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How to Build Loyalty in a Local Business

For local businesses, growth doesn’t come from one-time customers. It comes from loyal ones . Customers who come back. Customers who trust you. Customers who tell their friends. Building loyalty isn’t about punch cards or discounts, it’s about relationships and consistency. Here’s how local businesses can build real customer loyalty that lasts. Why Loyalty Matters More Than Ever Acquiring new customers is getting harder and more expensive. Ads cost more. Attention is limited

Teigan Brown

15 minutes ago2 min read

New Year, New Marketing Plan: Why Word-of-Mouth Still Works Best

A new year usually brings new goals. New plans. New ideas for how to grow your business. For many local service businesses, that often means thinking about ads, social media, or new software. But before you invest time or money into something new, it’s worth revisiting the marketing channel that has always worked best: Word-of-mouth. Why the New Year Is the Perfect Time to Rethink Marketing The start of a new year is when business owners: Review what worked last year Cut w

Teigan Brown

Dec 29, 20252 min read

What Is Word-of-Mouth Marketing? (And Why It Still Works in 2025)

Marketing trends change every year. Platforms come and go. Algorithms shift. Ad costs rise. But one thing has stayed the same for decades, and still works better than almost anything else: Word-of-mouth marketing. For local service businesses especially, word-of-mouth isn’t just effective, it’s essential. What Is Word-of-Mouth Marketing? Word-of-mouth marketing happens when customers naturally recommend your business to other people . This can happen: In conversations with fr

Teigan Brown

Dec 21, 20252 min read

What Is Referral Marketing? A Simple Guide for Local Service Businesses

If you run a local service business, cleaning, landscaping, pet care, beauty, home services, you already rely on referrals. But most businesses don’t actually understand referral marketing , how it works, or how to systematize it. This guide breaks it down simply. What Is Referral Marketing? Referral marketing is a growth strategy where existing customers recommend your business to new customers , and are rewarded for doing so. Unlike ads or promotions, referral marketing is

Teigan Brown

Dec 14, 20253 min read

We’re Building the Next Craigslist (On Purpose)

Everyone in tech wants to build the “next big platform.” More features. More automation. More dashboards.More complexity… and more cost. At Rippl Rewards, we’re taking the opposite approach. We’re intentionally building Rippl the same way Craigslist became one of the most impactful platforms of all time: Simple. Useful. Trusted.Focused on doing a few things exceptionally well. Craigslist didn’t win by being flashy.It won by being the easiest tool in the world to use. Rippl i

Teigan Brown

Dec 4, 20253 min read

Stop Discounting. Start Rewarding.

Local service businesses often fall into the same trap:When things slow down… they start discounting. “20% off this week.” “First service half off.” “Holiday sale.” But here’s the truth: Discounts attract bargain hunters, not loyal customers. And once you discount, customers expect it forever. There’s a better way. Why Discounts Hurt Local Businesses Discounting feels like a quick win, but it creates long-term problems: 1. You train customers to wait for deals People learn yo

Teigan Brown

Nov 26, 20252 min read

The Hidden Power of Neighborhood Word-of-Mouth (And How to Track It)

For local service businesses, dog walkers, cleaners, landscapers, estheticians, handymen, the most powerful marketing channel isn’t social media or paid ads. It’s neighborhood word-of-mouth. Customers talk. They rave. They share the businesses they trust with friends, neighbors, and Facebook groups. But here’s the problem: Most businesses have no system to track or amplify those recommendations. Rippl Rewards changes that. Why Word-of-Mouth Is the #1 Growth Driver for Local

Teigan Brown

Nov 20, 20252 min read

Why Rippl Rewards Is Like Craigslist (and Why That’s Exactly the Point)

Every few years, a new wave of software promises “more features,” “more automation,” and “more AI.” But for local service businesses like landscapers, dog walkers, cleaners, estheticians, handymen and more complexity usually means more headaches. Craigslist proved something powerful decades ago: Simple tools that solve real problems spread faster than overbuilt software. Rippl Rewards is built on that same principle and that’s exactly why it works. The Craigslist Playbook: S

Teigan Brown

Nov 18, 20252 min read

How Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters Can Fill Their Schedule with Referral Rewards

Struggling to keep your dog walking schedule full? Pet owners love sharing their trusted dog walker - but most have no system to track or reward these referrals. Why Referrals Matter for Pet Care The trust factor : 87% of pet owners choose dog walkers based on friend recommendations Pet parents naturally talk at dog parks and neighborhood groups One satisfied client can refer 5-10 others Tight-knit pet owner communities The numbers : Dog walkers with referral programs get 3.

Teigan Brown

Oct 28, 20252 min read

How Wedding Vendors Can Book More Events with Referral Rewards

Wedding vendors face a unique challenge: couples book your services once, then disappear. But what if every satisfied couple could fill your calendar with new bookings? Here's how wedding vendor referral programs turn one-time clients into ongoing business generators. Why Referrals Are Critical for Wedding Vendors The wedding vendor reality : 73% of couples choose vendors based on friend recommendations (Wedding Industry Report, 2025) Newlyweds know dozens of newly engaged f

Teigan Brown

Oct 15, 20254 min read