Create an Effective Loyalty Program with Smile.io in Shopify

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Installing Smile for Rewards and Loyalty
3. Setting Up Your Program
   1. Naming Your Program
   2. Choosing a Language and Brand Color
   3. Selecting a Product Industry
   4. Choosing Average Order Volume
   5. Previewing Your Points Program
4. Ways to Earn Points
   1. Placing an Order
   2. Other Ways to Earn
5. Ways to Redeem Points
6. Communication
   1. Email Rewards
   2. Points Earned Communication
7. Launching the Points Program
8. Welcome to Your Smart Home Page
   1. Customer Journey
   2. Advocates and Referrals
9. How Referrals Work
10. Enabling Referrals
    1. Setting Up Referral Coupons
    2. Setting Discount and Purchase Requirements
    3. Enabling Customer Referrals
    4. Adding Additional Recommendations
11. Program Overview
    1. Points System
    2. Ways to Earn and Redeem
    3. Points Branding
    4. Managing Expiring Points
12. VIP Treatment for Top Customers
13. Activity and Data Insights
14. Adjusting Points Total and Performance
15. Customizing Program Branding
16. Placement and Visibility
17. Sending On-Site Reminders
18. Integrations with Smile

Installing Smile for Rewards and Loyalty

In this article, we will guide you on how to easily use Smile EO, or just Smile, as an application in Shopify to set up rewards and loyalty programs for your customers. Smile is a powerful tool that allows you to create a points-based system where customers can earn and redeem points for discounts and other rewards.

To get started, follow these simple steps:

1. Click on "Add Application" in your Shopify dashboard.
2. Install the Smile application and wait for it to load.
3. Create a fake store or use an existing one for testing purposes.
4. Click on "Get Started" to begin setting up your program.

Step 1: Naming Your Program

Give your rewards program a name that resonates with your brand. This will help create a cohesive customer experience and make it easier for your customers to identify your program.

Step 2: Choosing a Language and Brand Color

Select the language that your customers will see when interacting with the program. Choose a brand color that aligns with your brand identity to maintain consistency and help reinforce brand recognition.

Step 3: Selecting a Product Industry

Choose the product industry that best aligns with your business. This will help tailor the rewards and loyalty program to suit your specific market.

Step 4: Choosing Average Order Volume

Specify your average order volume range to better understand your customers' spending habits. This information will be useful in determining how many points customers will earn for each purchase.

Step 5: Previewing Your Points Program

Preview the customer journey in your rewards program. This includes creating a store account, earning points on every order, redeeming points for discounts, and using those discounts on future purchases. Review the ways customers can earn and redeem points to ensure they align with your business goals.

Now that you have set up your program, let's explore the different ways customers can earn and redeem points, and how you can communicate with them effectively.

Ways to Earn Points

The success of a rewards and loyalty program relies heavily on the ways customers can earn points. Here are a few methods you can consider implementing:

1. Placing an Order: Offer a specific number of points for every dollar spent by customers. For example, customers can earn 5 points for every $1 spent.

2. Other Ways to Earn: Consider additional ways for customers to earn points, such as following your business on social media, signing up for newsletters, or referring friends to your store.

Creating multiple opportunities for customers to earn points ensures engagement and encourages them to stay loyal to your brand.

Ways to Redeem Points

In addition to earning points, it's important to provide attractive options for customers to redeem their accumulated points. Here are some popular ways to reward customers:

1. Amount Discount: Allow customers to use their points for direct discounts on their purchases. For example, customers can redeem 100 points for a $1 discount.

2. Percentage Off: Offer customers a percentage discount on their purchases based on the number of points they have accumulated. For instance, customers can redeem 500 points for a 10% discount.

3. Free Shipping: Provide customers with the option to use their points to avail of free shipping on their orders. Set a minimum number of points required and specify the maximum shipping amount that can be covered by points.

By offering various redemption options, you cater to different customer preferences and enhance their overall experience with your brand.

Continued...