Glossary
- Loyalty Program: A structured initiative that rewards customers for repeat behavior, such as purchases or referrals.
- ESP (Email Service Provider): A platform used to send automated and campaign-based emails (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp).
- Redemption Rate: Percentage of rewards used vs. earned.
- Referral Rate: The ratio of customers acquired through referral mechanisms.
- AOV (Average Order Value): The average total of every order placed.
- Triggered Email: Emails sent based on specific customer behavior (e.g., sign-up, purchase).
- Cohort Segmentation: Grouping customers based on shared behavioral or lifecycle attributes.
- CTA (Call to Action): A prompt that directs recipients toward a desired action.
Table of contents
Introduction

Email marketing is one of the highest-ROI channels when it comes to building customer loyalty. It’s not just about pushing promotions. It’s about creating a long-term relationship by rewarding behaviors that grow your brand.
While loyalty platforms create the infrastructure, email keeps the momentum going. It guides members at every step: joining, earning, redeeming, and referring. Without email, your program risks invisibility.
This guide is your complete playbook to using email to build and scale a profitable loyalty program.
Why Email Is a Loyalty Growth Engine
1. High Engagement
Loyalty-related content consistently sees higher engagement:
- 40% of customers are more likely to open emails tied to loyalty rewards.
- Loyalty emails outperform regular campaigns in CTR and conversion.
2. Increased Revenue
- Loyalty email recipients spend up to 2x more than non-members.
- Nuud saw a 153% higher AOV from loyalty email recipients.
3. Reduced Churn
Email keeps your brand top-of-mind, reminding members of benefits and rewards they may otherwise forget.
Key Loyalty Email Types & Strategy
1. Program Launch Email
- Goal: Announce the loyalty program.
- Highlight key benefits: points system, tiers, exclusive perks.
- Include strong visuals and CTA: “Join Now.”
2. Invitation to Join
- Triggered after a purchase by non-registered customers.
- Offer bonus points or a time-limited gift to drive urgency.
3. Welcome Email
- Sent post-enrollment.
- Outline how to earn and redeem points.
- Highlight referral benefits and community aspects.
4. Post-Purchase Points Update
- Keep members updated immediately after a purchase.
- Show how many points were earned.
- Mention how close they are to their next reward.
5. Points Redemption Email
- Triggered when users qualify for a reward.
- Personalize based on reward type.
- Use urgency: “Claim your reward today.”
6. Points Expiration Warning
- Sent 7, 3, and 1 day before points expire.
- Subject line: “You’re about to lose X points.”
7. Monthly Points Summary
- Include current points balance.
- Recommend ways to earn more.
- Tease upcoming exclusive offers.
8. One-Off Reward Campaigns
- Birthdays, anniversaries, milestones.
- Increase emotional connection.
- Example: “A birthday gift just for you.”
9. Referral Program Invite
- “Give $10, Get $10.”
- Simple breakdown of the referral process.
- Triggered post-purchase or in onboarding flow.
Email Copy & Design Best Practices
Subject Line Tips
- Personalize: “John, your reward is waiting!”
- Add urgency: “Final call: 500 points expire tonight.”
- Make it benefit-focused: “Double points this weekend.”
Body Copy
- Scannable formatting: bullets, subheaders, short sentences.
- Use dynamic fields to tailor experience.
- Reinforce rewards with high-quality visuals.
- One clear CTA: no distractions.
Visual Hierarchy
- Hero image → Headline → Benefit bullets → CTA
Segmentation Framework
Segment Type | Target Strategy |
---|---|
Loyalty Tier | VIPs = Early access offers. Newbies = Educational flows. |
Points Balance | Low = Earning tips. High = Redemption nudges. |
Inactive Members | Offer double points to reengage. |
Milestone Cohorts | Celebrate anniversaries or purchase streaks. |
Referral Status | Trigger reminders to refer after redemption. |
Strategic Email Timing
Email Type | Trigger Time |
---|---|
Welcome | Instantly after joining |
Points Update | Within 1 hour post-purchase |
Redemption Alert | As soon as reward is unlocked |
Points Expiry | 7, 3, 1 days before expiration |
Monthly Summary | First week of each month |
Birthday/Anniversary | Exact date of event |
Referral Invite | After second purchase or post-redemption |
Loyalty Metrics to Track via Email
Metric Name | Why It Matters |
---|---|
Open Rate | Indicator of subject line effectiveness |
Click Rate | Measures engagement with email content |
Sign-Up Conversion | % of recipients joining the program |
Redemption Rate | % of earned rewards actually used |
Referral Rate | Health of word-of-mouth acquisition |
Member AOV | Compare against non-members |
Purchase Frequency | Key loyalty retention indicator |
Top Loyalty Email Examples
1. Füm (Cores Club Launch)
- Big headline, CTA: “Join Now.”
- Visuals emphasize exclusivity.
2. MoxieLash (Welcome Email)
- Tone: celebratory and exclusive.
- Lists immediate benefits + how to earn.
3. Nintendo (Birthday Reward)
- Simple, fun, and thematic.
- Strong CTA with one-click reward.
4. Tattly (Post-Purchase Update)
- Minimalist. Clear CTA: “Spend Now.”
Optimization Tactics
Testing Strategy
- A/B test subject lines, send times, and content types.
- Segment your audience and test per group.
Pre-Send Checklist
- Check mobile responsiveness.
- Review link tracking.
- Validate personalization tokens.
Best Tools
- ESP Integrations: Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Omnisend, HubSpot.
- Loyalty Platforms: LoyaltyLion, Smile.io, Yotpo Loyalty.
- Testing Tools: Litmus, Email on Acid, UserTesting, Maze.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I email loyalty program members?
Send triggered emails as actions occur, and schedule monthly updates or promotions. Avoid overwhelming with frequency.
2. What platform should I use for loyalty emails?
Use ESPs like Klaviyo or Omnisend integrated with loyalty platforms like LoyaltyLion or Smile.io.
3. What’s the ideal subject line length?
6 to 10 words. Keep it scannable on mobile devices.
4. How do I prevent loyalty emails from going to spam?
Use clean subscriber lists, authenticate your domain, avoid spammy keywords, and monitor deliverability.
5. Can I automate all loyalty emails?
Yes. Use behavior-based triggers and flows. But always monitor and refresh copy/design quarterly.
6. How do I re-engage inactive loyalty members?
Send exclusive “Come Back” offers with bonus points or limited-time rewards.
Final Thoughts
Loyalty programs aren’t just about points. They’re about consistent engagement, trust, and nudges that keep your brand top-of-mind. Email is your pipeline to make that happen.
When built with strategy and executed through timely, relevant content, loyalty emails drive revenue, referrals, and retention.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your loyalty program? Then your email strategy needs to do more than deliver—it needs to delight.
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