With modern technology essential to staying competitive, businesses these days need mobile data more than ever. But how can they use their knowledge of this precious commodity – and its value to customers -to their advantage? By establishing rewards programs with appealing incentives like data bundles! Data bundle packages grant users access to the internet at a set limit of bytes through email or phone usage. Fortunately for companies who want in on such loyalty plans, Reloadly can help make it happen quickly and seamlessly!
Before we continue, lets explain something first. Data bundles are internet access packages. They come with a set limit of bytes, and they serve to browse the internet through a mobile phone. Merchants price these data bundles accordingly, with a 1GB sold at a specific price. Many users enjoy it when they buy data bundles that are bigger than 1GB, though.
How can you, as a business, start running a customer loyalty program that rewards customers with data bundles? Look at our products here.
Benefits of Running Customer Loyalty Programs with Data Bundles
For businesses, running a successful customer loyalty program is a fire-proof means to gain the upper ground in the marketplace. However, there are multiple ways of doing so, some more effective than others. Data bundles are a nice incentives to get the ball rolling. Why? Because everyone enjoys data!
Who doesn’t like to have extra data on the phone to look at cool videos, or to send pictures to friends? Reward programs are perfect for customer retention. But the incentive of a data bundle reward is also a good way to attract new customers to a business. Specially those who are used to buying data bundles, either online or through a brick-and-mortar store.
What Kind of Companies use Data Bundle Rewards?
Rewarding customer loyalty through data bundles is common for the telecommunications industry. Companies such as AT&T, Vodafone, Verizon and T-Mobile have customer loyalty programs that reward users with free data.
Social media platforms are good place to look at for inspiration models. Tik Tok and Snapchat incentivize user engagement through various rewards schemes. To reach their unbanked users in countries where modern payment platforms (such as Paypal) are unavailable, these social media companies rely on airtime rewards. They do so in coalition with technology like Reloadly’s API for top-ups. With Reloadly’s APIs, businesses can reward customers with both data bundles and airtime, depending on the customer loyalty program they want to implement.
Data bundles are perfect rewards due their immediacy. Many e-commerce companies reward their customers with store points that can be used for latter purchases. But the problem with this approach is that these rewards need to stack up to be enjoyed. Why not reward customer loyalty in ways that are immediate? Data bundles can be enjoyed in the spot!
Brand Recognition and Added Social Value
Data bundle reward programs can also serve as a marketing tool for businesses. By promoting the program through various channels, such as social media or email marketing, businesses can expand beyond their present limits. Running a successful customer loyalty program through data bundles will help businesses stand out in any crowded market.
Most importantly, though, data bundle reward programs can be an effective way for businesses to help their communities. How so? Think about it as a give-give situation. A business that plays it smart may take a portion of the proceeds from newly acquired customers and donate it to a charitable organization or invest it in a social cause.
A strategy like this can build good interactions with customers. It also demonstrates that the business is committed with social responsibility and its impact with the public.
Let’s look at some of the benefits.
Satisfaction
One of the main benefits of running a successful customer loyalty program is, of course, customer satisfaction. By rewarding customers with free data bundles, a business is showing that it values its customers. It shows that it is willing to go further than the competition to keep its customers happy.
What’s the end game of this? Increased customer loyalty and repeat business! This then can lead to an increase in revenue for the business.
Customer acquisition
By offering data bundles as rewards and incentives, businesses can attract new customers. This is something to keep mind of. Today’s markets are highly competitive, and customers are always on the lookout for the best deals a business can offer them.
Businesses can differentiate themselves from the rest by incentivizing new customers with data bundle rewards. Not only does this add value to the customer experience and the products and/or services being offered, but it enhances the business’ brand. Word of mouth marketing will be a byproduct of running this kind of customer loyalty program!
For small businesses, a customer loyalty program based on data bundle rewards can cut marketing costs. How so? Because because by attracting customers with data bundles, they save money on traditional adverting!
