How to Build Rewards Programs That Keep Clients Hooked

Last Updated on 23 September, 2025

In today’s competitive fitness, wellness, and beauty industries, client retention isn’t just about offering a great service — it’s about creating an experience that keeps people coming back. A well-designed rewards program is one of the most effective (and often underutilized) strategies to do this. But building one of your own isn’t as simple as it looks.  

When done right, rewards aren’t simply perks or freebies. They’re powerful tools that build loyalty, deepen connections, and increase revenue. In fact, WellnessLiving research shows: 

• 86% of businesses increase their revenue after adopting a fitness rewards program. 

• 61% of customers prefer to shop at businesses with rewards programs. 

• 74% of businesses see an increase in customer retention when rewards are in place. 

That’s why the smartest business owners see rewards not as giveaways, but as growth engines. 

Why Rewards Work: The Human Factor 

Rewards tap into something universal — the excitement of being recognized. When every visit, purchase, or referral gets clients closer to something meaningful, they form habits. Habits fuel loyalty, and loyal clients are not only more likely to advocate for your business but also more likely to continue to invest in themselves through your services. 

It’s not always about the dollar value of a perk. Often, it’s the feeling of being valued as part of your community that makes the biggest difference. A birthday discount, milestone recognition, or a public shoutout can carry as much weight, if not more, than a free service. 

Tailoring Rewards to Different Client Types 

Not all clients are motivated by the same things. That’s why the most effective programs are segmented: 

• Casual Clients: Reward first visits or referrals with quick wins like bonus points, discounts, or complimentary add-ons. 

• Regulars: Recognize milestones — their 10th visit, a 6-month anniversary, or a new class type tried. Small celebrations reinforce consistency. 

• VIPs: Deepen loyalty with exclusive perks like early booking access, invitations to private events, or thoughtful upgrades. 

The key: make rewards feel tailored. When your program reflects the client journey, the perks reflect their needs. Therefore, they’ll stay more engaged. 

How to Build Proven Rewards Strategies 

Here are a few practical, client-tested ways to hook your community: 

• Referral Points: A yoga studio gave 50 points for every referral and 25 points for trying new class types. Clients became ambassadors, referrals spiked, and new members joined feeling rewarded from day one. 

• Birthday Bonuses: A spa offered 15% off treatments plus extra points on clients’ birthdays. This personal touch boosted bookings and sparked word-of-mouth referrals. 

• Off-Peak Incentives: A fitness studio doubled points for daytime classes, filling empty slots while giving clients more value. 

• Review Rewards: A float center used points to encourage Google reviews, creating a steady flow of authentic testimonials that boosted visibility and bookings. 

Each of these examples proves that rewards aren’t just “gifts” — they’re growth levers. When used as part of a larger strategy of client management and engagement, they can create a lifetime of repeat visits.

Best Practices for Setting Up a Rewards Program 

To make rewards programs work for you, follow these principles: 

1. Keep it Simple – Clients should always know at a glance how to earn and redeem points. 

2. Balance Small Wins & Big Goals – Quick wins keep them engaged; bigger milestones give them something to strive for. 

3. Promote Everywhere – Share rewards in newsletters, receipts, social posts, and in-app notifications. Visibility fuels participation. 

4. Automate Where Possible – With WellnessLiving, points tracking and redemption can run in the background, eliminating extra admin work. 

5. Measure ROI – Track whether rewards are increasing bookings, referrals, or retail sales. Fine-tune based on what drives growth. 

Taking Rewards to the Next Level 

WellnessLiving’s built-in rewards tool allows you to: 

• Create point categories for attendance, purchases, reviews, or referrals. 

• Use the white label app to send push notifications to remind clients to check their balance, redemption options, and leaderboards — keeping progress visible and motivating. 

• Add custom rewards (like wellness goal achievements or special challenges) that reflect your unique culture. 

Custom touches are especially powerful. One WellnessLiving client set up wellness goal perks to align with client growth strategies like reaching new PR’s, personally celebrating members who hit a new personal best in specific movement patterns. These human-centered rewards created moments clients truly remembered. 

Final Takeaway: Start Small, Scale Smart 

The best rewards programs don’t launch overnight. Start with one simple perk — like points for reviews or a birthday discount — and expand as your clients engage. 

Every touchpoint is a chance to say: “I see you. I value you. I’m here for you.” 

When clients feel recognized, they not only come back — they bring friends, engage more, and become advocates for your business. That’s the real reward. 

👉 Want to learn more about building a rewards program with WellnessLiving? Reach out to our team and ask about our white label app.