Shopify Membership Discount: Boost Sales with 5 Proven Strategies (2024)
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It is truly amazing to think of a customer base always willing to patronize your products with little or no persuasion. Oh sure, it must sound like a dream to you.
This dream can become a reality with a Shopify membership discount plan! If you also want to make first-time shoppers loyal customers and ensure a constant income for your Shopify store, giving special perks and gifts should be your current go-to strategy.
In this article, we’ll demystify all the types of Shopify membership discounts and the top apps that can help you implement them. From paid memberships to subscription-based models, we’ll show you how to create a program that drives actual results for your business.
1. Types of Shopify Membership Discounts that Shopify Merchants Commonly Use
Membership discounts are customer group discounts on Shopify that merchants commonly use. This strategy includes paid membership, tiered membership, loyalty membership, subscription membership, student membership, and wholesale membership.
Paid Membership
Almost all paid membership programs require customers to pay a specified fee for additional benefits. This fee can be charged once on certain occasions or as a subscription, annual, or monthly fee. The advantages of charging members lie in upfront revenue, which helps with cash flow.
For instance, your store can develop a feature like VIP, which offers its customers discounts, first access to newer products, or free shipping. However, when adopting this kind of discount, make sure that the gains are more than the cost for the side of the customer.
Tiered Membership
Membership by tiers can be implemented in various tiers, generally widely recognized as bronze, silver, and gold. The customer tiers are based on the amount of spending made by the customers, and they can also upgrade to a higher tier from a lower tier.
This membership type increases spending and motivates customers to reach the next tier. For example, a bronze shopper may be eligible for a 5% price cut, and a gold shopper can get a 20% price cut and no shipping cost.
With this kind of discount, it is crucial to inform customers of the advantages of each tier and offer a clear path or upgrade program to aid in the process.
Loyalty Membership
Loyalty memberships let customers exchange their money for points that they, in turn, can trade for a higher level, like the tier type of membership, or to get extra discounts on the next purchase.
For instance, a store might give one point for every dollar the customer spends, and the customer could use 100 points to pay $10. Loyalty programs are customer retention strategies that use points/dollars to measure customers’ purchasing power and to encourage them to continue patronizing your business.
Subscription Membership
Subscription memberships, on the other hand, are a type of customer loyalty program in which a customer purchases a product on a subscription basis at a lower price. This is common among customers who buy consumable goods such as beauty products or supplements.
For example, a skincare brand can provide a monthly box of products for a cheaper price than if the products were to be bought separately. As with any discount type, this puts a lot of emphasis on managing stock and its delivery.
Student Membership
Student memberships provide special student rates, identified by the student’s ID or email confirmation. If you create student discounts on Shopify or use a third-party app, you will target young customers who will likely have more buying power.
Wholesale Membership
Wholesale memberships are designed for bulk buyers or business customers. They offer significant discounts for purchasing large quantities. This membership type helps build long-term relationships with B2B customers and ensures steady sales volume.
For instance, a merchant might offer a 30% discount to wholesale members who buy at least 100 units per order. When using this kind of discount, it’s essential to spell out who qualifies and ensure the pricing works for your business.
2. Top Apps for Shopify Membership Discount
Indeed, you have gone through the main types of membership discounts Shopify merchants use. Now, it is time to share with you what apps you can use to set up these rights. Shopify does offer built-in features for applying discounts, but it does not suit the needs as much as these membership apps do.
Here’s a quick comparison table to help you visualize 5 options:
| App name | Rating | Pricing | Key Features | Pros | Cons |
| Appstle Memberships | 4.9 | – Free – Starter – Business – Enterprise | – Membership plans – Automated billing – Member portal | – Easy to use – Comprehensive features – Excellent support – Integration with Shopify | – Limited free plan – Higher pricing for advanced features |
| Subify Subscriptions | 4.9 | – Free – Essential – Basic – Subify | – Recurring payments – Subscription boxes – Memberships – Bundles | – User-friendly – Flexible subscription options – Strong customer service | – Some features require paid plans – Transaction fees |
| Simplee Memberships & Rewards | 4.8 | – Taster – Starter – Growth | – Membership plans – Automated billing – Member Portal | – Free plan for smaller stores – Customizable member portal – Strong support | – Per-member fees – Limited features in the free plan |
| Conjured Memberships | 4.9 | – Free Development – Limited Special – Starter – Growth | – Membership plans – Gated content – Customizable portal | – Robust features – Excellent support – Flexible membership options | – Transaction fees – Limited free plan |
| BON: Loyalty Rewards Referrals | 4.9 | – Free Forever – Basic – Growth – Professional | – Loyalty points – Rewards – Referral program – VIP tiers | – Affordable – Customizable – Multilingual support | Be overwhelming with many features. |
Appstle Memberships is a robust Shopify app that allows the creation and management of membership programs. Big e-commerce brands love it because it handles high-volume membership programs well. Key features are tiered plans, member perks like discounts and free shipping, automated billing, and a dedicated member portal.
- Shopify Rating: 4.9 🌟 with 376 reviews.
- Pricing: Free plan for up to 25 members and paid plans starting at $19 monthly.
- Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Comprehensive features
- Excellent customer support
- No per-member fees
- Smooth integration with Shopify
- Cons: Can be pricey for higher tiers
Subify Subscriptions is a Shopify app that helps you manage subscription products and services easily. It turns first-time customers into loyal subscribers with flexible discounts and delivery options. Popular with merchants selling physical products, subscription boxes, and digital items, Subify offers customizable plans, a customer portal, and email alerts.
- Shopify Rating: 4.9 🌟 with 439 reviews.
- Pricing:
- Free plan available
- Paid plans start at $9/month
- Transaction fees apply
- Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Flexible subscription options
- Strong customer service
- Free plan available
- Cons:
- Some features require paid plans
- Transaction fees
#3 Simplee Memberships & Rewards
Simplee Memberships & Rewards is a Shopify app for creating paid memberships with recurring billing, free trials, and special perks. It’s great for merchants wanting a premium experience. Key features include flexible billing cycles, member discounts, content access control, and a customizable member portal.
- Shopify Rating: 4.8 🌟 with 86 reviews.
- Pricing: Free plan for up to 30 members and paid plans starting at $19.99 monthly.
- Pros:
- Free plan for smaller stores
- Customizable member portal
- Strong support
- Cons:
- Per-member fees
- Limited features in free plan
Conjured Memberships is a Shopify app that helps you easily create and manage membership programs. Offer perks, early access, and gated content to your members. Popular with merchants, it focuses on customer engagement with features like customizable plans, member perks, gated content, and a customizable member portal.
- Shopify Rating: 4.9 🌟 with 71 reviews
- Pricing: Free development plan and paid plans starting at $9.99 per month.
- Pros:
- Robust features
- Excellent support
- Flexible membership options
- Cons:
- Transaction fees
- Limited free plan
#5 BON: Loyalty Rewards Referrals
This is an application in the Shopify category. Customers can create loyalty programs with points, rewards, or even referrals. It is intended to facilitate the increase in consumers’ purchases and their frequency. Shoppers prefer BON since it is cheap and has point-earning actions, customizable rewards, and other policies such as referrals, VIP clubs, and multiple-language support.
- Shopify Rating: 4.9 🌟 with 1,534 reviews (amazing).
- Pricing: Free plan and paid plans starting at $25 per month.
- Pros:
- Engaging loyalty programs
- Highly customizable
- Multilingual support
- Cons:
- It can be overwhelming, with many features
- Some features require paid plans
Our Recommendation: For merchants with
- Small members and budget: Start with a free Appstle or Simplee Memberships plan.
- Comprehensive membership and engagement: Try Conjured or Appstle Memberships.
- Affordable loyalty program: BON: Loyalty Rewards Referrals.
Subscription boxes, memberships, bundles: Use Subify Subscriptions.
3. How to Ensure a Successful Membership Program for your Shopify Store?
Now that we’ve explored some great apps to help you set up membership discounts. Let’s dive into strategies to make the most of these tools and boost your utmost profits.
Customizing Membership Perks
Adapt the bonuses to what your target consumers would appreciate. Check your sales records for the specific items or types of products that buyers gravitate toward, and give those items a special discount.
If you have many members using your services, you may want to consider creating membership categories. Bear in mind that the higher the category of the membership, the more benefits are given to the member, hence the higher the spending amount.
Track & Analyze Member Behavior
Track how members shop by using Shopify applications or by using other applications that are available in the market. Analyze such characteristics as frequency rate, AOV, and popular offerings. This data will help you better shape your Shopify membership discount and bring in more efficient promotional campaigns.
Enhance Customer Experience
Offer special offers on new products or the first sale only to forum members. You can also offer products based on their previous purchases and even recommend the best product for them. Suggest creating a special members page where members can easily find all the benefits and promotions related to their membership.
Encourage Referrals
Empower your members into brand ambassadors. Implement a referral program to reward the referrer and the newcomer with coupons or credits. That is how it can attract new clients while increasing the regularity of the already participating members.
Promoting Membership Discounts
Publicity is essential in any membership program. Bring out the benefits on your homepage, individual products, and when the customer is about to check out. Employ email marketing to communicate to non-members what they would lose if they did not join your campaign.
4. Conclusion
In general, this blog post reveals distinct types of membership discounts, the best apps to create them, and 5 proven strategies to maximize its potential in 2024.
By applying these strategies, Shopify store owners can increase revenue, build a loyal customer base, and stay ahead of the competition. Take advantage of a Shopify membership discount. Implement these strategies today to elevate your business to new heights.
5. FAQs
How do I create a discount for new customers only on Shopify?
To create a discount for new customers on Shopify, go to “Discounts” in your admin panel and click “Create discount.” Choose “Percentage” or “Fixed amount” and set the discount. Under “Customer eligibility,” select “Customers who haven’t purchased“. This ensures the discount applies only to first-time buyers.
How do I create an automatic discount for a Shopify subscription?
To set up automatic discounts for Shopify subscriptions, use apps like Recharge or Subify Subscriptions. These apps let you offer discounts, such as 10% off for monthly subscriptions. Go to the app’s settings, find “Discounts,” and create a new discount rule with the amount and frequency.
How do I create a membership discount code on Shopify?
To create a membership discount code on Shopify, use a loyalty app like LoyaltyLion or Growave. Go to the app’s settings, find “Discounts,” and create a new code. Set the discount amount and who can use it, like “Members only” or “VIP members.” Share the code for their purchases with your members.