The first 30 days after launching a loyalty programme decide whether it becomes a real part of how your business runs, or whether it quietly stalls after a promising start. A programme that launches without preparation loses momentum fast and is difficult to restart. This checklist covers what to have in place before the first customer scans, what to do in weeks one and two, and what to measure at the end of month one.
Before you open the programme
Five things must be in place before the first customer scans a QR code.
1. Settle on one reward. A simple model always outperforms a complicated one at launch. Choose one stamp target and one reward: ten stamps for a free coffee, eight for a free side, twelve for a complimentary main. The customer needs to understand it at a glance. You can add tiers and extra rewards later, once you know your regulars better.
2. Decide how stamping works. Does a stamp happen at the point of payment? After the customer sits down? For specific products only? Your team needs to know the answer without hesitating. A customer who gets two different answers from two members of staff in the same week loses confidence in the programme.
3. Print the QR material. MightyLoyalty generates print-ready material for your counter, your tables, and your door. Print at least three copies: one for the till, one for the table nearest the counter, one for the entrance or window. The guide to QR poster placement covers which positions deliver the most scans in practice.
4. Test the flow yourself. Walk through the full customer journey: scan the QR code, create a profile, receive a stamp. How long does it take? Is the wording clear? Does it work on your own phone? Anything that confuses you will confuse your customers next week.
5. Prepare one sentence for your team. Your staff do not need a training session. They need one sentence they can say at the till. The next section covers exactly what that looks like.
Brief your team in 15 minutes
Your staff are the single most important variable in a successful launch. Customers who hear about the programme from a team member are far more likely to sign up than customers who spot a poster on their own.
The guide to loyalty programme staff training covers the full process in detail, but for launch week the core is simple: your team needs to master one sentence and one action.
The sentence that works: "Do you collect stamps? We have a digital card that earns you [reward] after [number] visits."
The action: scan the customer's QR code on the spot and give the first stamp. It takes about eight seconds. A card with one stamp on it motivates far more than a blank card, because the customer is already on their way and can see real progress.
Use five minutes at a morning briefing or a quick message to the team: "We are starting the loyalty programme today. Here is what it is, and here is what you say." Those five minutes determine whether the launch is live from day one or whether it quietly sits unused for three weeks.
Week one: activate without overselling
The first week is not the time for a big launch event or a special offer. It is time to make the sign-up a natural part of your service.
Three things make that happen:
Mention it at the till. Your team says the sentence to every customer who pays in the first seven days. Not only the ones who seem interested, and not only during quiet periods. Every customer.
Keep the QR code at eye level. The poster should be where the customer's eye naturally lands during the transaction. The counter is the starting point. A small card on the most visited tables is a supplement, not a substitute.
Track your numbers. How many sign-ups after day three? After day seven? If you have fewer than 20 sign-ups in week one with normal footfall, there is a bottleneck somewhere: the team is not mentioning it, the poster is in the wrong position, or the flow takes too long. Find it and fix it.
Imagine a café with 80 guests a day that does not actively mention the programme in the first week. They might end up with five sign-ups. Another café with 50 daily guests, where the team consistently says the sentence at the till, can reach 40 sign-ups in the same period. The difference is not the software: it is the people behind the counter.
Week two: build and follow up
Once you have the first 20 to 30 sign-ups, the programme begins to work on its own. Customers close to a reward return sooner. You see it in the data, and you feel it at the counter.
In week two, there are three things to do:
Look at when sign-ups happen. What time of day are people joining? If most sign-ups cluster at lunch but almost none happen in the morning, your morning team may not be mentioning it. Adjust accordingly.
Review the first redemptions. Has anyone already redeemed a reward? Was the process smooth? Did your team know what to do? Make sure the redemption experience is as polished as the sign-up.
Adjust one thing if needed. If the table card is not working, move it to the counter. If the sentence feels awkward for the team, try an alternative phrasing. Launch is the right time to tune details, not three months in.
See the six ways to get more loyalty programme sign-ups for tactics to convert customers who have visited but have not yet joined.
Month one: what to measure
After 30 days you have enough data to assess whether the launch worked.
Three numbers tell you most of what you need to know:
Sign-up rate: Total sign-ups divided by average daily guests. A rate of 20 to 30 percent after 30 days is a good sign. Under 10 percent suggests the sign-up flow or the communication is not landing.
Return rate: What share of signed-up customers have come back at least once? A high return rate is the most important indicator that the programme is doing its job.
Stamps per member: What is the average stamp count per signed-up customer? A low average can mean customers are signing up but not actively using the card, which may point to a reward that feels too far away or not attractive enough.
The Standard plan costs 299 DKK/month and includes unlimited stamping, a visit dashboard, and all printable materials. The Pro plan at 399 DKK/month adds the spin-the-wheel and campaign features. There is a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. Try it at https://loyalty.maiya.dk/
For a methodical look at what these numbers mean and when your programme earns its keep, see the guide to measuring your loyalty programme ROI.
Frequently asked questions
When is the right moment to launch?
Now. The best moment is always the one closest to today. Many owners wait for a quiet period or until everything is fully ready. Quiet periods are rare, and nothing is ever completely ready. A launch requires a working QR code, one reward, and a briefed team. That is achievable in an afternoon.
What if my staff keep forgetting to mention the programme?
Attach it to an existing routine rather than adding a new one. If the till process always ends with "coffee or anything else?", the loyalty sentence can come immediately before. The more the mention is embedded in an already established sequence, the less likely it is to be forgotten. A brief reminder in the first three weeks is normal: use it.
Should I announce the launch on social media?
Not essential, but it can accelerate early sign-ups. A single post with a clear message, "We now have a digital stamp card. Scan the QR code next time you visit", is better than nothing. Social media is never a substitute for the work done at the counter: it is a supplement to it.