Plink.com: A Facebook Credits-Based Loyalty Program

Plink.com

Plink is a Facebook Credits-based loyalty program that rewards Facebook members for dining and making purchases at their favorite restaurants and stores.

   

We had a lengthy discussion with Mr. Steve Stratz, currently assuming a Public Relations role at his US (Denver, Colorado)-based start-up company “Plink.com”.

As per Mr. Stratz; Plink is a Facebook Credits-based loyalty program that rewards Facebook members for dining and making purchases at their favorite restaurants and stores. Plink members create an account at Plink.com, then safely and securely link the credit or debit card of their choice, and begin earning Facebook Credits by dining-out or shopping at participating restaurants and offline retailers including Arby’s®, BURGER KING®, Dunkin’ Donuts®, Quiznos®, Red Robin® and Taco Bell®. Plink’s online-to-offline (O2O) loyalty program connects social media marketing to offline sales.

Plink is led by Peter Vogel, co-founder – sales and business development; Bryan Tyler, IT – systems development and technology leadership and David Asseoff, co-founder and chairman. Combined, they have more than 40 years of online sales and marketing experience.

The company, which launched in January 2012, recently closed an angel investment round totaling $633,000 at a pre-money valuation of $5 million. Investors participating in the angel round included Matomy Media Group, a multinational leader in digital advertising working across web, social media and mobile platforms. In addition, Denver-based Ahlborg Acquisitions, an angel investment firm, led by Tom Ahlborg, managing director and principal, joined the round.

Plink is the first-ever Facebook Credits-based loyalty program that rewards members with Facebook Credits for dining and shopping at their favorite restaurants and offline retailers.

Plink was started to help restaurants and offline retailers reach and motivate their customers online, specifically in social media environments like Facebook. More than 50 percent of purchases are still made offline and Plink’s online-to-offline (O2O) platform provides a mechanism for retailers and restaurants to motivate online consumers, track them and then reward them for their offline purchasing behavior.

Plink was designed to be user-friendly, and 100 percent free and easy to join; new members simply create an account through Facebook Connect or Plink’s form, then safely and securely register the credit or debit card of their choice. Plink members then earn Facebook Credits by using their registered card when dining-out or shopping at participating restaurants and offline retailers. There are no coupons to print out, no discounts that need to be awkwardly requested or extra loyalty cards to carry; for both consumers and retailers Plink is a seamless process, with no interruption from the regular transaction process.

Currently, Plink members can earn Facebook Credits at more than 35,000 restaurants and retail locations nationwide. Members can use Facebook Credits to buy virtual goods to advance or level-up in popular Facebook games such as CityVille or The Sims Social. In addition, Facebook is constantly adding new ways to spend Facebook Credits including downloading music, watching movies or TV episodes.

Prior to starting the company, Plink’s team of founders has shared decades of experience in both online marketing and creating and managing points-based loyalty programs. Plink is self-funded and operates independently from its Denver, CO headquarters.

(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

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