More and more I have noticed the increase in various loyalty programs from various companies. It used to be I would only see them at places like grocery stores, where I would get additional discounts if I have their card.

Now when I go clothes shopping I see them, bookstores have them; even online businesses have a number of different programs set up to honor return business.

No matter what industry you are in there is the potential for a loyalty program with your customers as well. In fact, I would say that the sooner you set things up the better off you will be, and the easier it will be to start getting people to come into your store.

The older loyalty programs often required people to pay something in order to get the discount card, and I am sure many companies still maintain this, but these days most give this away for free. They know that when someone is promised something free they are more likely to come in, and they are also more likely to buy more than just what they are getting for free.

Once of the greatest challenges is getting someone into your store in the first place. If you can do that than you have crossed the largest hurdle, and loyalty programs are great at getting people to keep coming back for more. The way most companies use loyalty programs is to get people to keep coming back rather than to get them to come in for the first time.

This provides you with an opportunity.

If you are new to an area and you want to get people interested in your store good deals will always be a draw. So what you do is get some custom greeting cards to send out to your future custom base. Each of these cards will say two things. The first thing is letting people know you are there, and inviting them to come see what you’re all about.

The second thing you do is tell them that if they bring the card with them they can be automatically enrolled in your discount card program, allowing you additional savings. I would suggest that on the first custom greeting cards you send you should be a specific discount of some kind as well.

With this you are not only encouraging them to come in do to the money they can save, but you are also immediately setting up a system to increase the odds of them coming in again.

Why wait to ask them about joining your loyalty program until after they have come in for the first time? Why would not you seize the opportunity to get them interested before ever setting foot in your store?

I have a feeling that eventually every store is going to have a program like this. There is no reason to be the last one to join the trend.