How to Create Custom Loyalty Rewards on Shopify

Quick Answer

Yes, Shopify loyalty programs can go beyond standard reward types with custom rewards. Keystone Loyalty Rewards supports custom gifts and custom reward configurations, letting you build something specific to your brand rather than relying only on a discount, gift card, or free shipping.

Standard reward types cover most loyalty programs well, but some brands want something more specific to their products or customer relationship. This guide covers building a custom reward rather than relying on the default options.

We will cover deciding what a custom reward should actually be, how to configure it correctly, and testing it since custom rewards can behave less predictably than standard ones if not set up carefully.

What Counts as a Custom Loyalty Reward?

A custom reward is anything built specifically for your brand beyond the standard discount, gift card, free gift, or free shipping options, such as a custom gift tied to a specific milestone or a unique combination of benefits configured to fit your particular customer relationship.

Who Should Build Custom Rewards?

• Brands with standard reward types already in place wanting more variety
• Businesses with a distinct brand identity that a generic reward does not reflect
• Stores wanting to reward a specific milestone, like a customer's anniversary
• Brands wanting a reward tied to a unique product or experience
• Any merchant who has outgrown what standard reward types can offer
• Stores wanting their loyalty program to feel less like every other program customers have seen

Why Custom Rewards Matter for Your Business

• They let your loyalty program reflect your specific brand rather than a generic template
• They can reward milestones standard reward types are not built for
• They differentiate your program from competitors using only standard rewards
• They give your best customers something distinctive rather than routine
• They can be tailored to fit a specific product line or customer segment
• They give you room to experiment once the basics of your program are working well
• They can turn a loyalty program into something customers actually talk about, not just use quietly

How to Create Custom Loyalty Rewards on Shopify

Step 1: Define Your Loyalty Goal

Define exactly what the custom reward should be and why a standard reward type does not already cover it well enough on its own.

• Decide the specific benefit the custom reward should provide
• Confirm a standard reward type genuinely cannot achieve the same outcome
• Decide the point cost or condition required to earn this custom reward

Step 2: Install and Configure Keystone Loyalty Rewards

Install Keystone Loyalty Rewards from the Shopify App Store and configure the custom reward using the specifics you defined in step one.

• Connect the app to your Shopify store
• Set up the custom gift or reward configuration directly in the app settings
• Confirm the reward reflects exactly what you intended it to be

Step 3: Create Earning Rules and Rewards

Build the specific custom reward configuration carefully, since a custom setup has more room for error than a standard reward type.

• Set the exact conditions and point cost for the custom reward
• Confirm any product, discount, or gift tied to the reward is configured correctly
• Add any conditional earning rule needed to support how the reward is triggered

Step 4: Add the Loyalty Experience to Your Store

Add the custom reward to the places customers will see it, making sure the description explains what makes it different from standard rewards.

• Show the custom reward clearly in the customer account
• Add the loyalty widget so the reward is visible while shopping
• Write a clear description explaining exactly what the custom reward offers

Step 5: Test the Program

Test the custom reward thoroughly, since a unique configuration is more likely to have an unexpected issue than a standard reward type.

• Redeem the custom reward using a test account and confirm it behaves as intended
• Check every condition tied to the reward triggers correctly
• Confirm the point balance updates correctly after redemption

Step 6: Go Live

Before launch, review the custom reward one more time given its more complex setup compared to a standard reward type overall.

• Confirm every condition and trigger for the reward works as expected
• Check that customer-facing messaging clearly explains the custom reward
• Test the reward again after any change to confirm nothing broke

Custom Loyalty Reward Examples

Industry: Specialty candle brand
Problem: Standard rewards felt generic compared to the brand's distinct identity and customer relationships.
Setup: A custom reward was built around a signature scent available only to customers reaching a specific point milestone.
Result: The reward felt distinct from a standard discount and reinforced the brand's specific identity.

Industry: Pet supply store
Problem: The brand wanted to reward a customer's account anniversary specifically, which no standard reward type addressed directly.
Setup: A custom reward was configured to trigger based on account age rather than a standard purchase or point threshold.
Result: Long-term customers received a reward tied specifically to their relationship length with the brand.

Read more case studies for our apps.

Best Practices for Creating Custom Loyalty Rewards

• Confirm a standard reward type genuinely cannot achieve the same goal before building custom
• Keep the custom reward's configuration as simple as the goal allows
• Test custom rewards more thoroughly than standard ones given their added complexity
• Write a clear description so customers understand what makes the reward distinct
• Re-test custom rewards after any change to the underlying configuration
• Reserve custom rewards for genuinely unique goals, not routine ones already covered by standard types
• Document the reasoning behind a custom reward so it stays maintainable over time

Summary

Creating custom loyalty rewards on Shopify makes sense once standard reward types no longer fit what your brand actually wants to offer. Define the specific benefit, configure it carefully through Keystone Loyalty Rewards, and test it more thoroughly than you would a standard reward given its added complexity.

If you want a loyalty reward built specifically around your own brand identity, the Keystone loyalty app supports custom rewards beyond the standard options.