Subscription-Based Rewards

It’s a psychological battle and it’s quietly reshaping how Indians behave. While researching loyalty programs in India, I realized something striking: We’ve moved from “earn points” to “pay upfront, save daily.” And that changes everything. The Problem with the Old Loyalty Model: Order 10 times → Get 1 free Earn points → Wait months to redeem Do the math → Usually walk away Customers lost patience. Complexity killed loyalty. Enter: Subscription-Based Loyalty Swiggy One: ₹149/month Free delivery on every order Instant savings. Zero friction. Zomato Gold: Upfront fee VIP restaurant perks Exclusive dine-out offers No tracking. No waiting. No wondering. Why This Works (Psychologically): Instant Gratification → We feel the benefit on Day 1. Sunk Cost Effect → "I’ve paid for this — might as well order more." Friction Removal → No mental math, just value every time. Habit Formation → Swiggy = routine. Zomato = occasion. The principle? Replace delayed rewards with upfront commitment + daily value. What can your business learn from this?

Ever wonder why some subscription brands grow 300% faster than others? I've been studying the brands crushing it in the subscription space, and want to share the last two standouts from my research (and how you can apply their strategies). The difference between 8% and 15% retention often means millions in additional revenue. Here's how the best make it happen: Ritual took vitamins - arguably the most commoditized supplement category - and built a wildly successful subscription business through radical transparency. They didn't just tell customers about quality - they showed exactly where each ingredient comes from. Their iconic yellow bottles turned a daily habit into a branded experience that people actually want on their counters. What I love about Ritual: → Their 5-day "settling in" period acknowledges habit formation challenges → Loyalty discounts that increase over time, rewarding long-term subscribers → Supply chain transparency that justifies premium pricing in a skeptical market Then there's Drink LMNT, who took the opposite approach of most brands. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, they went all-in on specific dietary communities (keto, low-carb, fasting). Their rotating flavors maintain interest (genius for a daily supplement), while seasonal releases create natural purchase cycles throughout the year. LMNT's brilliant moves: → Hyper-focused on underserved communities rather than mass market → "Element Brigade" turns subscribers into advocates through rewards → Products that function as lifestyle signals within their communities What ties these successful subscription brands together? After studying dozens of 8 and 9-figure subscription businesses, I've found they all master these three fundamentals: → They understand exactly where their products fit naturally into customers' lives and consumption routines → They create genuine flexibility that matches how people actually use their products, not just what's convenient for shipping → They deliver value beyond convenience - through community, education, exclusivity, or experiences that transform transactions into relationships The brands that truly win don't just sell subscriptions – they create indispensable rituals that customers can't imagine living without. Your subscription strategy isn't just about predictable revenue (though that's a beautiful benefit). It's about deepening customer relationships in ways one-time purchases never can. #retentionstrategy #subscriptiongrowth

