The Approach
We began by analyzing the differing approaches to successful rewards and loyalty programs. Traditional rewards programs are geared towards recruiting new users utilizing extrinsic motivators, and are aimed at people that have a proclivity to the acquisition of free goods and are not brand loyal. Loyalty programs, on the other hand, seek to strengthen an existing base of customers utilizing intrinsic motivators to deepen engagement, and are geared towards people that have brand devotion.
Our team of strategists and designers identified a customer experience strategy that utilized a hybrid approach of combining critical elements of loyalty and rewards programs into a singular path designed to maximize user engagement. The program was built upon members’ existing interactions, such as game play behaviors, utilization of the company’s search engine, participation with online quizzes, and more. We introduced progressive set completion, upped game mechanic complexity and usability within daily sets, and shifted the information architecture and UX to surface more intrinsic rewards. Members were now able to earn points during program activities which reinforce desired behaviors, creating a sense of value for the program.
The new Rewards program entices users to use our client’s suite of products by giving them points while searching/browsing and engaging in interactive content, such as quizzes. These points could then be used for purchasing our client’s products, gift cards, or could be converted to a donate towards a charity of their choosing. Our solution established a tiered rewards network that built a sense of exclusivity with long-term members, while encouraging new members to build status and acquire exclusive offers, allowing our client to reinforce brand meaning at every stage of the rewards journey.