What Is LoyaltyLion? (And Why Every Ecommerce Store Should Care)

Remember when you were a kid and collected stickers for your sticker book? Every time you got a new sticker, you felt excited. And when you finally filled up a page, you felt really proud and wanted to keep collecting more.

LoyaltyLion is basically that same idea, but for your online store customers. Except instead of stickers, customers collect points. And instead of a sticker book, they get rewards like discounts, free products, or special treatment.

But here's where it gets interesting for store owners: those customers who collect points spend way more money. Like, 67% more money than customers who don't collect points. And they keep coming back to buy more stuff, over and over again.

That's not magic. That's just human nature. When people feel appreciated and rewarded, they want to stick around.

Let's Start With the Basics: What Exactly Is LoyaltyLion?

Think of LoyaltyLion as a really smart helper that lives inside your online store. This helper watches what your customers do and gives them points for being good customers.

Here's what your customers might get points for:

• Buying something (obviously)
• Writing a review about a product they bought
• Telling their friends about your store
• Following you on Instagram or Facebook
• Even just creating an account on your website

Then, when customers have enough points, they can "spend" them on rewards. Maybe 100 points gets them $5 off their next order. Or 500 points gets them free shipping. You get to decide what the rewards are.

But LoyaltyLion isn't just a point-counting machine. It's actually pretty smart about understanding your customers. It knows which customers are your best ones, which ones might stop shopping with you, and which ones might buy more if you give them a little nudge.

Why This Actually Matters for Your Business

Let me tell you a quick story. There's a beauty company called 100% Pure. They sell makeup and skincare products both online and in 12 physical stores.

Before they started using LoyaltyLion, they had a problem. Some customers shopped online. Some shopped in their stores. But they had no way to connect all that shopping together or reward customers for being loyal.

After they set up LoyaltyLion, something amazing happened. Their customers started coming back 4 times more often. The customers who joined their loyalty program spent 72% more money than customers who didn't join.

But here's the really crazy part: they made an extra $244,000 just from customers telling their friends about the store. That's quarter of a million dollars in extra sales just because they made their customers happy enough to spread the word.

That's not luck. That's what happens when you treat customers well and give them reasons to stick around.

LoyaltyLion Reviews: What Real Store Owners Actually Say

When you look at what store owners say about LoyaltyLion, you notice something interesting. They don't just say "it's good" or "five stars." They talk about specific things that happened to their business.

One store owner said their helper person at LoyaltyLion (his name was Jason) was "the most helpful rep with a third party platform that we've ever worked with." This wasn't just about being nice. Jason actually understood not just LoyaltyLion, but all the other tools this store was using too, like their email system and text messaging system.

Another store owner who had been using LoyaltyLion for several years said it was "easy to use" and "effective for customer retention and increasing the lifetime value of customers."

Several years. That's important. In the fast-moving world of online business, if someone sticks with a tool for years, it means that tool is actually making them money.

Here's what we know from looking at over 10,000 stores that use LoyaltyLion:

• Their loyalty program members usually create 40-47% of total sales
• Members spend 2 to 8 times more money than non-members
• For every $1 spent on the loyalty program, stores typically make $15 back

Those aren't made-up numbers. Those are real results from real stores.

How LoyaltyLion Text Messages Work (And Why They're So Powerful)

Here's something most people don't understand about running an online store: email doesn't work like it used to. People's email inboxes are so full of junk that even your best customers might not see important messages from you.

But text messages? People almost always read those. In fact, about 98% of text messages get opened and read.

LoyaltyLion lets you send text messages to your loyalty program members, but not in an annoying way. Here's how it might work:

Let's say Sarah is one of your VIP customers. She just earned enough points for a free product. Instead of hoping she notices an email, LoyaltyLion can automatically send her a text message saying something like: "Hey Sarah! You just earned a free lipstick. Want to claim it? Click here."

Or maybe you're launching a new product and you want to give your best customers first access. You can send a text to just your VIP members saying: "New collection drops tomorrow, but you get early access today. Shop now before everyone else."

The key is that these messages feel personal and valuable, not like spam. Sarah gets this text because she's been a good customer and earned it. That makes her feel special, not annoyed.

Understanding LoyaltyLion Pricing (Without the Confusing Parts)

One thing that confuses people about LoyaltyLion pricing is that it's not just one flat fee. The price depends on how many orders your store gets each month.

