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Building brand loyalty today isn’t about points programs or predictable discounts. It’s about creating experiences, stories, and moments that make your audience feel connected and valued. Here are five creative ways to build brand loyalty that actually work in 2025.
1.Show the Messy Bits
Customers can smell corporate spin from a mile away. What do they want? Honesty. Show them the behind-the-scenes, even when it’s not picture perfect. Factory hiccup? Share the learning. Swapped to a more sustainable supplier? Tell that story loud. Transparency turns casual buyers into brand believers.
Try this: Run a “day in the life” Instagram takeover, or post raw updates about what you’re working on (and where you stumbled).
Example: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKRDr88P7f2/
2. Turn guests into storytellers
Hospitality thrives on word-of-mouth. Encourage guests to share their experiences, not just through reviews, but through photos, TikToks, or quick video testimonials. When you amplify their voices on your own channels, you turn customers into advocates - and advocates into loyal regulars.
Try this: : Create a “Guest of the Week” spotlight, repost authentic UGC, and respond to their comments to spark conversation.
Example: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNU4YMGtFqF/ for our client Al Taglio, reposting diner content has been helpful in showing the experience of dining at Al Taglio.
3. Treat your regulars like rockstars
Forget the cookie-cutter “10% off.” True loyalty is built on small, thoughtful surprises that make customers feel seen. These surprises spark big, lingering smiles that get people talking.
Try this: Remembering a regular’s go-to-order, slipping in a birthday dessert, sending merch and product to loyal followers, inviting locals to try a menu before anyone else.
Example: We love sending Sheepdog lovers goodies for them and their four-legged friends.
4. Build Rituals, Not Just Meals
Loyalty grows when people associate your venue with a ritual in their lives - Friday night pizza, Sunday roasts, after-work spritzes. If your brand owns a moment in someone’s week, you’re not just part of their lifestyle - you’re a fixture.
Try this: Launch a weekly themed night (e.g. “Trivia Wednesdays”), a signature dish that guests look forward to, or a rotating chef’s menu that becomes a ritual to try.
Example: Greenwood Hotel builds midweek rituals that keep locals and nearby corporates coming back, e.g. Chicken Schnitty Tuesday https://www.instagram.com/p/DOE8iKAiQtm/, happy hour https://www.instagram.com/p/DNO312fsZLA/, Wednesday Steak Night https://www.instagram.com/p/DNUBb-SsWAs/
5. Make Staff the Stars
Guests don’t just come back for the food, they come back for the people. When your team feels like family, customers feel it too. Spotlight your chefs, baristas, and bartenders. Let them tell their stories, share their favourite dishes, and connect directly with guests. Loyalty often sticks to a face, not just a logo.
Try this: Post short “meet the team” reels, add staff recommendations to your menu, or let your bartender create a monthly cocktail special in their name.
Example: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNZLI4tgBjH/
The Takeaway:
Brand loyalty in 2025 is about letting down the walls and inviting customers to help build something great together. Forget “one size fits all,” and think of partnerships, pride, and a little bit of spontaneity. If you’re having fun with it, chances are, so is your audience and that’s how you become the brand people refuse to leave.
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