitely easier than cutting out paper coupons with scissors and stuffing them into a drawer.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 5: Don’t Sleep on Amazon Warehouse Deals

I can also remember times when my dad used to love going to places like Best Buy and Target to see if there were any open box deals on display. I think usually these were items that someone had bought and returned. Obviously, the stores couldn’t sell them for full price because the boxes had been opened, but they could put them on sale at a discount for guys like my dad. There’s actually a section on Amazon that sort of recreates this experience!

The Amazon Warehouse Deals section is another place on Amazon where you have to be diligent and always check because the page changes a lot—sometimes even from minute to minute. Basically, the Amazon Warehouse Deals section includes products that have been returned, warehouse-damaged, refurbished, or used. It also includes products that are new, technically speaking, but don’t live up to Amazon’s usual quality requirements for various reasons. If any of that worries you, all of the products are tested and given a grade you can see. Sure, you may be taking a risk, but because of the way it’s set up, you won’t be in for a whole lot of surprises, which I find to be pretty awesome.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 6: Subscribe to Household Goods and Snacks

I have a confession to make. When it comes to getting the best deals on Amazon, there was one thing I ignored for way longer than I should have: subscribing to certain products. I’m sure you’ve noticed a lot of things you’re likely to repeatedly buy—things like toilet paper, toothpaste, or granola bars—have an option for you to subscribe at a lower price.

Well, I noticed that for a long time, but it wasn’t until now that I started to actually use the subscription service. I guess I was worried I wouldn’t need the stuff when it shipped or the savings wouldn’t be significant enough. Well, let me tell you, neither of those things are really a problem. You can space out how much you subscribe to purchase, and even if the savings seem minor at first, they really add up. I absolutely recommend subscribing household goods and snacks as a way to get the best deals on Amazon.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 7: Amazon Family

This is maybe the most specialized tip on to get the best deals on Amazon on our entire list because it basically only applies to folks who have a family. If you have kids, it’s a hack that will save you a ton of money. Amazon has a parent-focused page where you can find some really great deals on things like diapers, lotion, and other must-haves for little ones.

The best part, though, is by subscribing to those items—which any parent will tell you is a must given how fast kids go through basically everything—you can get up to a 20 percent discount. Remember earlier when I said subscriptions don’t seem to save you that much in the beginning? Well, this category is a definite exception! This is also where you can set up things like baby registries, which I’m sure all your friends and family will very much appreciate.

Amazon Techie Hack No. 8: Use Shopkick

Out of all the choices on our list, my absolute favorite hack is this shopping rewards app called Shopkick. Unlike the other techie hacks for the best deals on Amazon we’ve been through today, this one is actually a third-party app that gives you rewards for buying groceries and really any other type of shopping that you do. How it works is pretty simple. Shopkick gives you points for things you do when you go out shopping already, things like walking into stores, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. You can then trade those points in for gift cards to your favorite stores, including Best Buy, Starbucks, and, of course, Amazon.

There are also literally tons of ways that Shopkick users can get rewards right from the app without having to physically go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also earn kicks for dollars spent by shopping Amazon Home’s selection through the Shopkick app. This is why I think Shopkick is my favorite out of all the great tips and strategies on our list. There are just so many ways to earn points that can get you free Amazon gift cards.

While you’re shopping on Amazon through Shopkick, users can earn kicks for dollars spent by shopping for Amazon Private Label Fashion brands, such as Lark & Ro, Mae, Ella Moon, and Arabella. These brands are Amazon’s own brands, and they’re great for stocking up on basics as well as more trendy pieces. Further, users can also shop for accessories, luggage, and even shoes while earning points! Users can also earn kicks when they purchase Amazon subscriptions through Shopkick, like Audible, Music Unlimited, and Kindle Unlimited.

These are just some of the tips and techniques that I’ve picked up during my many years of using Amazon. As an early adapter to things like online shopping, I like to think I have a pretty good handle on quickly figuring out how to get the most out of these platforms, and that includes finding the best deals on Amazon. I hope that my advice ends up being just as useful for you as it has been for me!

Like I said, though, my all-time favorite of all of these is Shopkick, which is a great way to save money on your Amazon shopping, as well as many of the other stores that you like to shop at. So, that’s my advice to you: learn the many ins and outs of getting the most out of the Amazon platform. You’ll be amazed at the deals you start to score!

