Strategies for Enhancing Customer Loyalty with Your Restaurant Phone App

Every business needs loyal customers to grow, and so do your restaurants. Your restaurant business needs restaurant apps to retain current customers and convert them into loyal customers. In a fully competitive domain, getting and building a loyal customer base can significantly impact your restaurant revenue.

Today, let’s dive deep and see what strategies you can implement to convert your customers into loyal regular buyers.

5 Strategies for Restaurant Apps

Enhance the loyalty of your customers with restaurant guide apps are highly in trend. Many new restaurants are opting for restaurant apps with rewards and loyalty programs to encourage their customers to stick to the app and engage with it.

Implement a Loyalty Program

Restaurant customer loyalty is highly important for the dining and food industry. implementation of loyalty program actually boost customer engagement and repeat visits on your restaurant phone app. 

You can start with a point-based customer loyalty program where your customers can earn 1 point with every dollar they spend. Introduce tiered programs offering escalating benefits: Bronze (0-100 points) with small perks like free drinks, Silver (101-500 points) with exclusive discounts, and Gold (501+ points) with VIP perks like priority reservations. Communicate these rewards to motivate spending. 

Additionally, offer a cashback program providing 5% of each purchase as store credit, automatically applied to accounts for future use. Promote these programs through email campaigns, in-store signage, and staff explanations to ensure customer awareness and participation.

Personalize Customer Experience

According to the study of Salesforce, around 64% of consumers want their restaurants and vendors to respond and interact with them in real-time. Moreover, if you are providing a personalized experience there are more chances your customer will spend more on your restaurant loyalty app.

Leverage customer data to enhance dining experiences and build loyalty. Use restaurant analytics software to track customer preferences and order history, recording favorite dishes and special requests. Train staff to invite customers to join your loyalty program, which tracks their preferences and enables personalized recommendations. Launch a customized email marketing campaign using tools to send automated, tailored offers based on purchase history.

Also read: Tips for Promoting Your Restaurant Mobile Phone App

Exclusive Offers & Discounts

Discount and combo deals help retain your existing customers as it gives your customer a feel of appreciation and value. On top, there is a study by loyalyLion that shows 76% of consumers feel good when it comes to exclusive deals and discounts.

Offer special discounts and exclusive rewards to engage customers and drive loyalty. Provide personalized discounts for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries by collecting customer information through your loyalty program and sending limited-time offers, such as a free dessert or drink. 

Create urgency with limited-time promotions by offering discounts on new dishes for a month, promoted via social media and email marketing. Reward loyal customers with exclusive perks, such as early access to new menu items or invitations to special events like tasting nights for top-tier loyalty members, motivating others to join your loyalty program.

Exceptional Customer Service on Restaurant Apps

Exceptional customer loyalty is key to great service in restaurants. A PWC report shows that 73% of customers value experience when making buying decisions. Retaining customers can also greatly boost profits.  

Chick-fil-A sets a high standard for customer service with friendly and efficient interactions. This approach has earned it strong customer loyalty and satisfaction. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) ranked Chick-fil-A number one for customer satisfaction for nine years in a row. Its latest score of 85 is higher than any other quick-service or full-service restaurant.

Also read: Mistakes to Avoid when Developing a Restaurant Mobile App

Social Media is a Game Changer

Social media can be a game changer if you are using it with an effective strategy, you can generate a ton of loyal customers. Keep your social media active and engaging to attract customers and build loyalty. Share regular updates about new menu items, events, and promotions using a content calendar and tools like Hootsuite to schedule posts with high-quality photos and captions. 

Respond to comments and messages within 24 hours, thanking customers for positive feedback and addressing concerns promptly. Encourage user-generated content by running monthly contests where customers can win a free meal for tagging your restaurant in their posts. Feature these posts to create a sense of community and inspire more customers to share their experiences.