CommPRO.biz Editorial Staff

A new study shows that marketers are able to drive consumer engagement with a brand by focusing on consumers' reasons for being loyal to that brand, including their experience, convenience and payment process.

In the survey, Blackhawk Network examined why consumers are loyal to brands and how that loyalty impacts their engagement with those brands.

The findings come as evolving consumer demands and technology continue to change the way consumers shop, creating challenges for marketers looking for new ways to engage current and potential shoppers.

"Many marketers understand that building brand loyalty can have a positive impact on driving customer engagement, and our latest research supports that thinking," said Teri Llach, chief marketing officer, Blackhawk Network. "While the amount of choice that consumers have today is making it difficult for brands to bond with customers, our research found that nine out of 10 consumers surveyed said they engage with brands that they are loyal to, and nearly half identify themselves as 'very engaged.' Marketers looking to increase customer engagement should be seeking to maintain and acquire devoted customer relationships by focusing on the factors that are already driving loyalty, like creating a positive customer experience and a seamless payment process."

The key research findings, published today in an ebook entitled, "What Makes Customers Loyal?", include:

Positive customer experiences drive loyalty: Surveyed consumers name a consistently good customer experience (94 percent) as the main reason they remain loyal to a brand. However, other factors, such as convenience (77 percent) and an easy payment process (76 percent) are also important. Surprisingly, lower prices (57 percent) was one of the lowest ranking reasons for loyalty according to surveyed consumers.

Loyal consumers are a brand's biggest ambassadors: Of the consumers surveyed, most engage with a brand they are loyal to by recommending it to others (86 percent). Just 50 percent of non-loyal consumers would do the same. Marketers might also consider finding ways to build upon their loyal following using their website, social media, targeted branded offers and rebates, which are the other top ways consumers prefer to engage with brands.

Consumers are more engaged with the brands that they are most loyal to: When comparing surveyed shoppers who are brand loyal with shoppers who are not loyal, the findings indicate that loyal shoppers engage with the brand more often through different marketing vehicles. Of the loyal consumers surveyed:

• Sixty-three percent receive emails from their favorite brand or store about the latest deals and products, compared to 39 percent of non-loyal consumers.
• Sixty-two percent watch for or take advantage of rebates from their favorite brand or store, versus 44 percent of non-loyal customers.
• Forty-four percent use their favorite store's gift cards or egifts, compared to 31 percent of non-loyal customers.
• Forty-two percent use targeted offers from their favorite store, versus 27 percent of non-loyal customers.

Millennials are more likely to engage with brands: According to the research, millennials (aged 18–34) are more likely to engage with brands they are loyal to—and in more ways—than any other generation surveyed. Marketers can consider using branded value solutions, such as gift cards, loyalty points, and targeted offers—to help acquire more loyal members of the coveted generation of millennial consumers. For instance, of the loyal consumers surveyed:

• Fifty-nine percent of millennials used gift cards or egifts for brands or stores they are loyal to, compared to 43 percent of Gen Xers and 32 percent of Baby Boomers.
• Fifty-five percent of millennials signed up for the reward and/or loyalty program for a brand or store that they are loyal to, compared to just 41 percent of Gen Xers and 36 percent of Baby Boomers.
• Fifty-two percent of millennials used targeted offers from a brand or store that they are loyal to, compared to 43 percent of Gen Xers and 31 percent of Baby Boomers.
• Fifty-three percent of millennials have used a mobile app for a brand or store that they are loyal to, which is significantly higher than the number of Baby Boomers (27 percent) and Gen Xers (39 percent) who have done the same.
• Thirty-two percent of millennials have purchased or used prepaid offers for brands or stores they are loyal to, compared to 19 percent of Gen Xers and just seven percent of Baby Boomers.

To download the complete "What Makes Customers Loyal?" ebook, visit: https://blackhawknetwork.com/examining-brand-loyalty-impacts-engagement