These 3 innovative product launch ideas will take your marketing strategy to the next level

Posted on August 29, 2018 by shopkick

Innovative product launch ideas don’t have to be sophisticated, full-scale campaigns. Continue reading “These 3 innovative product launch ideas will take your marketing strategy to the next level”

3 ways to earn a free Sephora gift card before your next night out

Posted on August 28, 2018 by shopkick

There’s nothing like a great night out with the ladies. I know, if you know me, you’re thinking I say the same thing about brunch with the ladies, spin class with the ladies, and hitting the shops with the ladies. Hey, what can I say? I just absolutely LOVE my friends. Still, I think there’s something special about getting all dolled up for a night out on the town, especially if you can swap skincare and makeup tips while you’re getting ready together!

When it comes to hair and makeup, my absolute favorite store is Sephora. I swear, I could spend hundreds of dollars there and still not get all of the beauty products I wanted! There are just far too many great choices! Luckily, I recently found a way to earn a free Sephora gift card. Actually, scratch that, I found three great ways to earn a free Sephora gift card. Because I’d hate to think you wouldn’t have them to get ready for your next night out, I’ll share them with all of you!

So, stick with me and we’ll go over all three of these great ways to earn a free Sephora gift card before your next night out. If you’re anything like me, you’ll also want to take notes on all this so you can share it with your girlfriends the next time you see them!

How to Earn a Free Sephora Gift Card No. 1: Sephora’s Loyalty Program

The first way I recommend to earn a free Sephora gift card is to participate in Sephora’s own loyalty program. This is one of those great internal shopper loyalty programs that gives you perks for being a repeat visitor to stores. While this program technically might not give you a free Sephora gift card, it gives you plenty of things that are just as good as a free Sephora gift card!

For example, if you sign up, you’re automatically eligible for free beauty classes. If you go a step further and spend $350 or more in a calendar year, then you can earn yourself free monthly gift sets that are filled with samples from top brands, a free 45-minute custom makeover once a year, and the ability to sign up for free two-day shipping for an entire year for just $10. If you spend $1,000 a year at Sephora (which I’m honestly close to spending that amount), you can earn invitations to exclusive sales events as well as use of a private hotline with a Sephora beauty advisor who’s available to answer all of your questions.

How to Earn a Free Sephora Gift Card No. 2: Survey Junkie

Another slightly, less glamorous way to earn a free Sephora gift card is by taking surveys through Survey Junkie. It’s pretty simple. Basically, you put in all of your demographic information: age, gender, family status, where you live, etc. Then the app sends you relevant surveys. The more surveys you fill out, the more points you get.

You can then eventually trade those points in for—that’s right, you guessed it—a free Sephora gift card. I like this one because, to be totally honest, taking these surveys is really easy and doesn’t require a whole lot of thought. Sure it gets a little boring, but I can generally do some surveys in the morning when I wake up, on my breaks at work, or at night while I’m making dinner. When I take enough surveys, I can earn myself yet another free Sephora gift card!

How to Earn a Free Sephora Gift Card No. 3: Shopkick

My absolute favorite way to earn a free Sephora gift card is with this shopping rewards app called Shopkick. How it works is that Shopkick gives you points for the things you do when you go out grocery shopping, to the mall, or even to stores like Best Buy and Walmart. This includes things like walking into stores, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. You can then trade in the points you earned for a free Sephora gift card.

Physically going to a store isn’t the only way to earn a free Sephora gift card. There are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon and Walmart.

Physically going to a store isn’t the only way to earn a free Sephora gift card.

Like I said, there are a few different ways to earn a free Sephora gift card for your next big night out. I personally like to combine all three of these ways; I take surveys when I’m bored, participate in the loyalty program when I shop at Sephora, and score points via Shopkick when I shop at most of my other favorite stores. It really adds up!

However, Shopkick is easily my favorite. I just love how it turns all of my trips out to the store into a little scavenger hunt for points. I also really like jumping in on the jokes and other discussions on the Shopkick social media channel. It’s a great place to share tips about the app, or anything really. I highly recommend it!

Get to know the absolute best way to earn a free Sephora gift card before your next night out on the town with the ladies! Download Shopkick’s free app today and become a part of a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered just how much you can earn with the help of a free shopping sidekick.

And, if you’re on social media catching up with friends, be sure to also join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily fun and inspiration.

