Benefits of Loyalty vs Text Marketing on Square

[EdmondsPeartree]

I'm considering implementation of Loyalty program or Text Messaging for our brick and mortar consignment boutique.  I think I understand the benefits of the Loyalty program but am not sure I understand whether that also allows custom text messaging or if it's all automated? Would I need to buy the Text Messaging separately if I want to tell my customers about events, sales, etc? Is there a bundle option if I want to get multiple programs: ie Loyalty, text, email?  Thanks for the help:) 

[Summer2024]

Hi, @EdmondsPeartree ! Welcome to the Square Community. 

I will provide a breakdown below of the programs and their differences. I will also tag a few Sellers I know use Loyalty that may be able to guide you further. 

Square Loyalty 

Square Loyalty lets you create a rewards program that integrates directly with your POS and stores customer points automatically (usually just by phone number at checkout). It’s great for encouraging return visits and can be fully customized to fit your boutique’s style and rewards structure.

Key things about Loyalty:

• Customers earn points or rewards based on purchases

• Works with Square POS and Online

• Helps increase repeat business

Does Loyalty include text messaging?
Not automatically. Loyalty focuses on rewards but it can connect with Square’s marketing tools so you can message those customers (see below).

Square Text Message Marketing 

Square’s Text Message Marketing (part of Square Marketing) lets you send custom text campaigns like letting customers know about sales, events, special promotions, new arrivals, and more.

Important details:

• This is separate from the Loyalty program

• You do need a Marketing subscription to send texts

• Customers must opt in to receive texts

• You can combine text and email campaigns for more impact

So if your goal is to tell customers about events, sales, and timely promotions, text messaging is a different feature from Loyalty and you would need to activate it separately.

Square Email Marketing

Like text marketing, Square also offers email campaigns. These can be used alongside SMS to reach customers in different ways (email for longer content, texts for instant engagement).

Some features may require Square Plus or Square Premium subscriptions to access full text/email marketing capabilities or loyalty capabilities. 

@SVLFever - I know you use loyalty. Any insight for this Seller? 😁

[SVLFever]

Hey @EdmondsPeartree !

Yes, what @Summer2024 indicates above is pretty much spot on.   We use both Square Loyalty and Marketing to help promote business sales and do some of it automatically.

We have developed a pretty in-depth loyalty program which you can see an overivew of here. 

There is some pretty decent flexibility in the Loyalty program and I would suggest checking out a few Youtube videos, such as this one .

We do use Marketing as well, and automate the text message notifications as customers earn rewards.  This is very helpful in reminding people to use their points.

I ran a very successful in-depth loyalty program in my old POS system that created a pretty loyal group of customers.   Although Square is different, the improvements in flexibility outweighed the somewhat lack of reporting tools in Square to make the leap worth whilte.  Honestly, now that it's set up, I don't think much about the Loyalty because it's all automatic, and has eliminated some staff busy work.

We use Square marketing somewhat sparingly, so if you see a marketing email from me, it's probably a pretty decent offer.  Customers have learned that as well, and that's just my business "M.O".  🙂

Let me know if you have some specific questions and I'll try my best to answer them.