An article in the Harvard Business Review (HBR) magazine from 1995 began with a rather bold comment about customer rewards programs, stating that they’re “reviled” in business circles because of their perceived cheapness.

While conceding that they do work to build a relationship between two parties, HBR concluded that mid-90s loyalty schemes were short-term, badly implemented, and ignored the entire purpose of a rewards program, i.e. to keep customers around for longer.

Nearly two decades on, has anything changed?

Starbucks Rewards

It’s fair to say that mega-corporations like Amazon don’t really bother with customer loyalty – and don’t need to. Granted, being able to get Prime with Amazon Video and all sorts of other perks might seem like a great deal, but it’s still part of a service that’s paid for by the customer.

By definition, rewards schemes are designed to do exactly that – re-pay the client or customer for sticking around and making more purchases. A good example is Starbucks Rewards, which gives customers one “star” per dollar spent. These stars can then be redeemed for goods.

In the online world, loyalty schemes can be a bit easier to produce rewards for, as they can be entirely digital. The video game companies Nintendo, Sony, Valve, Microsoft, Google, and Ubisoft all offer virtual incentives for playing or buying games.

In Nintendo’s case, all the player has to do is complete “missions,” such as completing animal requests in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp or clearing chapters in Fire Emblem Heroes. These missions reward completion with points that can be exchanged for physical items, like pin badges, and encourages sustained, long-term engagement with the product.

A similar type of scheme occupies online casino fans too. The industry is well-known for providing regular bonuses to cut through the noise of a crowded marketplace.

The BonusFinder New Zealand website reveals that operators sometimes offer deposit rewards, such as Wildz Casino’s 100% bonus of up to $500.

Regular depositors on the Neon Vegas site also have a chance to claim a prize every time they pay money into their account too. This is usually free turns on slot games.

A Positive Review

The question is, do these schemes – any of them – actually work? For businesses, the answer seems to be a resounding yes. According to digital services company KPMG, of customers that met the definition of “loyal,” 86% would recommend a business to somebody else, 66% would write a positive review, and 46% would show contrition to a company if they somehow made a mistake.

In a related survey from HubSpot, loyal customers are 50% more likely to try a new product or service – and also spend 31% more.

Of course, loyalty schemes actually need to provide something of value to customers in order to make them worth the effort. Starbucks Rewards might be considered a bit too expensive for the more casual coffee drinker, with 25 stars (equal to $25) needed for the most basic return – an added shot of milk, sauce, or espresso.

For the more hardcore fan though, and given how expensive Starbucks drinks can be, 25 stars might seem like nothing at all. So, creating a rewards scheme needs an understanding of customer demographics too.

Overall, while the biggest of companies, with their almost guaranteed customer base, might not bother with loyalty campaigns, they can be a boon for just about everybody else.

Starting your business when at college can be stressful. You have to deal with all technical and creative aspects, but it’s not enough to make your business thrive. That’s when you need to start working toward finding a marketing team. Marketing professionals help your ideas to rise and find the right audience.

As you are beginning your search for a marketing team, you need to sort out other priorities. Manage your homework with an essay writing service help, deal with your chores, and get ready for other responsibilities that come with your business management. Once you figure out all the basic steps to kickstart your journey, look out for these essential do’s and don’ts we’ve gathered.

Do’s of finding a perfect marketing team match 

There are golden rules you should adhere to optimize your experience when dealing with marketing and business. Many beginners overlook them or try to achieve everything in one day. Instead, you should focus on factors relevant to your business. Don’t expect to find a perfect team right away, and keep your options open before making the final decision.

Identify your goals

A number one step in marketing team search and hiring is identifying what you are trying to achieve. You need to be extra specific with the requirements and goals. For instance, if you are just starting your e-commerce shop or catering a specific product, there are various areas to focus on. Maybe people struggle to find you or have issues with placing the order. 

Everything depends on your business type, industry, and end goals. This aspect will determine what you are looking for in a marketing team. Many teams can help you reach the right audience in the beginning. In other cases, they can help you increase conversion rates.

Brainstorm different goals you want to achieve and indicate what can be done in the present moment. Then, develop key performance indicators (KPIs) that would serve as a measurement of a marketing team’s success. Don’t try to hire a team that can cover all your needs immediately because it’s a highly unrealistic scenario.

Look for all available companies fitting your requirements

The research process can take a lot of time, but it’s worth it. Do not agree to work with the first company you find and bet on the safe choice. Look for the company credentials and references, what projects they completed, and how they approach their responsibilities. Spend enough time to get acquainted with the methods and services they provide. 

Look for an industry-specific marketing team with experience, open to working with new student businesses. Some agencies will be reluctant to work with you, while others will take you on board immediately. Create a shortlist of those agencies and teams you want to collaborate with. Then, start reviewing them and establishing connections. 

Always ask for a portfolio

You shouldn’t prepare contracts or agreements before you see the team’s projects. After you read more about the company’s approach and ideas, ask for samples. 