Valuable Customer Data
Customer loyalty programs that give data bundle rewards are an effective way of gathering valuable data. How? Companies can use data bundles to encourage customers to provide personal information, such as their names, e-mail and phone numbers.
This data can then be put to good use, for example, in the creation of personalized marketing campaigns. A business that plays it smart with this will tailor a professional and detail-oriented strategy with this information. This can result in significant benefits for the business, such as increased customer loyalty and engagement.
Reduced Customer Churn
Customers that feel appreciated will tend to stick around and be loyal to the business that adds value to their experience as customers. For industries such as telecommunications, where customer turnover rates are high, a data bundle reward will work marvels at keeping and bringing new customers in!
(Are you interested already? Why not get in touch with us and try Reloadly’s API for data bundle top-ups? Integration is seamless and free of charge!)
Diversify Data Bundles as Rewards with Airtime
Although we have seen some of the benefits of using data bundles as an effective loyalty program, it is important to be smart about them. Businesses can’t just start giving data bundles! Strategic planning is necessary. The effectiveness of the customer loyalty program will vary, depending on the industry and target audience, among other things.
A business should start by evaluating their current (and future!) customers’ needs and preferences. This is the moment where planners will realize if they should go for a data bundle-only reward program, or if they should diversify a little. For example, what about a mixed data bundle/airtime reward program?
But what is airtime? It refers to the amount of time a mobile network user has available to make calls, typically measured in minutes. Sending an airtime top-up involves transferring credit from one user’s account to another user’s mobile phone. Or, in this case, from a business to a customer!
To do this, businesses often rely on specialized APIs (Application Programming Interface), like Reloadly’s API for top-ups. APIs make it easy for companies to facilitate airtime and/or data bundle transfers and provide a valuable benefit to their customers.
Logistics. How to Handle your Data Bundle Rewards
It is important to consider all the logistics behind a data bundle reward system for customer loyalty programs. Reloadly’s API for data bundle top-ups can deliver the goods immediately and in bulk. It does so cleanly, with a clear record of each transaction made. However, the business itself should notify the customer that he or she is about to receive a juicy reward!
It must be said, though, that the frequency and amount of data bundles rewarded must be carefully considered. Too little data may not be attractive enough to attract, or even retain, customers. Too much may be too costly for the good for the business. Therefore, a balance must be found.
As a special note, it is important that businesses regularly evaluate the success of their data bundle rewards program. If necessary, some adjustments will have to be set in place. Businesses can keep track of this through software analytics. For example, by monitoring customer engagement and satisfactions levels. Also, by analyzing the program’s cost-effectiveness and making changes to its structure, if needed.
Never Lose Sight of the Customer!
Reward programs benefit the business, but the customers come first. It is very important to communicate to them all the details of the reward program. This can take many forms. For example, a detailed explanation of how the program works, how customers earn their data bundle rewards, terms and conditions, etc. Never forget that clear communication always helps build trust between customers and businesses!
Data collected through a reward program can be used in the favor of both the business and the customer. But first, it must be analyzed. For example, if a business notices that customers are redeeming data bundles for video streaming, the business then may consider the possibility of a cool streaming service. Or perhaps optimizing their website for video content. Understanding customer behavior is important!
Some Final Thoughts
Data bundles as rewards can provide numerous benefits for business growth, like higher retention rates, new customer acquisition, marketing benefits, and renewed social standing. By carefully evaluating the effectiveness of this strategy for their particular industry and target audience, communicating the details of the reward program clearly to customers, and making data-driven decisions based on the insights gained from the program, businesses can build a profitable customer base and see an increase in revenue. It’s a win-win situation for everybody!
Here at Reloadly we offer businesses all the right tools to get themselves started with this. In this article we covered data bundles as rewards, and briefly touched on the possibility of airtime as rewards. But what about digital gift cards? Reloadly has you covered on that front as well!
Reloadly’s APIs for top-ups are the perfect fix to up your customer game. All you have to do is talk to us and get started. Have we picked up your curiosity? Please, get in touch with us today!
