Building Loyalty Through Subscription User Experience

The world preaches loyalty, but how many brands actually live it? Last month, I got an invite to something called Summer Smash, 1st Phorm International's invite-only community event in St. Louis. Think three days of HQ tours, private pre-parties, high-energy workouts, rides, and live music from artists like Ludacris, Lil' Jon, Pitbull, and Steve Aoki. The whole thing sells out in under a minute each year. Pure community building at it's finest. I couldn't make it due to personal obligations, but here's what blew me away: they still sent me a surprise box packed with over 10 of their top products (proteins, apparel, energy drinks, protein sticks), plus a handwritten note that felt genuinely personal, not like a marketing ploy. We've gotten so caught up in digital tactics that we've forgotten about the power of high-touch moments that forge actual emotional connections. This kind of follow-through is almost unheard of in today's brand world. Most companies would've moved on to the next person on their list. But 1st Phorm gets something that a lot of brands miss: real loyalty isn't built through campaigns or offers, it's built through experiences that make people feel like they belong to something bigger. That's where lifetime value really takes off. Summer Smash is far beyond just an event; it's the kind of experience that flips the loyalty script entirely, where customers don't just buy, they simply belong. Here's what I think other brands can learn from this approach: ➟ Send unexpected value for no reason. A surprise product or handwritten note shows customers they matter beyond their purchase history. ➟ Build exclusive communities around shared values, not just products. Whether it's in-person events or virtual experiences, give your best customers something they can't get anywhere else. ➟ Create moments people actually talk about. A few hours with A-list talent or behind-the-scenes access beats another discount code every time. ➟ Lead with gratitude, not growth metrics. When thank-you moments drive your strategy instead of the other way around, authenticity follows naturally. The bottom line: loyalty is earned through emotion, experience, and belonging. If your brand isn't building that, you're just another transaction in someone's day. When did you last surprise your customers with something that wasn't even on your roadmap?

Don’t make your subscribers fight to leave. If you have to hide the cancel button to keep them, you’ve already lost. Here’s why trust, not friction, builds retention that lasts. Subscription models work best when they're built on what I call a ”Forever Promise.” But too often, companies take the opposite approach: → $1 first shipments that convert into $200 second charges unless the customer returns everything in time → “Online sign-up, phone-only cancellation” with limited hours → Fine print that hides multi-month commitments That’s not a Forever Promise. That’s a trap. Meanwhile, smart businesses are doing the opposite: → Adding pause buttons instead of just cancel → Offering grace periods after renewals → Tracking inactive accounts and auto-canceling unused subscriptions (like Netflix did) Even financial apps like Truebill and Trim exist because people are so often misled by the businesses they trusted. The companies that win in the long run are the ones that put the relationship first, even when it’s time to say goodbye. If you're building a subscription offering, I encourage your team to take this simple pledge: “We will never hide the cancel button.” Because short-term tricks cost long-term trust. And the businesses that earn trust? They’re the ones with loyal members and recurring value. +++++++++++ 👋 I'm Robbie, I'm a consultant, author, and speaker covering all things subscription businesses. +++++++++++ 🛎 Tap the bell under the banner on my profile to catch the next post. ++++++++++++

People don’t stop buying because they didn’t like your product. They stop buying because no one helped them fall in love with it. Most brands think retention is about points, promos, or reminders. But the truth? Retention starts with habit creation. Here’s how to build it: → Find your product’s “Aha” moment (What outcome makes someone say, “This changed things for me”?) → Map the friction between purchase and that moment (Too many steps? Confusion? Lack of motivation?) → Build a post purchase flow focused ONLY on shortening time to habit: • Day 0: Set expectation + friction killer (e.g. install guides, “do this first”) • Day 2: Highlight how others reached success fast (“3 hacks to get the most out of X”) • Day 5: Trigger repeat use (“Try this challenge / recipe / setting”) • Day 10: Normalize the habit (“People who do X weekly report [result]”) → THEN build loyalty with stories, value, and community. If people never build the habit, they’ll never need you again.

One of the biggest takeaways I spotted from Intuit Mailchimp’s analysis of the 2024 holiday shopping season is that the new year is ripe with new opportunities to drive loyalty. Here’s why → 64% of orders from Mailchimp customers with connected stores came from new customers during Cyber Weekend 2024. That's a huge opportunity to grow your loyal customer base! And research we produced with Canvas8 tells us that the best kept secret to driving loyalty is actually grounded in science. Our Loyalty Wheel reveals 4 key drivers of loyalty: 1. Reward: Our brains love rewards. Create a sense of reciprocity by offering exclusive deals, personalized discounts, or early access to new products. 2. Memory: Make it easy for customers to remember (and repeat!) positive experiences with your brand. Design a frictionless customer journey, offer subscriptions for frequently purchased items, and send well-timed reminders. 3. Emotion: Foster an emotional connection that goes beyond transactional exchanges. Align your brand with causes your customers care about, share authentic stories, and build a sense of community. 4. Social Interaction: Encourage customers to share their love for your brand with friends and family. Create opportunities for user-generated content, run refer-a-friend programs, or host exclusive events. And here's how to put it all into action: 🎉 Surprise and delight: Gift your customers with unexpected rewards. And just not generic discounts. Offer exclusive experiences or partner with like-minded brands to create unique offers. 🛝 Streamline every touchpoint: Remove friction in the customer journey with automation. From browsing to purchasing to post-purchase support, make it easy and enjoyable to do business with your brand. 🎯 Prioritize personalization: Craft your messaging and build authentic connections. Use data and AI analysis to understand your customers' values and preferences and use those insights to create content that resonates. 🤗 Give VIP treatment: Make your customers feel like VIPs. Give them early access to new products, invite them to exclusive events, or feature them on your social media channels. Download Mailchimp and Canvas8’s The Science of Loyalty and The Strategic Loyalty Playbook for a deep dive into the science, complete with actionable strategies and inspiring examples: https://bit.ly/49FJayO Make 2025 the year of the loyal customer. You got this.

Subscription brands have completely missed the point of recurring revenue. I'm tired of seeing the same lazy "Subscribe & Save 10%" button slapped onto product pages with zero strategic thought. Your discount isn't special. What actually drives subscription retention is making the experience convenient and valuable: 1. Default 30/60 day delivery windows are useless if that's not how people actually consume your product 2. Long-term benefits need to be emphasized - "Peak results after 90 days" is more compelling than any discount 3. Social proof should highlight loyalty, not just satisfaction 4. Pre-shipment notifications with easy adjustments are non-negotiable I've been subscribed to Magic Spoon cereal for 6 years, not because of the price, but because they nail the flexible delivery windows that match my actual consumption patterns. Stop treating subscriptions like discount badges and start treating them like solutions. Your retention metrics will thank you.