Clipping for Recognition: Groupon Offers Deals, But is that Enough to Win Our Loyalty?

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Groupon’s decision to turn down Google’s $6 billion acquisition offer was one of the more interesting business stories of 2010. It certainly raised many eyebrows and got folks wondering if the giant e-coupon company known for its daily deals could sustain its phenomenal growth particularly with new competitors emerging every day.

As operators of North America’s largest coalition loyalty program — the AIR MILES Reward Program, it got us thinking about the social couponing model and the role loyalty marketing can play in ensuring the established players such as Groupon maintain and grow market share while helping the start-ups create a point of differentiation.

First consider Groupon’s story. They’ve stood apart by maintaining their vast database with such eloquence – and irreverence – that no single competitor has yet to serve as a serious threat. But with so many small social coupon companies emerging daily, expect consolidation – and with that will come scale and strength.

To continue to stand apart and foster loyalty, Groupon needs to do the following three things well:

Woo Them: Groupon should continually recognize the consumer’s relationship with the service, and demonstrate that this engagement is as important to Groupon as its carefully selected offers are to consumers. Personalized thank you notes go along way, for instance.

Wow ’em: Groupon should lavish its loyal followers with the unexpected – a free Groupon “pass” for a Groupon offer, for example, or an accumulation of points that can be redeemed toward future Groupons.

Win Them: Groupon has the data and it has the mass not only to identify its most profitable consumers, but also what motivates them. And Groupon is asking some members to fill out additional short surveys to get a better picture of each of them. These pictures can be used to better tailor offers, get more buy-in and contribute to an added sense of a partnership.

Groupon has the advantage of already knowing much about us as consumers. It reportedly counts north of 40 million members in more than 300 markets globally. About 19 million of these subscribers live in North America, according to a recent report in Advertising Age, and Groupon knows the name, age and gender, residence, purchases preferences and payment methods of each. It also knows that all its members are highly desirable consumers – mostly college educated, 18 to 34 years old, with two-third making $50,000 to $100,000 a year.

It only makes sense Groupon is testing a loyalty plan. In the test, members automatically earn points, called “G’s,” which can be used toward free Groupon coupons. Top members, or frequent users, also can earn invitations to special events. (Separately, Groupon also offers $10 in “Groupon Bucks,” to members who refer a friend.)

By converting that consumer mileage into miles, or points, or some kind of reward, not only will Groupon benefit by learning more from its members, they will benefit by receiving richer, more relevant offers.

Bryan Pearson
Retail and Loyalty-Marketing Executive, Best-Selling Author
With more than two decades experience developing meaningful customer relationships for some of the world’s leading companies, Bryan Pearson is an internationally recognized expert, author and speaker on customer loyalty and marketing. As former President and CEO of LoyaltyOne, a pioneer in loyalty strategies and measured marketing, he leverages the knowledge of 120 million customer relationships over 20 years to create relevant communications and enhanced shopper experiences. Bryan is author of the bestselling book The Loyalty Leap: Turning Customer Information into Customer Intimacy

3 COMMENTS

  1. Groupon is training consumers to look for 50% or not pay attention. That is dangerous for traditional brick and mortar merchants which ring-hands over whether to post a 20-30% off sale.

    The scheme also does not include any type of feedback loop and/or review service ala Yelp. I’ve had friends tell me that restaurant managers come to their table asking questions to the Groupon users. Though it can be uncomfortable, its the only way the business owner can learn about who is using the Groupons.

    In true American style, we can’t criticize Groupon without looking foolish, simply because they have been so successful. That does not mean that they are absent of shortcomings and need to evolve quickly before the merchant community becomes weary of the model.

  2. One thing that Groupon could also tap into is partnerships with geolocation platforms. People are using Groupon to go to specific locations. Could earn points by gamifying checkins. Just a thought…and I think a new blog post 😉

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