Image courtesy TY Lim / Shutterstock.com

How to engage customers in the shopping aisle with mobile technology

Posted on August 28, 2018 by shopkick

Mobile technology is an integral part of determining how to engage customers in the shopping aisle. Consumers consistently carry their smartphones with them as they shop and typically, they use their mobile devices to enhance their in-store experience. In fact, one survey showed that 77% of consumers used their phones while in the shopping aisle to gain product information and find deals. Brands that wish to engage consumers during these pivotal moments need to take advantage of mobile-based opportunities to share product information, gain attention, and influence consumer decisions at the point of purchase.

It’s said that “location is everything” when it comes to sales, but in today’s retail climate, location is dynamic. Brands creating a shopper marketing plan must account for the constant movement of consumers. Mobile allows brands to capitalize on that movement and encourage consumers to interact with products while in the store. As the likelihood of purchase increases based on a product’s proximity to the customer, mobile can provide several opportunities to drive consumer interest which many other digital marketing methods can’t.

Influencing Customers With Psychological Cues

Marketers have studied psychological cues and how they impact consumer behavior since the free market began. Everything from the color of a product to the way it physically feels in hand can influence how a consumer reacts to the brand. Mobile can be a crucial part of this process, as it allows brands to leverage several sales-driving cues, including:

Scarcity: These days, scarcity is more often referred to by the new phrase “fear of missing out” or FOMO. It uses limited-time opportunities to encourage consumers to engage with a brand. When the consumer knows they only have a limited amount of time to cash in on a deal or event, they’re likely to act more quickly. CoverGirl took advantage of this on National Lipstick Day, which fell on July 29 this year. The cosmetic company partnered with Target as well as a mobile app to offer a 25% discount on certain lipsticks to celebrate the event. The limited time offer drove interest in the brand and prompted consumers to act fast, which quickly led to increased sales.
Reciprocity: Reciprocity is a strategy that most shopping apps, like Shopkick, use. When an individual receives something from a person, brand, or business, they feel the urge to return the favor. Brands can use rewards points, which are typically available through shopping apps, to trigger this reciprocity. With Shopkick, consumers can gain kicks (rewards points) for scanning items in the store. The mobile program leverages reciprocity while encouraging consumers to seek out products in the shopping aisle. The physical process of handling the item and receiving a reward primes consumers for purchase, which increases the likelihood of a returned favor, or a purchase.
Authority: Consumers often turn to their smartphones for advice when they’re in the store. Brands that display authority through a helpful mobile strategy can build consumer trust. An excellent example of this comes from the well-known pasta company, Barilla. The brand provides an informative online experience which offers a wide range of recipes to consumers—even those who may not have extensive cooking skills. It also includes simple but useful information, like how to decipher between different types of pasta, and which pastas best compliment each sauce. By helping consumers discover new recipes and increase their knowledge of pasta, Barilla becomes an authority the consumer can trust, which improves engagement and brand affinity.
Social proof: Social proof works by using word-of-mouth to encourage consumers to follow a specific trend. When consumers talk about a brand favorably, these brands should seek out ways to capitalize on this buzz. Social proof can be best understood through the Pringles flavor stacking campaign. The brand noticed that many consumers were reposting videos of individuals “stacking” Pringles chip flavors to create unique combination flavors of their own. When consumers caught on to the clever idea, they were quick to try out the stacking for themselves. Pringles decided to use that trend to leverage further sales, and even created an interactive web-based experience where users could virtually combine Pringles chip flavors. When Pringles effectively took advantage of social influence, consumers engaged with the brand, learned about its offerings, and shared that information with others.

Mobile marketing acts as an ideal way to capitalize on psychological cues as it’s rapid, dynamic, and scalable. Brands can simultaneously leverage several of these cues through the use of mobile apps, increasing their overall marketing impact. Of course, brands may not have the budget, time, or ability to create a proprietary app. Luckily, third-party apps like Shopkick allow brands to capitalize on trends while maximizing their marketing ROI.

How to Engage Customers Using Third-Party Apps

Third-party apps can provide an opportunity for brands to connect with a new audience of consumers. These apps are typically designed to leverage multiple cues like scarcity, reciprocity, authority, and social proof, so that brands can maximize their marketing efforts.

Additionally, third-party apps take the responsibility of finding an audience off of the brand. Shopping rewards apps generally have a built-in user base, as consumers seek out unique, mobile ways to earn rewards for shopping. By partnering with one of these developers, brands can gain the attention of an active audience of shoppers, further expanding their marketing reach.