If you're running a solar business you might be wondering, “How do I make my O&M department actually profitable?” Good news—you’ve been sitting on a goldmine this whole time. O&M isn’t just a cost; it’s your new revenue stream. First off, forget thinking of maintenance as an afterthought. It’s a recurring income opportunity. Customers want to know their systems are running smoothly, so why not offer them service plans? The HVAC industry has been doing it for years, and it's why they can rely on recurring revenue to grow their businesses. And active monitoring? It’s like having eyes on your clients’ systems 24/7. You can catch issues early, swoop in with a solution, and keep things running at peak performance. Solar customers are often intimidated by solar, so if you can give them the peace of mind of knowing that you are looking after their system, they will be willing to pay handsomely for it. Worried about the warranty? Tell your customers that skipping O&M is a fast track to voiding it. Now, you’re not just offering maintenance—you’re offering protection for their big solar investment. Now, let’s talk money. How do you turn this into cold hard cash? Simple. Offer subscription-based maintenance plans. Just like Netflix, but instead of binge-watching, they’re binge-saving on repair costs. Or bundle O&M services into new installations, so they’re hooked from the start. Your customers get peace of mind, and you get steady revenue. Also, don’t sleep on service-level agreements (SLAs). Customers will pay for guaranteed response times. It’s like having VIP service for their panels. And the best part? You’re locking them into a long-term relationship with your company. Here’s the kicker: O&M doesn’t just keep the lights on, it makes you stand out. Installers come and go, but the company that keeps systems performing like new? That’s who clients stick with. And happy clients? They bring referrals, which brings you more installs—and guess what? More installs mean more O&M opportunities. O&M isn’t a burden, it’s a cash cow. Maximize your ROI, your clients’ system performance, and your bottom line.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼. If customers love your product but still cancel, the problem isn’t the product—it’s the experience. The best wellness brands don’t just sell products. They guide behaviours, reinforce habits, and remove friction. But too often, small moments of friction— a failed payment, a forgotten renewal, a skipped order— quietly push customers away before they even realize it. That’s why I put this table together. 7 high-impact automations that keep subscribers engaged, reduce churn, and make retention effortless. Each one removes a key retention blocker before it turns into lost revenue. 1️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 → 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 ↳ Trigger: Payment fails (Recharge) ↳ Action: SMS + Email with urgency & FOMO ↳ Apps: SMSBump, Klaviyo → Catch failed payments before they cancel 2️⃣ 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹𝘀 → 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ↳ Trigger: Renewal approaching (Recharge) ↳ Action: Email & SMS reinforcing product value ↳ Apps: Klaviyo, PostPilot → Remind customers why they subscribed 3️⃣ 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 → 𝗥𝗲-𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 ↳ Trigger: Skipped orders, no logins, inactivity (CustomerHub) ↳ Action: ‘Reignite Your Routine’ email series ↳ Apps: Klaviyo → Help them stay on track before they forget 4️⃣ 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀 → 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲 ↳ Trigger: Customer clicks “Cancel” (Recharge) ↳ Action: “Pause instead of cancel” + Exclusive offer ↳ Apps: Klaviyo, RetentionEngine → Give them a reason to stay 5️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 → 𝗢𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ↳ Trigger: First order shipped (Recharge) ↳ Action: Educational onboarding sequence ↳ Apps: Klaviyo, Postscript → Guide them to get the best results 6️⃣ 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 → 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 ↳ Trigger: 3rd, 6th, or 12th order milestone (LoyaltyLion) ↳ Action: Reward with a discount, gift, or VIP perks ↳ Apps: Smile.io, Klaviyo → Keep them engaged before they churn 7️⃣ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗟𝗧𝗩 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 → ‘𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 & 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁’ ↳ Trigger: Customer hits LTV threshold (Klaviyo) ↳ Action: Personalized gift or early access invite ↳ Apps: PostPilot, LoyaltyLion → Turn subscribers into superfans Subscriptions Should Feel Effortless. Your product builds habits. Your subscription model should too. Set up these workflows once, and let them do the work forever. If you need help with putting any of them together, reach out to me in DM 📥

Premium (paid)-based loyalty programs are increasingly popular. Think AMAZON PRIME, Walmart+, or RH Grey. With free points-based loyalty programs, consumers might sign up for a dozen programs or more, but for premium loyalty programs, customers are choosier, often paying for just one program in a category. Here are 5 benefits of a premium loyalty program: 1/ Increased Value Over Time → By getting members to commit early, they indicate preference early in the relationship. Since they have already invested, they are more likely to spend more over time 2/ Preference → Customers often start with premium loyalty programs when facing an ongoing problem, making you their first choice before exploring other options. 3/ Community → Direct communication builds a community. Members are more willing to engage, support each other, and bring in others. 4/ Average Order Size (AOS) → AOS is higher for premium members than nonmembers. In addition to more frequent purchases and the cost of the program itself, you also enjoy bigger spending at the point of checkout 5/ Returning Revenue is More Profitable → It's cheaper to keep a customer than to attract a new one. +++++++++++ 👋 I'm Robbie, I'm a consultant, author, and speaker covering all things subscription businesses. +++++++++++ 🛎 Tap the bell under the banner on my profile to catch the next post. ++++++++++++

Unlimited coffee for just $11.99/month? Sounds like a coffee lover’s dream. ☕ And, for Panera Bread, it’s a masterclass in turning low-margin products into loyalty gold. With its Unlimited Sip Club, Panera Bread didn’t just sell coffee, they built a valuable customer habit. Here’s what happened when Panera Bread turned coffee, an everyday product into a key membership perk: 👉High-frequency product = High-frequency visits Coffee is a daily ritual. For some like my husband, it’s a way of life!  A monthly subscription based membership that offers free and unlimited coffee, brings coffee lovers into Panera Bread every day, not just when they’re craving the bread basket. 👉Low-margin product, high-margin halo When members come in for their “free” coffee, guess what often gets added? A breakfast sandwich. A pastry. Or, A salad for lunch. 👉Recurring revenue, recurring relationship $11.99/month may not seem like much, but multiply it by hundreds of thousands of customers, and you’ve got a predictable revenue stream and a loyal customer base. The brilliance? Panera Bread didn’t ask, “How do we sell more coffee?” They asked, “How do we get customers to keep coming back?” That’s the real power of business models that prioritize retention. You’re not just selling a product. You’re designing behavior. You’re earning trust. You’re creating a habit. So here’s the question for your brand: → What low-margin product could become your loyalty magnet? → How can your membership model turn frequency into affinity and revenue? Remember, the smartest brands aren’t chasing transactions. They’re cultivating rituals! ♾️ #panerabread #membership #retentionstrategy #appstle