A NEW APPROACH

Why Free-to-Join Loyalty Programs Are Essential for Scaling Your Ecommerce Brand

Remove barriers to entry, create purchase habits, and turn first-time customers into lifelong advocates.

Automatic enrollment on first purchase

More sign-ups = more customer data

Incentivize actions beyond purchases

Create a Community Around Your Brand

The Power of Free-to-Join Loyalty Programs

The best loyalty programs aren't just about rewarding customers—they're about creating a habit.

Free-to-join programs remove barriers to entry, allowing anyone to engage with your brand while subtly encouraging repeat purchases.

"79% of consumers say loyalty programs influence their purchasing decisions, yet most brands underutilize them."

-Merkle Report, 2022

BUSINESS CASE

The Business Case for Free-to-Join Loyalty Programs

Data-backed reasons why free loyalty programs should be central to your retention strategy

Grow Your Member Base Faster

Low friction = more sign-ups. No upfront cost means higher participation rates.

Once enrolled customers are 1.5-2X more likely to make a second purchase.

Bylt Basics increased shopping frequency by 57% after launching a free loyalty program.

Increase Repeat Purchases & AOV

Members of free loyalty programs tend to spend more often and more per order than non-members.

Key incentive structures:

Exclusive access to sales, early drops, or limited products

Pull customers back with a cash reward to spend on their 2nd purchase

Free shipping or surprise-and-delight bonuses for repeat buyers

Turn First-Time Buyers into Lifelong Customers

The hardest sale is the first one—a free loyalty program keeps customers coming back.

Free loyalty program members are 30% more likely to increase their spending compared to non-members.

-McKinsey

Sephora's Beauty Insider programs gives one-time shoppers a path to become high-value VIPs.

Build a Customer Database for Personalization

A free loyalty program creates a direct marketing channel—enabling personalized offers, VIP events, and custom promotions.

2-3X

Higher email engagement

30%

Higher SMS open rates

45%

Better retargeting ROI

Why Free Loyalty Programs Outperform Basic Discounting

Stop devaluing your products with constant discounts. Build a loyalty program that creates real value instead.

Points vs. Store Credit Comparison

See how Inveterate's approach transforms the traditional loyalty model

Flat Discounts

Free-to-Join Loyalty

Customer Retention

One-time impact

Ongoing engagement & repeat purchases

Purchase Frequency

No incentive to return

Encourages habitual shopping

Marketing & Data Collection

No customer data captured

Builds a database for retargeting & personalization

Brand Differentiation

Same as competitors

Exclusive perks drive loyalty

Fully Customizable Rewards

Incentivize repeat purchases with cashback, credits, free shipping, and more.

Cashback on dollars spent
Onetime or recurring credits
Free shipping thresholds
Surprise-and-delight bonuses

Seamless Shopify Integration

Launch your loyalty program without disrupting the shopping experience.

Out-of-the-box benefits
Easy to configure program
Native Shopify checkout
Automatic enrollment option

Ready to Launch Your Free Loyalty Program?

Stop leaving money on the table. With Inveterate, you can launch a fully customizable, free-to-join loyalty program in minutes.