Knowing how to engage customers using mobile apps can be tricky, as brands don’t want to be invasive with a consumer’s private information.

Knowing how to engage customers using mobile apps can be tricky, as brands don’t want to be invasive with a consumer’s private information. However, mobile is vital for capitalizing on several critical psychological cues which effectively drive sales. By partnering with a third-party app provider, brands can discover ways to engage with a new audience of consumers.

Shopkick offers our partners the opportunity to connect with potential customers when they’re most receptive to psychological cues which drive sales. For more information on our innovative app and how it can help engage consumers on behalf of your brand, contact us.

Image courtesy of Rawpixel

Leveraging These Consumer Engagement Strategies Could Mean a Boost in Sales

Posted on August 24, 2018 by shopkick

There are numerous consumer engagement strategies that brands can use to improve sales, though some are more effective in the CPG sector than in others. The key is to encourage the consumer to interact with your brand or product in a way that piques their interest. This strategy can urge consumers to interact with products physically or boost brand recognition with branded content. In either case, the more engaged a consumer is, the more likely they’ll be to purchase a product.

Consumer engagement can have an additional benefit for brands by allowing them to leverage consumers as micro-influencers. When a brand offers an interactive opportunity, those consumers will likely want to share their experience with their friends. Consumers often do so through social media, or other online platforms. This allows brands to increase awareness and affinity, which is the first step to creating an ongoing sales relationship with consumers. Here, we explore several consumer engagement strategies which brands can use to improve their sales both online and in stores.

#1: Offer Free Digital Samples

While free samples are a very traditional form of marketing, they can also be expensive and difficult to scale. A more effective and cost-efficient way to satisfy consumer trial needs is through the use of virtual samples. To do so, brands can leverage an augmented reality marketing strategy to assist consumers in making decisions about products.

Target’s Beauty Studio provides an excellent example of this, as the retailer took a category of products that are often sampled first by consumers and made that sampling process digital. Using Target’s web-based app, consumers can try on different types and shades of makeup virtually. Target also offers this feature on kiosks in ten of its retail stores—with plans to expand to more locations. This strategy allows both in-store and online advertising and eliminates the high cost of stocking samples. There are many benefits to using this innovative strategy, including the following.

#2: Create Consistency With Integrated Marketing

Integrated marketing is an excellent way to connect with consumers by creating a consistent digital presence. Through this strategy, brands create a tone for their content which is seamless across multiple platforms, whether they’re sharing video content on YouTube or sending direct messages on Twitter to new sales leads.

Red Bull provides a great example of creating a consistent presence even across the brand’s extensive digital portfolio. The brand’s overall tone is exciting, young, and high-energy—which works very well when selling an energy drink. Red Bull sponsors many extreme sports events and partners with a variety of sports figures like Swedish skier Jennie Lee Burmansson and US base-jumper Luke Aikins. Through online communications, the brand maintains its familiar high-energy tone by sharing information with hashtags like #epic, #inspirational, and #esports. There are several components of Red Bull’s strategy which other brands should consider implementing to their own events to increase consumer engagement, including the following.

#3: Provide Rewarded Video

Rewarded video incentivizes consumers to watch through advertisements in exchange for digital goods—usually in the form of shopping rewards. Rewarded video works because it takes the invasiveness out of the advertising experience. In most cases, advertisements interrupt consumers when they’re either trying to watch a video, play a game, or view other content. By first getting their permission to play advertisements, brands eliminate the interruption, which reduces the frustrations that consumers may feel with ads.

In one study, consumers preferred rewarded content over non-rewarded content at a ratio of four-to-one. While this feature is most popular in gaming apps, it’s also one which works in shopping apps. By incentivizing videos, brands can build affinity and engage consumers on a deeper level.

#4: Host Digital Scavenger Hunts

Digital scavenger hunts offer brands a way to encourage individuals to seek out their products in the store. This is a strategy Shopkick leverages by allowing users to gain kicks (rewards points) with or without purchase. Shoppers can get rewards by merely seeking out a product, picking it up, and scanning the UPC.

By encouraging the consumer to pick up the product, they become familiar with its physical feel and features, making them much more likely to make the purchase. Mobile apps like Shopkick can act as a map to drive sales, guiding consumers to specific products and incentivizing them to interact with and ultimately purchase them. Shopkick also offers an additional reward for purchase which further incentivizes sales.

