Lancaster BID has partnered with the award winning place promotion app LoyalFree to provide free advertising for local businesses. This service is free for all Lancaster BID levy paying businesses and is simple to set up. The app is up and running in 19 towns and cities and you can easily see a demo of the main features of the app here: https://loyalfree.co.uk/demo/ or download from the Google/Apple app stores.
Tony Johnson, Lancaster BID Manager, said “Loyal Free has an established track record in promoting town and city centre locations and encouraging local people to support their local businesses as well as marketing the destination to visitors from further afield. By launching the app in Lancaster we will be providing all levy paying businesses with a FREE platform to directly promote their business as well as the option to use for online sales. We aim to go live in early October and would encourage businesses to sign up quickly to ensure the maximum impact from the start.”
The app will promote various aspects of our place; the tourism information, business offers, event listings, interactive trails and more.
You will benefit from:
How to get involved:
There are many ways for you to get involved with the app now. It is vital we populate the app with as much information as possible so we can launch this to the public and start to help your business and increase sales as soon as possible. Find more details below of how to make use of this BID funded service.
Offers
The best offers are exclusive to the app, simple or loyalty stamp based (done digitally). In these times, we are aware this may not be immediately possible and in the short term we can promote online deals for you. Many cafes may also opt to do a loyalty scheme on takeaway drinks as all that is required is a QR code (that we provide for you) for customers to scan with their smartphone.
Examples include:
– 6th coffee free
– 10% off when you spend £20+
– Free cake with any hot drink after 3pm
– 25% off on Mondays
To add an offer please send an email to [email protected] in the following format:
BID area:
Business name:
Offer / loyalty scheme:
T&Cs:
We create the profile for you, but once we have you can log in and make any changes you like.
You can have various types of exclusive offers or loyalty schemes, and any terms and conditions to suit your needs.
Trails
In time, the LoyalFree app will be used to promote trails through the town. Some to promote offerings such as ‘Vegan Food’ or ‘Dog Friendly’, interactive ones where people can vote and scan, but for now ones which will help customers have the information they need.
Initial plans for Lancaster include an Ale Trail and an Independent Trail to develop the paper based leaflets previously produced by Lancaster BID. Further trails will be added over time and we encourage you to get in touch with any of your own ideas.
Marketplace
In the current climate, LoyalFree are also offering a new service alongside the app; the LoyalFree Marketplace to support independent businesses.
The LoyalFree Marketplace allows BID levy payers to sell products online, without any charge or commission except a small payment processing fee. So if you don’t have an e-commerce website or want to avoid large fees on other platforms, this is perfect.
You can sell products, and also gift vouchers or future experiences on the platform: https://www.loyalfreemarketplace.co.uk/. More information will be available shortly, but do let the BID know if you think this is a service which would be good for you.
Events
If you have events in the future you’d like to promote you can send these directly to [email protected] to be added to the app.
Shortly after you sign up you will receive an email with your login details and further information.
The app will be promoted through local social media, events, press, competitions and through local employers in the area.
