The Evolution of
loyalty
A Guide on Building Community-Powered Brands
1
Looking Back
at Loyalty

2
Loyalty’s (Waning) Impact
3
Program
101
Purchases
Reward customers with points for every purchase they make. The more they buy, the more points they can accrue.
User-generated content (UGC)
Encourage customers to create and share content about your brand on their social media platforms. They can earn points for each share or for generating a certain amount of engagement.
Referrals
Give your customers points when they refer a friend who makes a purchase. This not only rewards your loyal customers but also helps you acquire new ones.

Attendance
If you host events, webinars, or workshops, reward customers who attend. This encourages participation and increases engagement.
Product reviews
Incentivize customers to write reviews of the products they've purchased. This can help to increase trust and credibility among potential customers.

Social media engagement
Reward customers for liking, commenting on, or sharing your social media posts. This can help to boost your social media presence and reach.
Email sign-ups
Give points to customers who sign up for your newsletter. This can help grow your email list and increase the reach of your marketing campaigns.
Community participatioN
If you have an online community or forum, reward members for active participation, such as posting helpful answers or starting interesting discussions.
Brand advocacy
Reward customers who defend and promote your brand on social media or other public platforms. This can enhance your brand's reputation and visibility.
Discounts
Offer a percentage off or a dollar discount on future purchases.
Exclusive access
Provide loyal customers with early access to new or limited products, reinforcing their special status.
Upgrades
Offer customers product or service upgrades.
Preferential service
Provider faster or personalized customer service to loyal patrons, such as dedicated support lines.
GIFTS
Surprise customers with a free gift after accumulating a certain number of points.
Free shipping
Reward high-status customers with complimentary shipping - a compelling incentive for online shoppers.
Cash back
Allow customers to convert loyalty points into cash back on purchases - a direct, appealing financial reward.
Exclusive event invitations
Invite loyal customers to special events like product launches or VIP shopping experiences.
Charitable donations
Enable customers to use their points to support charitable causes, aligning your brand with their values.
Rewards
categorized into three types:
rewards
delightful
of your campaigns is directly
proportional to the
quality of your rewards.
4
Beyond
the
Basics
feedback
beta-testing
5
Community
over Captivity

6
Loyalty
7
Starbucks’ flagship rewards program employs a points-based system with stars earned per dollar spent, which can be exchanged for food and drinks. The program also includes tiered rewards offering exclusive benefits like birthday rewards and free in-store refills.
In 2022, Starbucks launched Odyssey, a web3-enabled loyalty program and NFT platform that allows participants who complete interactive tasks and challenges to earn tradeable digital collectibles (i.e., “journey stamps”) that can unlock exclusive benefits, experiences, and unique merchandise.
Amazon Prime is a paid membership program providing an array of benefits to subscribers including free two-day shipping, exclusive access to movies, TV shows, music, and early access to certain products.


Sephora's Beauty Insider program is a points-based system where customers earn points per dollar spent, which can be redeemed for products. It also includes tiered rewards that provide better rewards based on the amount spent.


NikePlus offers a unique approach by providing members access to exclusive products, music and workout playlists, and personalized training plans, extending beyond mere product purchases.
In 2022, Nike stepped into web3 with .SWOOSH, a new community-powered platform and marketplace to co-create and trade digital collectibles and wearables (i.e., virtual sneakers or jerseys), which the footwear company incentivizes through royalties and prizes.


The American Express Membership Rewards program operates on a points-based system, where cardholders earn points for their spending. These points can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, offering flexibility and a wide array of choices to customers.


Glossier's loyalty strategy leans heavily on user-generated content and social media engagement. They encourage their customer community to share their experiences and photos on social media, fostering a sense of belonging. Glossier also provides exclusive access to new products for loyal customers, enhancing the brand experience.


Supreme has leveraged the power of exclusivity in its loyalty approach. Their strategy involves releasing limited quantities of products, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. This has cultivated a loyal following of customers eager to be among the first to own the latest Supreme merchandise.


Red Bull's loyalty approach focuses on community engagement and exclusive experiences. They host a variety of events, from music festivals to extreme sports competitions, fostering a sense of community among customers. These unique experiences serve as a reward for customer loyalty and align closely with Red Bull's brand identity.


Boys Club, the always-buzzing web3-native — and Co:Create partner — launched a native reward token ($DIMES) to help activate their members through a new community-powered reward program that will unlock exclusive raffles, drops, events, and more. Boys Club NFT holders can easily claim DIMES proportional to their NFT tier after connecting their wallet, kickstarting their DIMES journey. Co:Create’s API was used to help bring the program to life and make it easier than ever for Boys Club members to claim tokens and engage with the growing rewards program. Read more about DIMES here.


Leading sports media brand Bleacher Report (B/R) recently launched a new tokenized community activation program called B/R W2E (Watch to Earn). This exciting loyalty program levels up the sports viewing experience through real-time gamification and rewards, where participants can earn tokens through engaging with trivia. Earned tokens can then be used to unlock premium content, access exclusive events, or be used in the Bleacher Report marketplace. Beneath the hood, these rewards models are powered by web3 technology — and Co:Create’s API — made possible by using smart contracts to create and distribute native tokens that can be earned, traded, and redeemed for various rewards. Read more about Watch-to-Earn (W2E) here.
8
Join the Brand Loyalty Revolution