Swagbucks, a website that rewards users with virtual currency for online actions, is on track to hit $25 million in revenue this year. Its four million users garner “Swag Bucks” for playing games, watching videos, shopping online and searching the web.

They also got in on Cyber Monday with the announcement: “Black Friday may belong to the store, but Cyber Monday belongs to us. In addition to continuing to run our killer Black Friday Deals, we’ll have additional sales, something new for SBTV and, of course, we’ll be announcing the winner of $2500 in Amazon Gift Cards from our Swagbucks Pays For Your Holidays, and giving away more prizes, of course.” 

Major brands including Target, Wal-Mart and Gap are paying when users click on ads or redeem coupons using the Swagbucks toolbar. Calling itself “the web’s premier digital dollar,” the online rewards destination has the distinction of being founded by a rabbi.

CEO Josef Gorowitz embraces his background in Talmudic scholarship and runs his business according to the Biblical idiom, “Treat your fellow man as you would treat yourself,” according to Bloomberg.Continue reading...

Everybody is looking for a deal. And Southwest Airlines would like to give them one. The airline has “launched an enhancement” to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, expanding its roster of partners to allow the plan’s members to get a few extra points by purchasing from particular online retailers.

"Frequent-flier programs like all other loyalty programs are trying to figure out ways to drive more value for consumers," said Sarah Arvin, vice president of client services for Cartera Commerce, to Reuters. "Consumers are much more deal- and reward-conscious and they are trying to get more out of every dollar they spend."

Earlier this year, Southwest — in tandem with airlines including Continental/United — changed their frequent-flier plans so that the customers who were spending more money would get more points. This latest tweak is another way of providing incentive for fliers to stick with one airline rather than just ditching brand loyalty the way most folks are.

"We are trying to enhance the program in as many ways as we can," Jonathan Clarkson, director of Southwest Rapid Rewards, told Reuters. "As long as there is the proliferation of loyalty programs and enhancements to other airline loyalty programs, it's always going to be a challenge to maintain the loyalty of folks."

In another bid to make the brand more engaging, the airline also announced that it's shooting an original (and still untitled) series for TLC that will air next year.

It's been a year since we profiled Recyclebank, and a lot has changed since then. Green activism is now officially social as Greenopolis and Recyclebank have merged to create the largest social recycling system to date.

Greenopolis is the social arm of Waste Management, a leading provider of waste and environmental services, which just made a strategic investment in Recyclebank. WM's stake in Recyclebank gives it access to a community-based green rewards program for its nearly 20 million North American customers.Continue reading...

To launch their My Starbucks Rewards program in Canada, Starbucks has installed four new interactive storefronts in Toronto and Vancouver. A joint effort by BBDO's Toronto office, Blast Radius and The Media Merchants, the window displays allow users to reveal rewards by touching gold stars in an animated interface.

More details from the press release:Continue reading...

Kiip (pronounced "keep") has opened a new mobile doorway for advertisers to reward gamers. The premise underlying the seven month-old start-up: beat a level or get a high score and Kiip sends you free food and goods from brand partners for games you’re already playing. It's like Vegas for gaming high-rollers! Without the Vegas or high-roller part.Continue reading...

These days, consumers can hardly make a purchase without being exposed to some kind of loyalty rewards or frequent buyer program.

They get cards punched when buying a cup of coffee or a bagel. They get "member discounts" at supermarkets. They get credits on merchandise from retailers. They accumulate points good towards free flights and hotel stays from airlines, hotels, and credit card companies.

So why aren't customers redeeming them?Continue reading...