It is a big red flag if the marketing agency doesn’t have or declines to provide a portfolio or examples of their work. No matter how recently a team has started, they should have a portfolio or examples of their projects. Not all marketing teams work the same, and the more versatile their portfolio is, the most likely they can adapt to your requirements. 

Review the agency’s marketing strategy

When researching the company, pay close attention to its communication and marketing efforts. Come across their social media and website. Evaluate whether the agency has a consistent style and voice. If a marketing team does a decent job with its brand and image, you can expect the same care for your business. 

Estimate the available budget 

Be realistic about what you can afford and what you would love to afford. Creating a solid budget for your marketing campaign is a must for any business. You should be careful with funds allocation and avoid overspending. Yet, remember that business is business, and the marketing team is not the cheapest solution to find out there.

Don’ts you should avoid at all cost 

Many people learn from their own mistakes. In many cases, your cooperation with a marketing team should go smoothly and without bumps. Yet, it is much better to avoid an unpleasant situation altogether and stay prepared for even the most unlikely scenario. 

Not prepare paperwork

Many people overlook the power of contracts and agreements before signing up for anything. Request a detailed service agreement from the marketing team you want to hire. It is significant to outline every aspect of services you expect to be executed. Even if you had productive discussions and reached some level of understanding, you still need a detailed contract.

A contract is a final document that solidifies everything performed during your cooperation. You should carefully review it before proceeding and negotiate and clarify all details that are unclear. You will save a ton of time and worry whether or not you should expect problems during your cooperation. 

Ignore marketing agency reviews 

Another essential aspect you should avoid is ignoring customer feedback. Of course, agencies can hide comments and never include negative reviews on their page. Yet, you should do an extensive search on TrustPilot and other websites where people can share their experiences freely.  

Conclusion

Finding the right marketing team for your student business is a real quest. We have outlined essential aspects you should focus on when doing your research. A good marketing team will guide you through the process and even offer advice on what can be improved: SEO practices or strengthening your social media presence. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and negotiate services. Be patient and never rush into signing a contract without clear goals.

Mimi Ikonn is a Canadian entrepreneur who has established several successful businesses with her husband, Alex Ikonn, who is also an entrepreneur.

The duo are also angel investors and have invested in great companies like Brex, Calm, Curlsmith, Grove Collaborative, WeCommerce, and others. 

They have made a significant amount of money while providing their clients with the satisfying products they promised, thanks to their combined hard work and devotion.

Mimi Ikonn and Alex Ikonn’s net worth revealed

The success of Mimi and Alex’s several businesses over the previous few years is reflected in their estimated net worth, which ranges from $1 million to $5 million.

Mimi Ikonn with her husband Alex Ikonn and their daughter. (Source: alexikonn/Instagram)

The married couple developed into business partners when they initially started Luxy Hair with the intention of helping people who have suffered from hair growth issues to look and feel beautiful every day.

Because the two “just were not attached,” they decided to exit their multi-million-dollar company Luxy Hair. Afterward, in 2013, they launched Intelligent Change and Love Hair in 2018.

Mimi Ikonn and Alex Ikonn’s initial investment was $20,000 for Luxy Hair

The couple’s $20,000 personal line of credit investment in Luxy Hair evolved over the following eight years into a premium beauty lifestyle business. It currently has over 250,000 customers and is present in more than 165 countries.

Luxy Hair was their first start-up project which became one of the largest Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) beauty e-commerce brands online.

The majority of Luxy Hair’s growth came from social media, particularly its YouTube channel, which had more than 3 million subscribers and half a billion views. 

Mimi and Alex successfully exited the company when Beauty Industry Group acquired it in late 2018. Mimi explained that they had to let go of the company since it simply did not fit their long-term goals.

“It was a big decision. A decision that we knew for many years we wanted to make eventually because we’re very honest with what excites us,” Mimi reasoned during an Interview with London Real.

The duo also asserted that they wanted to concentrate on other lucrative businesses they had started that were bringing in more clients and revenue.

Mimi Ikonn and Alex Ikonn’s present business

Mimi and Alex were eager to carry out their aim of providing value to the world after departing their first project. 

They were overjoyed to devote more of their love and energy to their business, Intelligent Change, with the purpose of helping others realize their potential and live happier, more fulfilling life.

The pair used premium sustainable materials for their products, like The Five Minute Journal and the Productivity Planner.

The Five Minute Journal is the first journal and iOS/Android app to apply the principles of positive psychology. It has sold more than 1,700,000 copies worldwide.

Productivity Planner helps prioritize and accomplish the vital few tasks that satisfy your day, which has sold more than 300,000 copies.

Similarly, Mimi created Love Hair in 2018 when she couldn’t find haircare products that met her high standards.

It was founded with an emphasis on healthy, ethical ingredients that deliver on their promises and are packaged beautifully but sustainably.

Keep reading Glamour Buff for more stories like this!