#5: Build Social Media Events

Creating a social media event is an excellent new product marketing strategy which can be used to roll out a new release or pump some enthusiasm into an old one. By connecting with consumers online and hosting interactive events, brands can increase engagement and expand their audiences. This strategy has been leveraged by Bacardi several times, and has allowed them to build awareness of products by encouraging the contribution of user-generated content.

Very recently, Bacardi decided to test out the new IGTV feature on the popular social media platform, Instagram. In doing so, they created significant buzz for their brand. On June 29, 2018, Bacardi held a major marketing event featuring two Instagram influencers, Les Twins, who have 970,000 followers on the site. The event centered on a music video which fans helped to direct by voting on features like locations, choreography, lighting, camera angles, colors, and more. The interactive event gained a lot of attention while also boosting engagement. Bacardi saw such great success with this event by utilizing the following strategies.

#6: Focus on Local Markets

While online shopping is a popular option, brick-and-mortar locations offer something which online sales cannot; the ability to localize search results. According to Google, searches which include the term “near me” have tripled in the past two years. Also, 80% of individuals who want items in a hurry will go to the store to get them, even if there is expedited shipping available.

For brands, it is necessary to find a way to adjust search results based on the most active local markets. When a consumer is looking for a product in a specific category of goods, clarifying that this product is available in their local area is imperative. This could include an option that allows consumers to check a brand’s website to find local stores that carry specific products. Brands can also consider leveraging mobile apps with location-based messaging. When using a proximity marketing or location-based app, search results are automatically adjusted based on the consumer’s area. Location-based marketing allows brands to take advantage of local markets where their products may perform particularly well.

#7: Remarket to Former Customers and Browsers

Remarketing provides compelling opportunities for conversion as these ads are directed towards individuals who’ve already shown an interest in a specific product. As these individuals have already searched for a particular product before, they’re very likely to make the purchase.

Remarketing programs often come from third-party options, like Google’s AdWords. While they are typically pay-per-click campaigns, they offer a benefit of only targeting high-potential prospects with ads. This targeting ensures that brands are marketing to the best potential audiences for their products. Remarketing works as follows.

Using Mobile Apps in Consumer Engagement Strategies

All of the engagement strategies listed above can be implemented via mobile apps. Mobile apps are not only engaging marketing strategies, but platforms from which to try thousands of different approaches. Also, mobile apps can travel with consumers as they’re in the shopping aisle, offering brands a more significant opportunity to connect with consumers in the moment.

Consumer engagement strategies aren’t just about advertising to consumers. They’re about connecting with them in a meaningful way, whether they’re purchasing a product for the first time or the thousandth. These strategies work by incentivizing sales, personalizing brands, and creating buzz that builds rapport. Through mobile apps, brands can use these strategies to connect with consumers in a way that both generates affinity and increases sales.

How to make grocery shopping on a budget fun for the whole family

Posted on August 24, 2018 by shopkick

I know it sounds a little cliche, but there really is nothing like finding an activity that’s fun for the whole family. Making sure that the kids are having fun, of course, is always ideal when you have three boys at home like we do—it keeps them occupied and out of trouble! But, if you can find something that you and your partner also enjoy, well then you’re really on to something. Recently, I found an activity that we can all enjoy together that also helps me save money.

I’ve discovered a way to make grocery shopping on a budget fun for the whole family. It’s really a miracle! What I found was a shopping rewards app that helped me save money while I was out at the store and also turned the experience into a game. Before I knew it, my husband and I were looking forward to all the money that we would save while our boys were looking forward to the new game-like components. It really was a win-win situation for us.

So, today I’d like to share our secret with all of you. There’s just so much to love about having fun with the kids while shopping and saving money at the same time. I think it would be selfish to keep it to myself!

Making Grocery Shopping on a Budget Fun for the Whole Family: Find a Shopping Rewards App

The first step to making grocery shopping on a budget fun for the whole family is getting a shopping rewards app. For those who don’t know, these are apps that you can use to save money at the store. There are a few different types of these apps. One is a couponing app that basically simulates the old-school experience of clipping and using coupons.

The other works differently, giving you points for certain behaviors you do while you’re out shopping (more on exactly what those behaviors are below). To be totally honest, this is certainly the type of rewards app you’re going to want to go with. The reason being is that it’s much more like a game than couponing apps are and finding an app that works like a game is key to your kids having fun.