Think of it like a gym membership. A small neighborhood gym might charge $30 a month. A big fancy gym with pools and classes might charge $100 a month. They're both gyms, but they serve different needs.

LoyaltyLion works the same way:

Classic Plan ($199/month): Good for stores getting up to 1,000 orders per month. Includes everything you need to start a loyalty program, plus someone to help set it up.

Advanced Plan: For bigger stores that need more features like VIP tiers and fancier integrations.

Plus Plan: For really big stores that need custom features and dedicated support.

But here's the important question: does it pay for itself?

Let's do simple math. Say your average customer spends $50 per order. If LoyaltyLion helps you get just 10 extra orders per month (which is way less than most stores see), that's $500 in extra sales. The Classic plan costs $199, so you're already ahead by $301.

Most stores see way better results than that. Remember 100% Pure? They made an extra $244,000 just from referrals. Their LoyaltyLion costs are probably around $500 per month. That's like spending $1 to make $40.

What Makes LoyaltyLion Different from Other Loyalty Programs

You've probably seen those little popup windows on websites that say "Join our loyalty program!" Most of those are pretty basic. You buy something, you get points. You accumulate points, you get a discount. The end.

LoyaltyLion is more like a smart assistant that really pays attention to your customers.

For example, most basic loyalty programs only give points for purchases. LoyaltyLion gives points for all kinds of things that help your business:

• Writing product reviews (which help other customers decide what to buy)
• Sharing products on social media (which brings you new customers for free)
• Referring friends (which is the best kind of marketing)
• Even just browsing your website and engaging with your brand

LoyaltyLion also creates what they call "VIP tiers." Think of this like levels in a video game. The more a customer engages with your brand, the higher their level gets. And higher levels get better rewards.

This is smart because it doesn't just reward spending money. It rewards being a good customer in all the ways that actually help your business grow.

How LoyaltyLion Integrations Actually Work

Here's where things get a bit technical, but I'll keep it simple.

LoyaltyLion doesn't live by itself. It connects to all the other tools you use to run your store. Think of it like the hub of a wheel, with spokes connecting to everything else.

Shopify Integration: LoyaltyLion was actually the first loyalty program to work with Shopify. They plug right into your store and automatically track everything your customers do.

Email Integration: Connects with tools like Klaviyo to automatically send welcome emails to new loyalty members, remind people about their points, and celebrate when they reach new levels.

Text Message Integration: Works with SMS tools to send those personal text messages we talked about earlier.

Review Integration: Connects with review platforms so customers automatically get points when they write reviews.

The beautiful thing is that all of this happens automatically. You don't have to manually track who did what or send individual messages. The system watches everything and responds appropriately.

Real Examples of LoyaltyLion Merchants Getting Results

Let's talk about some real stores and what happened when they started using LoyaltyLion.

Represent Clothing sells trendy clothes. They created something called their "Prestige Program." Their VIP customers (the ones in the highest tier) spend 4 times more money than regular customers. And nearly 20% of all their sales come from loyalty program members.

Ethique makes eco-friendly beauty products. They built their loyalty program around their values, giving extra points for sustainable actions. Now 40% of their total revenue comes from loyalty program members. Their members who actually use their points spend 3.5 times more than customers who don't join the program.

Here's what these examples show: it's not just about collecting points. It's about creating a community around your brand where customers feel special and valued.

The Most Common Questions About LoyaltyLion (Answered Simply)

"How long does it take to set up?"

‍Usually about 4-6 weeks from start to finish. The first couple weeks are planning and strategy. Then 2-3 weeks for technical setup. Then some testing before you launch.

"What if my customers don't understand how to use it?"

‍LoyaltyLion is designed to be really simple. Customers earn points automatically for things they're already doing. They can see their points balance on your website. When they have enough points for a reward, they just click a button.

"Do I need to hire someone to manage it?"

‍Not necessarily. The system runs automatically once it's set up. But someone on your team should check the reports monthly and think about ways to improve the program.

"What if I want to change my rewards later?"

‍Easy. You can adjust point values, add new rewards, or change the rules anytime through the dashboard.

"How do I know if it's working?"

‍LoyaltyLion gives you detailed reports showing how many people joined, how much they're spending, and how much extra revenue the program is generating.

