Tag Archives: Education

Teacher Testimonial: How Loyalty Programs Can Help Teachers Outfit Their Classrooms

September 26, 2012

In our back-to-school with loyalty series, we’ve covered college and loyalty in a number of ways. First, we took a look at the students themselves, and examined both how they can benefit from joining top-notch loyalty programs, and how loyalty marketers should consider the student demographic a valuable priority group to target. Second, we discussed the universities themselves, and ways in which they could greatly increase the engagement of their student bodies by employing some of the best tactics used by our loyalty programs.

Today, we’re going back to school even further — to kindergarten. And we’re focusing on one of the most important groups of people behind our educational institutions — the teachers.

Teachers are largely responsible for outfitting their classrooms, acquiring the materials for special activities, and making sure they have everything they need to give their students the most positive school experience possible. Below, we have a testimonial from a first-year kindergarten teacher:

I just graduated college and I spent around $300 out of my own pocket to decorate and prepare my classroom. And I probably spent much less than other teachers because I already had a lot of the art supplies and a lot of other things were donated from friends, past teachers or left over in the classroom.

Remember all of those holiday parties you had in elementary school? Treats for the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas parties all come out of the teacher’s pockets, too. l also buy snacks for my students to get them through the day. And teachers have to purchase any special supplies we might need for a specific activity as well.

A fresh-out-of-college teacher has no money saved up. I’m paying rent and general life expenses, but I also have to factor in supplies, food and activities for 30 kindergarteners. The school gives an allowance to each grade but that has to be split between all of the teachers and it’s barely enough for one teacher for the whole year.

While teachers are often required to get materials from a ‘specialty store,’ there are still a number of ways that loyalty programs could help ease the cost of classroom-stocking.

Pharmaca’s Feel Better Rewards program is perfect to make sure your classroom is first aid-ready and read to cure the bumps, bruises, cuts, and sniffles that sometimes come with playground antics.

Orchard Supply Hardware’s Club Orchard is a great resource for arts and crafts activities, and for great materials to decorate the classroom and make it a friendly, welcoming place.

As for those classroom parties? Nothing is sure to put huge smiles on students’ faces like a big box of Dunkin’ Donuts. By using a Dunkin’ Donuts Card, teachers can earn Dunkin’ Dollars towards future parties, and more sweet treats for their students.

What other loyalty programs can help our elementary school teachers out?

You Might Like:

 

 

Posted in Customers, Retail | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a reply

How Can Schools Raise Student Engagement? By Using Loyalty Tactics.

September 19, 2012

Last week, we looked at ways that college students can benefit from a number of excellent loyalty programs as they make their way back to hallowed university halls for the start of the school year. Furthermore, we highlighted why college students are an ideal demographic for brand marketers.

This week, we’re turning our back-to-school thinking around, on the universities themselves. While there’s plenty to be learned at these fine institutions, we believe that colleges could take a lesson from loyalty programs when it comes to engaging their students.

The thing is, higher education has been making attempts to better connect with their students over Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets. But according to a recent article from Inside Higher Ed, schools aren’t making progress when it comes to measuring success. What’s more, they don’t seem sure of what they’re looking for.

We think that we have some answers for them. Imagine if universities were not only to increase student followers, but also actively increased their participation in on-campus activities, bettered their study habits, and made them an even more loyal, active, and dedicated members of the university community?

Go Mobile

Mobile is clearly at the forefront of effective loyalty practices these days, something that Loyalty Lab has embraced wholeheartedly as of late. And no one is more attached to their mobile phones than students. Universities should take advantage of  location-based technology by offering students deals when they are near on-campus dining locations, campus bookstores, and even the library.

College football fansBy encouraging check-ins in class, at extracurricular clubs and activities, and again, at that often avoided library, students could earn points to receive free cups of coffee, discounts on textbooks, or University-branded swag.

Get Spirited

When you start talking about encouraging ‘loyalty’ among students, it begins to sound a whole lot like encouraging school spirit. Getting students excited about and involved in school events, performances, and athletics will not only enrich their college experience, it increases the likelihood that they’ll be loyal alums post-graduation.

Tweeting at dedicated hashtags, checking in at games, and showing serious spirit could allow universities to reward students for their involvement. Imagine discounts on season tickets for basketball, great perks at on-campus restaurants and coffee shops — real, tangible rewards for students who show that they are dedicated members of the community.

Ask for Feedback

Sure, kids may head to college to learn a thing or two, but often, they’re savvier than we are. Especially when it comes to the kinds of rewards they want, and the kind of engagement they’re willing to participate in. So, ask them! Similar to our great loyalty programs that request customer feedback, universities should find out from their students just what it is they’re looking to gain. And make these inquiries worth their time, too — allow them to benefit from promotions or be entered into contests for answering your questions and bettering your understanding of how to best engage.

You Might Like:

Posted in CRM, Mobile, Social Media | Tagged , , , | Leave a reply