How do I start a customer rewards program for my small business?

Most rewards programs fail because they try to do too much at once. The version that actually works is shockingly small:

Step 1: Pick one platform. Don't try to launch on Instagram, TikTok, and Google simultaneously. Pick the one where most of your customers already spend time. For most independent retail and F&B: Instagram. For fitness: Instagram + TikTok. For service businesses (dentists, vets, salons): Facebook + Google.

Step 2: Define one action. Not "share us on social media." Specifically: "Post a story tagging @yourshop" or "Leave a Google review." Vague asks get vague results. The more specific, the higher the completion rate.

Step 3: Pick one perk. A free side, 15% off the next visit, a buy-one-get-one. One offer. Resist the urge to have tiers or rules on day one.

Step 4: Make the ask visible. Print a QR code. Put it on the table, the counter, the receipt, the bathroom mirror — wherever customers' eyes go. A reward customers don't know about doesn't exist.

Step 5: Verify and redeem. When the customer says they posted, look at their phone (or have a verifier check automatically). Approve the perk. Track who redeemed.

The whole loop should fit on a 3x5 card. Get that working, measure for a month (how many customers asked? how many posted? what was the cost per post? did sales go up?), then add a second campaign.

The two failure modes to avoid: (1) launching without a way to verify the action actually happened (you'll get fraud), and (2) launching with no visibility (the QR code at the register that no one sees). Social Perks bakes both into the platform — auto-verification on the post side, printable QR codes designed for visibility on the customer side.