Why Some Stores Succeed with LoyaltyLion and Others Don't

After watching dozens of stores implement LoyaltyLion, we've noticed patterns in who succeeds and who doesn't.

Stores that succeed usually do these things:

• They start with a plan, not just turn on features randomly
• They think about what behaviors they want to encourage (not just purchases)
• They regularly check their reports and make adjustments
• They integrate the loyalty program with their email marketing and other tools
• They actually tell their customers about the program (you'd be surprised how many forget this)

Stores that struggle usually make these mistakes:

• They set it up and forget about it
• They make the rewards too hard to earn or not valuable enough
• They don't explain the program clearly to customers
• They focus only on discounts instead of creating exclusive experiences

The good news is that these are all fixable problems. With the right setup and ongoing attention, most stores see significant results within 3-6 months.

How We Help Stores Get LoyaltyLion Right

At AskTimmy, we've implemented LoyaltyLion for dozens of stores. Here's what we've learned about doing it right.

First, strategy matters more than features. Before we touch any settings, we spend time understanding your customers, your business goals, and what behaviors actually drive long-term value for your store.

Second, integration is everything. A loyalty program that doesn't connect with your email marketing, customer service, and other tools is like having a fancy car with no roads to drive on.

Third, launch is just the beginning. The stores that see the best results treat their loyalty program like a garden that needs regular attention, not a "set it and forget it" system.

We typically start with a deep dive into your current customer data. Who are your best customers? What do they buy? How often do they come back? This helps us design a program structure that makes sense for your specific business.

Then we handle all the technical setup, design custom loyalty pages that match your brand, and integrate everything with your existing tools.

But the real value comes after launch. We monitor performance, suggest optimizations, and help you evolve the program as your business grows.

When LoyaltyLion Makes Sense (And When It Doesn't)

LoyaltyLion isn't right for every store. Here's how to know if it makes sense for you.

It probably makes sense if:

• You have customers who buy from you more than once
• You sell products that people might want to review or recommend to friends
• Your average order value is high enough that giving away some margin for loyalty rewards won't hurt
• You have at least a few hundred customers already (loyalty programs work better with some existing customer base)

It might not make sense if:

• You sell one-time purchases that people never repeat
• You're still figuring out your basic business model
• Your margins are so thin that any discount would eliminate profit
• You don't have anyone who can spend a few hours per month managing and optimizing the program

The timing question: The best time to start a loyalty program is usually when you have some consistent repeat customers but before you're desperate to improve retention. If you're already in crisis mode, fix your basic customer experience first.

What Happens After You Decide to Move Forward

If you decide LoyaltyLion makes sense for your business, here's what typically happens next.

Week 1-2: Strategy and Planning‍

We analyze your customer data, understand your business goals, and design a program structure that makes sense. This includes deciding what actions earn points, what rewards to offer, and how to structure VIP tiers.

Week 3-4: Technical Setup

‍We configure LoyaltyLion, design loyalty pages that match your brand, and integrate with your existing tools like email marketing and customer service.

Week 5-6: Testing and Refinement

‍We test everything thoroughly, train your team on how to manage the program, and make final adjustments before launch.

Launch and Beyond

‍We monitor performance closely in the first few months, suggest optimizations based on real data, and help you evolve the program as you learn what works best for your customers.

Most stores start seeing positive results within the first month after launch. By month 3-6, successful programs typically show significant impact on repeat purchase rates and customer lifetime value.

‍

The Bottom Line About LoyaltyLion

Here's what it comes down to: LoyaltyLion is a tool that helps you build better relationships with your customers. It's not magic, and it's not a silver bullet. But when implemented thoughtfully, it can significantly improve customer retention and lifetime value.

The platform is well-built, the company has been around for over 10 years, and they clearly understand ecommerce. The pricing is reasonable for what you get, and the results speak for themselves across thousands of stores.

But success isn't automatic. Like any tool, it works best when used skillfully and maintained regularly.

If you're running an ecommerce store and struggling with customer retention, or if you just want to build stronger relationships with your existing customers, LoyaltyLion deserves serious consideration.

The question isn't whether loyalty programs work (they do). The question is whether you're ready to commit to doing it right.

Want to explore whether LoyaltyLion makes sense for your specific business? Let's start with an honest conversation about your current customer retention challenges and what success would look like for you.

‍

‍