As a Shopify store owner, you’re always looking for ways to keep customers coming back. One of the most effective strategies? A loyalty and rewards program. It’s not just about giving away points—it’s about building relationships that turn first-time buyers into lifelong fans.
If you’re wondering why you need one, the answer is simple: customer retention. Rewarding customers for actions like signing up, making a purchase, or sharing your store on social media encourages repeat business and increases your average order value. It’s a win-win.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through setting up a professional loyalty program on your Shopify store, using an app called Retenzy. It’s affordable, feature-rich, and you can even try it free for 14 days.
Why a Loyalty Program is a Game-Changer
Before we dive in, let’s talk benefits:
- Keep Customers Coming Back: Rewarded customers are more likely to return.
- Increase Order Value: Customers will shop more to earn points.
- Grow Your Reach: Reward social shares and follows to gain free marketing.
- Build Community: Make your customers feel valued and part of your brand’s story.
Step 1: Install the Retenzy App
- Go to the Shopify App Store and search for “Retenzy Loyalty & Rewards” or visit their site.
- Click Add app and install it on your store. They offer a 14-day free trial, and plans start at just $5/month—a small investment for a powerful tool.
- Exclusive Deal: Want even better value? Use coupon code WEBSENSEPRO20 at checkout to get 20% off on all plans priced above $19/month.
Step 2: Activate the Rewards Widget
Once installed, open the Retenzy dashboard from your Shopify admin.
- Click on Reward Dashboard.
- Select Enable Reward Widget. This will open your theme editor.
- The loyalty widget block will be added automatically. Simply click Save.
- Now, visit your store’s front-end. You should see a “Get Rewards” or similar widget, usually in the corner!
Step 3: Set Up “Ways to Earn” Points
This is where you define how customers earn points. Go to Earn Rewards in the Retenzy dashboard.
- Sign-Up Reward: Encourage new accounts. Set it to 200-300 points for joining. Click ‘Edit,’ enter the points, and hit Publish.
- Place an Order: Reward purchases. The default is often 1 point per $1 spent. You can edit this to a fixed amount or set it for specific products.
- Birthday & Anniversary Rewards: A lovely personal touch. Activate these and set a point value (e.g., 100 points).
- Leave a Review: Great for social proof. You can offer more points for photo/video reviews. Set the points and publish.
- Social Actions: Fuel your organic growth. Reward points for following your Facebook/Instagram page or sharing your store. Add your profile URLs and set the rewards.
Refresh your store page and click the widget. You’ll now see all these “Ways to Earn” beautifully listed for your customers.
Step 4: Create “Ways to Redeem” Rewards
Next, let’s turn those earned points into exciting rewards. Navigate to Redeem Rewards.
The app may have a default offer (e.g., $5 off for 500 points). You can edit this or create new ones.
- Click Create to add a new reward. You can choose:
- Amount Discount: e.g., 100 points = $1 off.
- Percentage Off: e.g., 10% off for 250 points.
- Free Shipping or even a Free Product.
- Configure the details: required points, minimum purchase, and which products/collections it applies to.
- You can set a custom prefix for the discount codes (like “RETENZY-10OFF”).
- Click Publish to activate the reward.
Step 5: Explore Powerful Bonus Features
Retenzy packs even more value. Don’t miss these:
- VIP/Tier Program: Create elite levels (e.g., Silver, Gold) for your top customers. Set a point threshold (like 3,000 points) and assign special perks like exclusive discounts or free shipping.
- Built-In Review System: Go to Review Dashboard and Enable Review Widget. It adds a review section to your product pages. You can auto-publish 5-star reviews or manually approve them, all from the same dashboard.
- Referral Program: Turn customers into advocates. Set up a “Refer a Friend” program where both the referrer and friend get a reward (like $5 off).
- Analytics: Track everything! See how much revenue the app generates, your new average order value, and which rewards are most popular.
Final Thoughts and Pro Tips
Setting up a loyalty program with Retenzy is straightforward, but its impact is profound. You’re not just installing an app—you’re building a system that thanks your customers and incentivizes the behaviors that grow your business.
Remember:
- Start with the core “Earn & Redeem” rules. You can add VIP tiers and complex rules later.
- Use the 14-day free trial to test what works for your audience.
- If you get stuck, Retenzy offers excellent support. You can even schedule a free call with their team for setup help.
- Don’t forget: If you’re choosing a plan above $19/month, use code WEBSENSEPRO20 to save 20%.
Ready to transform your customer relationships and boost your sales? Give Retenzy a try today. Got questions? Drop them in the comments below—I’m happy to help!