Making Grocery Shopping on a Budget Fun for the Whole Family: Teach the Kids How to Use It

The next step, of course, is making sure that your shopping process is fun for your kids. This is obviously a bit of a challenge. Speaking from my own experience, my boys seem to have an allergic reaction to walking into stores, one that causes them to start running around and wanting to leave immediately. This is where the shopping rewards app comes in.

With the right shopping rewards app, you can turn your trip to the store into a game. Many of these apps reward you points for doing things in the stores and points are something my video game-loving little guys can really engage with. Basically, it takes the daunting task of shopping and turns it into a challenge for them. Now when we go out, we spend the time in the car on the way to the store talking about how much fun it’s going to be earning points in the aisles. It’s almost like they look forward to shopping these days!

Making Grocery Shopping on a Budget Fun for the Whole Family: Embrace Shopkick

The last piece of advice for making grocery shopping on a budget fun for the whole family is also the simplest: choose the right shopping rewards app, which—in my opinion—is an app called Shopkick. How it works is that Shopkick gives you points for the things you do while you’re out shopping already, things like walking into stores, going down the aisles browsing products, and, of course, making purchases. You can then trade these points in for gift cards to so many different stores, including Walmart, Starbucks, and Best Buy.

Having all these different ways to get points is what turns it into a game that your kids can enjoy. Here’s a little tip: you can also use Shopkick when you don’t have the energy to go out with the whole family or even just to go out. There are tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon, Walmart, and more!

Having all these different ways to get points is what turns it into a game that your kids can enjoy.

I hope your family starts to have as much fun using Shopkick as mine does. Going out shopping these days is such a different experience now that my boys are excited to help me earn points. Everybody gets something they want out of it!

Even better, though, is that our newfound love of Shopkick has given us another way to spend time together. I spend a lot of time at the store, but, now with Shopkick, my little guys are excited to come with me! Using Shopkick at the grocery store has turned shopping into a fun scavenger hunt for points.

Ready to start making grocery shopping on a budget fun for the whole family? Download Shopkick for free and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how rewarding—and fun—shopping can be!

And, if you love using your smartphone to stay up on social media, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily shopping inspiration.

Image courtesy vectorpouch

Get SWEET kicks this Blue Weekend plus a chance to win a Disney gift card!

Posted on August 23, 2018 by shopkick

The sweetest kicks of the summer are here! Earn up to 18,500 kicks when you walk in, scan, submit receipts, and make purchases with your linked card in stores like T.J. Maxx, Carter’s, Brighton, and more. You can also earn up to 25 kicks per $1 spent online through Shopkick on Groupon, Kohls.com, and many more! Check out our kick plan below or open the app now to start scooping up kicks!

Plus, get entered for a chance to win $500 in kicks toward a DISNEY GIFT CARD when you use your linked card as credit in stores, submit a receipt, or make a purchase online through Shopkick during Blue Weekend.

SWEET kicks in stores

August 24 – 26

50 kicks

Aug 25 only

50 kicks

Aug 25 only

150 kicks

Aug 25 only

4 kicks*

was 2 kicks/$1

150 kicks

Aug 25 only

2 kicks**

was 1 kick/$1

150 kicks

Aug 25 only

6 kicks

was 3 kicks/$1

150 kicks

Aug 25 only

6 kicks

was 3 kicks/$1

150 kicks

Aug 25 only

6 kicks

was 3 kicks/$1

100 kicks

10 kicks

was 5 kicks/$1

200 kicks

8 kicks

was 4 kicks/$1

*Scan your Shopkick QR code
**Also available at fabletics.com

SWEET kicks through the app

August 24 – 26

25 kicks/$1

Aug 24-25

30 kicks/$1

Aug 26

was 8 kicks/$1

25 kicks/$1

was 15 kicks/$1

15 kicks/$1

was 7 kicks/$1

15 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks/$1

15 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks/$1

15 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks/$1

15 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks/$1

10 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks/$1

10 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks/$1

10 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks/$1

10 kicks/$1

was 2 kicks/$1

15 kicks/$1

was 7 kicks/$1

10 kicks/$1

was 5 kicks/$1

15 kicks/$1

was 6 kicks/$1

10 kicks/$1

was 3 kicks/$1

Chance to win BIG at Disney

But wait, there’s more!

disney giveaway blue weekend

Get entered for a chance to win $500 in kicks toward a DISNEY GIFT CARD when you use your linked card as credit in stores, submit a receipt, or make a purchase online through Shopkick during Blue Weekend. Check out more details here: https://goo.gl/JYxdJH or open the app now to start scooping up the sweet kicks!

