While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Brand loyalty programs are marketing strategies that reward customers for...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Brand loyalty programs are marketing strategies that reward customers for repeat purchases.
- In 2023, business researchers tracked consumer behavior changes across fifty retail companies over eighteen months.
- Retail companies sell goods directly to consumers through physical or online stores.
- Researchers documented that companies implementing loyalty programs experienced increased customer retention within six months.
- Companies maintaining loyalty programs for over two years showed the highest customer satisfaction scores.
- Long-term benefits became evident after the first year despite significant initial investment.
The student wants to present the research timeline to an audience already familiar with brand loyalty programs. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Retail companies sell goods directly to consumers and often implement loyalty programs to reward repeat purchases.
Business researchers documented that companies implementing loyalty programs experienced increased retention within six months, with highest satisfaction scores after two years of program maintenance.
The researchers tracked consumer behavior changes across fifty retail companies using loyalty programs.
Companies experienced increased customer retention within six months of implementing programs that reward repeat purchases; these strategies are called brand loyalty programs.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Brand loyalty programs are marketing strategies that reward customers for repeat purchases." |
|
| "In 2023, business researchers tracked consumer behavior changes across fifty retail companies over eighteen months." |
|
| "Retail companies sell goods directly to consumers through physical or online stores." |
|
| "Researchers documented that companies implementing loyalty programs experienced increased customer retention within six months." |
|
| "Companies maintaining loyalty programs for over two years showed the highest customer satisfaction scores." |
|
| "Long-term benefits became evident after the first year despite significant initial investment." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Research tracking fifty companies over eighteen months revealed that loyalty programs produce measurable benefits at specific timepoints, with the strongest results emerging after two years of program maintenance.
Argument Flow: The notes begin with basic definitions, then establish the research parameters. The core findings follow a chronological pattern showing progressive benefits: retention improvements appear within six months, broader long-term benefits become clear after one year, and maximum customer satisfaction occurs with programs maintained for over two years.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Since the audience already knows what loyalty programs are, we don't need to waste space defining them or explaining basic retail concepts
- Instead, we need to focus on the research timeline - the sequence of when benefits appeared
- The key timeline elements are: six months (retention increases), one year (long-term benefits evident), and two years (highest satisfaction)
- The right answer should present these timeline findings without getting bogged down in basic definitions
Retail companies sell goods directly to consumers and often implement loyalty programs to reward repeat purchases.
- Spends time defining what retail companies do and what loyalty programs are
- Doesn't present any timeline information from the research
Business researchers documented that companies implementing loyalty programs experienced increased retention within six months, with highest satisfaction scores after two years of program maintenance.
- Presents the key timeline elements: "within six months" for retention and "after two years" for highest satisfaction
- Focuses on research findings rather than basic definitions
The researchers tracked consumer behavior changes across fifty retail companies using loyalty programs.
- Only mentions that researchers tracked companies
- Provides no timeline information or specific findings
Companies experienced increased customer retention within six months of implementing programs that reward repeat purchases; these strategies are called brand loyalty programs.
- Ends with defining what loyalty programs are - information the audience already has
- While it mentions "within six months," it wastes space on unnecessary definitions