Canonical URL: https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/online-rewards-compares-points-tiers-and-referrals-for-customer-retention-82235ea215b1/ --- description: Online Rewards’ pandemic-era loyalty guidance explains different program structures and redemption options including gift cards and merchandise. title: Online Rewards compares points, tiers and referrals for customer retention image: https://giftcard.news/images/social/v1/online-rewards-compares-points-tiers-referrals-customer-retention-58a625dc3cc463c1ba4762c40278d57c.jpg --- 1. [Home](https://giftcard.news/) 2. [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) # Online Rewards compares points, tiers and referrals for customer retention Online Rewards’ pandemic-era loyalty guidance explains different program structures and redemption options including gift cards and merchandise. By [Daniel Brooks](https://giftcard.news/author/daniel-brooks/) April 28, 2021 1 min read Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fonline-rewards-compares-points-tiers-and-referrals-for-customer-retention-82235ea215b1%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Online%20Rewards%20compares%20points%2C%20tiers%20and%20referrals%20for%20customer%20retention "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fonline-rewards-compares-points-tiers-and-referrals-for-customer-retention-82235ea215b1%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Online%20Rewards%20compares%20points%2C%20tiers%20and%20referrals%20for%20customer%20retention%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fonline-rewards-compares-points-tiers-and-referrals-for-customer-retention-82235ea215b1%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Online Rewards compares points, tiers and referrals for customer retention](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/online-rewards-compares-points-tiers-referrals-customer-retention-w1280.webp) Photo: Source: online-rewards.com [Online Rewards](https://giftcard.news/company/online-rewards/) has compared points-based loyalty, tiered benefits and referral programs as ways to maintain customer relationships during market disruption. Its April 2021 article focuses on how earning and redemption rules can support repeat engagement. A points program lets members accumulate value through defined actions and exchange it for an available reward. The company discusses gift cards, merchandise, vouchers and other benefits as possible redemption choices. Tiered programs add different levels of access or benefits. Progress can reflect spending, purchase frequency or another stated measure, giving members a visible relationship between participation and the benefits available to them. Referral programs address a different objective: inviting existing customers to introduce others to the business. The article describes recognition for the referring customer as part of turning an established relationship into a new customer contact. Online Rewards also lists free shipping, discounts and charitable giving among possible uses of earned value. The appropriate mix depends on what customers consider useful and how it fits the company’s business model. Online Rewards favors a structured customer relationship supported by clear earning and redemption rules. It recommends choosing the mechanism and reward mix around the business's objectives and the benefits customers value. ## Sources and documents ExpandCollapse * [Will Your Customer Loyalty Program Survive After the Pandemic?](https://online-rewards.com/blog/will-your-customer-loyalty-program-survive-after-the-pandemic/?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — Online Rewards ## In this article ### Companies * [Online Rewards](https://giftcard.news/company/online-rewards/) Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fonline-rewards-compares-points-tiers-and-referrals-for-customer-retention-82235ea215b1%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Online%20Rewards%20compares%20points%2C%20tiers%20and%20referrals%20for%20customer%20retention "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fonline-rewards-compares-points-tiers-and-referrals-for-customer-retention-82235ea215b1%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Online%20Rewards%20compares%20points%2C%20tiers%20and%20referrals%20for%20customer%20retention%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fonline-rewards-compares-points-tiers-and-referrals-for-customer-retention-82235ea215b1%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Portrait of Daniel Brooks](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/daniel-brooks-editorial-portrait-w320.webp) About the author ## [Daniel Brooks](https://giftcard.news/author/daniel-brooks/) Journalist — Payments, Security & PCI DSS Daniel Brooks covers payment networks, financial technology, payment security, gift card fraud and PCI DSS for Gift Card News. From reading to building ## Your next move in gift cards. Tell us what you’re building. We’ll help you explore suitable providers. [Find a provider ](https://giftcard.news/find-a-provider/) ## Related articles [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) News ### [Giftbit’s Research Incentive Guide Puts Unclaimed Gift Cards and Privacy in Focus](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/giftbit-research-incentives-unclaimed-gift-cards-privacy/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) September 17, 2026 2 min [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) News ### [Yoyo Reports Platō Loyalty Results a Year After Card-Linked Launch](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/yoyo-plato-card-linked-loyalty-first-year-results/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) September 16, 2026 2 min [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) News ### [Prezzee sets out employee gift card options for work anniversaries](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/prezzee-employee-gift-card-options-work-anniversaries/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) September 15, 2026 2 min ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://giftcard.news/#publisher","name":"Gift Card News","url":"https://giftcard.news/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/brand/giftcard-news-logo.svg"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://giftcard.news/author/daniel-brooks/#person","name":"Daniel Brooks","url":"https://giftcard.news/author/daniel-brooks/","description":"Daniel Brooks covers payment networks, financial technology, payment security, gift card fraud and PCI DSS for Gift Card News.","jobTitle":"Journalist — Payments, Security & PCI DSS","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/images/daniel-brooks-editorial-portrait.webp","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/images/daniel-brooks-editorial-portrait.webp","width":256,"height":256,"caption":"Illustrated portrait representing the Daniel Brooks editorial 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