Every retailer wants it, and the majority has some sort of plan to build customer loyalty. And to be honest, there is a lot of talking and writing about how to reach loyalty that is pretty much all the same. That’s why we've gathered the best strategies to build customer loyalty – that you may not have heard about before!
Customer loyalty isn’t built by accident—it’s the result of intentional, consistent experiences that make shoppers feel seen, valued, and inspired to return.
But loyalty doesn’t stop at points or perks. The most successful retailers go beyond transactions, creating personalized journeys that build connection over time. And behind those experiences is often a smart, data-driven CRM or CDP platform that brings it all together.
If you’re evaluating new tools to strengthen customer relationships, this blog shares five standout strategies—along with how the right platform can help you bring them to life.
True personalization isn’t just about you knowing what the customer wants—it’s about letting the customer tell you. Imagine you run a DIY retail business. You want to engage customers who made a renovation-related purchase in the last three months. Instead of sending a generic follow-up, you could ask: “What’s your next project?” and provide them with a few clickable options:
When a customer clicks on an option, your platform should automatically:
This type of interaction combines personalization with customer-led engagement, building relevance from the very first click.
Platform tip: With Voyado, you can set up these kinds of branching email automations in just a few clicks, using behavioral triggers and dynamic segmentation.
Smart segmentation makes personalization powerful. For example, if you sell sports gear, you can target customers who’ve bought tennis products in the past six months with a timely message before Wimbledon begins.
Share where to watch the matches and suggest a few top gear picks, ending with:
“Enjoy world-class tennis this week—here’s what we recommend for your next match.”
It’s a simple way to stay relevant and build loyalty through timely, interest-based communication.
To really engage your customers today, you need to give them ways to earn points in ways other than just shopping from you. The first step in introducing gamification is to make the customer want to “play with you.” Make gamification as fun as possible. Here are a few examples of what you can do:
Gamification turns customer engagement into a game—one that builds habit, recognition, and community. Think of it like this: Loyalty isn’t just a program. It’s a reason for your customers to return, engage, and feel good while doing it.
Rewarding customers doesn’t always mean offering money off. Inspiration can be even more powerful than a discount. For example, imagine you’re in the wellness or supplement industry. A customer adds a natural sleep product to their cart, then abandons it. You send a standard reminder, but then follow up with a nurturing flow of:
This approach shows customers you’re paying attention—and genuinely want to help them solve a problem.
Here’s a bonus trick: If your loyalty program includes tiered rewards, remind customers how close they are to unlocking the next level. “You’re just €15 away from reaching Silver status—don’t miss out!” These small nudges drive action and reinforce your value without compromising on price.
Read more: What is brand loyalty and how do you reach it?
One of the most underused loyalty strategies is creating a space for your customers to connect with each other.
Whether it’s a Facebook group, a forum, or a private member page, branded communities give your customers a sense of belonging. You don’t have to moderate everything, but by initiating the space, you create long-term brand equity.
Try sparking discussions like:
Customers who feel part of a brand community are more likely to stay loyal, and more likely to contribute user-generated content (UGC) you can use in future campaigns.
Retailers often put their best creative energy into Instagram captions and hero banners, but forget about the places where customers are actually interacting most: order confirmations, loyalty updates, SMS alerts, and post-purchase flows. That’s a missed opportunity.
Your tone of voice and brand personality should shine in every single customer touchpoint:
Good copy builds memory. Great copy builds emotional loyalty.
Platform tip: Voyado allows you to customize every automation—from transactional emails to loyalty tier updates—ensuring consistency across channels.
Before you start building out tactics, take a step back and answer three key questions:
Then, as you grow your loyalty program, focus on progressive data collection. Collect email addresses and phone numbers, and ask for birthdays, preferences, and favorite categories. Then voilá, use each new data point to fuel smarter personalization!
Building a loyalty strategy of this kind, rich in personalization, automation, segmentation, and creative flexibility, requires a CRM or CDP that’s purpose-built for retail marketers. Here’s what to look for:
Voyado was built with all of this in mind—designed specifically for retail brands that want to build lasting customer relationships and unlock true customer lifetime value.
We love all things customer and product data, and would love to chat about your brand’s individual challenges, and how our solutions can help.
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