--- title: Did we just become best friends? The power of loyalty description: From a marketing perspective, returning customers are even more valuable to your business than new customers. Can you turn new friends into forever ones? image: https://blog.bopple.com/hubfs/pexels-elevate-3009787.jpg --- [![Bopple](https://blog.bopple.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Bopple-Blog/images/bopple-blueberry-text.svg)](https://bopple.com/) [![Back to blog](https://blog.bopple.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Bopple-Blog/images/arrow-left.svg) Back to blog](https://blog.bopple.com) [Log in](https://my.bopple.com/login) [Sign up free](https://my.bopple.com/signup) ![Bopple loyalty best friends](https://blog.bopple.com/hubfs/pexels-elevate-3009787.jpg) [Grow Your Sales](https://blog.bopple.com/tag/grow-your-sales) # Did we just become best friends? The power of loyalty ![Ceri Kidby-Salom](https://blog.bopple.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/team-avatar-ceri-f45acfc86bd03a1e2fdafbac7b13d5c5.svg) [Ceri Kidby-Salom](https://blog.bopple.com/author/ceri) --- Due to the sheer number of dining options that people have, it can be humbling when your business starts to develop regular customers. You can start to grow and reward a loyal following with a thoughtful loyalty program... and move on from those old coffee stamp cards.   Rewarding loyalty doesn't have to be costly. The most loyal customers feel good about supporting a business, and will take pride in their continuing patronage. They are natural brand ambassadors, sharing your business to new customers.   ## It's the small things 🎂   A dessert or free coffee on a customer's birthday is a small but personal way to thank them for their loyalty. It's easy to record customer birthdays with your marketing database and bookings software. Use birthdays to give time-sensitive discounts to bring them back in the door sooner. Encourage social media followers to join your email list with exclusive offers to help your community feel extra special.   ## Leverage word-of-mouth 🗣   That word-of-mouth buzz is the real gold. Customers trust their friends' and family's recommendations more than someone they have never met. Influencers build trust and connection as if they are a friend, which is how influencer marketing has become so valuable. People take their recommendations, so long as they come across as genuine. Consider how you can identify your best ambassadors and nurture that relationship   ## Better for your bottom line ⚖️   It costs less to market to return customers than it does to market to new customers, which is great news for your budget. According to a [study by Deloitte](https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/consumer-review.html), increasing customer loyalty rates by 5% can increase profits by 25-95%. Make sure you have budget allocated to customer retention as well as new customer attraction. Digital and social media is cheaper than traditional advertising, so you can get a bigger bang for your bucks.   You own your own customer data on Bopple, so you can see who are your best customers and reward them. We make it easier for you to reward your customers, so you can focus on keeping your offer one worth returning for.   ### Starting up, starts here. Subscribe to get free education, tips and inspiration to help you start and grow a successful business. ## Related Articles ![](https://blog.bopple.com/hubfs/BoppleCorbett_AdamHunter_SalumiStudio-143-1.jpg) [Grow Your Sales](https://blog.bopple.com/tag/grow-your-sales) ### [How well do you really know your customers? ...](https://blog.bopple.com/how-well-do-you-really-know-your-customers) ![Laing Goostrey](https://blog.bopple.com/hs-fs/hubfs/laing.png?width=45&name=laing.png) [Laing Goostrey](https://blog.bopple.com/author/laing-goostrey) ![](https://blog.bopple.com/hubfs/Google%20Reviews%20Boost%20-%201200px.jpg) [Product Updates](https://blog.bopple.com/tag/product-updates) / [Grow Your Sales](https://blog.bopple.com/tag/grow-your-sales) ### [How to Boost Your Google Rating Without Lifting a ...](https://blog.bopple.com/boost-your-google-rating-with-bopple) ![Tim Dart](https://blog.bopple.com/hs-fs/hubfs/tim.png?width=45&name=tim.png) [Tim Dart](https://blog.bopple.com/author/tim-dart) © 2021 Bopple Technologies Pty Ltd - [Privacy Policy](https://bopple.app/legal/privacy-policy) - [Terms of Use](https://bopple.app/legal/terms-and-conditions) - [Help Centre](https://help.bopple.com/) - [Leave Feedback](https://customer-contact-help.bopple.com/)