*Some exclusions may apply. Please check the app for more information.

Don’t have the app?

Download it here to start earning free gift cards for the shopping you already do!

Here’s how to earn cash back through PayPal on your next trip to the grocery store

Posted on August 22, 2018 by shopkick

I have absolutely no idea why, but I’ve always been a fan of games that are like puzzles. Not like jigsaw puzzles, but the kind that you need to really concentrate on to solve. My all-time favorite is Sudoku. I carry a big tattered Sudoku book with me everywhere I go. It’s seriously one of those things I don’t leave home without. However, another puzzle that involves numbers has also recently grabbed my attention: figuring out how to get as much cash back as I can on my trips to the grocery store.

One of the most effective ways I’ve found to solve the puzzle that is my monthly budget is by learning ways to earn cash back through PayPal on each and every one of my trips to the grocery store. The most effective way I found to do this is by using shopping rewards apps. That’s what I want to talk about today: how you can use shopping rewards apps to earn cash back through PayPal. I’ll also give you a recommendation for a great shopping rewards app that can help you earn free gift cards, too.

That’s right, the answer to solving your monthly budget puzzle is out there. You just need to know which apps you should download to use to solve it.

How Shopping Rewards Apps Can Help You Earn Cash Back Through PayPal

The first step in learning how shopping rewards apps can help you earn cash back through PayPal while shopping for groceries is, of course, learning all that you can about what shopping rewards apps are and what they do. Simply put, shopping rewards apps are exactly what they sound like: apps that give you rewards for shopping. For the purposes of our discussion here today, you want to make sure that the rewards you’re getting come in the form of cash back through PayPal.

There are basically two different types of shopping rewards apps. The first type is a coupon app, which functions a lot like old-school paper coupons. Basically, you get money off from your purchases, money that some of these apps funnel into an account that you can later use to get paid via PayPal. The other type gives you points for shopping and when you earn enough points you can get paid via cash back through PayPal.

My Recommended Shopping Rewards Apps to Earn Cash Back Through PayPal

There are two apps I often like to recommend to earn cash back through PayPal while at the grocery store. The first is Checkout 51, which is a cash back app for groceries that you can use to plan your shopping trip before you ever set foot in the store. You just download the app and you can start to browse hundreds of listed offers. When you find one for a product you plan to buy, you simply select that offer, head out shopping, upload your receipt when you’re done, and enjoy your cash back! It really is that simple.

The second one is called SnipSnap, and it’s one of those apps I described above that works a whole lot like paper coupons used to. With SnipSnap, you basically just use it to take pictures of printed coupons. SnipSnap then goes ahead and transforms them into digital, mobile-ready coupons that you can use when you go out to the store. Saving money while shopping for groceries really is that easy.

My last piece of advice is probably the most important: you should also use this app called Shopkick, which pairs nicely with the two apps above, earning you free gift cards to go along with your cash back through PayPal. How it works is that Shopkick gives you points for things you already do whenever you go out shopping, things like walking into stores, going down aisles browsing products, and making purchases. You can then trade those points in for gift cards to your favorite stores.

What you choose to do with your extra room in your budget after you earn cash back through PayPal is up to you.

As if that weren’t reason enough to start using Shopkick, there are also tons of ways that Shopkickers can earn rewards right from the app—no need to go anywhere. These include kicks for watching videos and instant surprise kicks from going on Easter egg hunts in the app. Users can also get amazing deals where you can earn big points and rewards by shopping on your phone at stores like Amazon, Walmart, and more!

What you choose to do with your extra room in your budget after you earn cash back through PayPal is up to you. Some months it’s nice to help the kids get extra things they need for school, others it’s a great way to treat myself, especially when Shopkick starts earning me gift cards to Starbucks, which is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Get to work solving the puzzle of how to earn cash back through PayPal on your next trip to the grocery store. Download Shopkick’s free app today and join a community of loyal Shopkickers who’ve already discovered how much you can earn with the help of a shopping sidekick.

And, if you’re on social media catching up with friends, be sure to also join Shopkick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for a little daily fun and inspiration.

Image courtesy Primakov