A way to earn is a business event paired with a reward rule. Ways to earn are configured inside a
Reward for Action program, which is the program type a loyalty program is built on.There is no set limit on the number of ways to earn you can run, or on the types of offers behind
them. Any action you can send to Extole as an event can earn points, and the list below covers the
ones clients most often start with.Each way to earn needs three things: an event that tells Extole the action happened, a Collectible
Reward that defines how many points the action is worth, and reward rules that decide who qualifies
and how often. For the configuration steps, see
How to Set Up a Loyalty Program.
A live loyalty program's ways to earn, as members see them.
Actions tied directly to revenue. These are the most common place to start, because the event is
already flowing into Extole if you run any other program.Purchases: Earn a set number of points per purchase, or a dynamic amount based on order value.
A dynamic Collectible Reward calculates points as a percentage of the transaction, with a minimum
and maximum you set.Points per dollar spent: The dynamic reward configuration expressed as a rate. Ten points per
dollar is a dynamic reward with the rate set accordingly.Spend thresholds: For a single-order threshold, add a reward rule condition to the transaction
event data. For cumulative spend, have your system send a milestone event or a running value when
the participant crosses the threshold.Category-specific purchases: Reward more for a product category or line by adding a condition
on the event data to the reward rule, so only qualifying purchases earn.Upsell and cross-sell offers: Reward the specific action you want to encourage, using the same
event-data conditions.
Actions that bring new people in or deepen a participant’s relationship with the brand.Joining the loyalty program: Reward enrollment itself. This is often the first points a
participant ever sees, and it gives them a reason to complete the sign-up.Referrals: A loyalty program can reward referrals alongside a Refer A Friend program. The
referral is a separate journey linking two people, and the points land in the same Reward Bank.Referral milestones: Reward a participant on their second, third, or fifth successful referral
rather than every one. See
How to Set Up Bonus Rewards on a Specific Referral Count.Account creation: Reward a participant for opening an account, using the registration event you
already send.Profile completion: Reward a participant for supplying data you want, such as preferences or a
birth date. Send the completion as an event and set the reward to issue on the first action only.Email or SMS signup: Reward an opt-in. Confirm the opt-in is recorded in your own system of
record as well, since Extole rewards the event rather than managing the subscription.App download: Reward a first app open or a first in-app session. The mobile SDKs can send this
event.
Actions that show attention rather than spend. These usually carry smaller point values, which is
what the Reward Bank’s micro-reward model is built for.Surveys and reviews: Reward a participant for completing a survey or submitting a review.
Extole does not integrate with survey or review providers. The action happens in the platform you
already use, and that platform — or your own systems — sends Extole the event once it is complete,
by API, file upload, or the Create Event page.Product registration: Reward a participant for registering a product they own. Where the
registration carries a purchase identifier, it can also connect an offline or retail purchase back
to the participant.Events and appointments: Reward attendance or a completed booking. Appointment systems can send
this event; see Boulevard (BLVD) for a
worked example.
Actions defined by time or count rather than by an action the participant has just completed.Birthday and anniversary rewards: Send an event from your system when the date occurs, then
reward that event. A date stored on the participant’s profile does not schedule the reward by
itself.Nth purchase milestones: Send a milestone event when the participant reaches the target count,
or use a dedicated counter event with a Has Taken Action rule set to the exact count.Tenure milestones: Reward length of membership or subscription. The milestone is reached by
time rather than by an action, so your system sends the event when the participant qualifies.
Anything else you can describe as an event can earn points. Define the business event, send it to
Extole by API, file upload, or an integration, and attach a Collectible Reward to it. See
Where Events Come From for how events arrive
from each kind of system.
Start with two or three ways to earn that use events already flowing into Extole, then expand.
Every additional way to earn adds unredeemed value, and a program with too many low-value ways to
earn is harder for a participant to understand.
Each reward is configured with a reward behavior that controls repetition:
Behavior
Effect
First Action
Points are issued only the first time the event occurs. Use for one-time actions such as enrollment, app download, or profile completion.
Every Action
Points are issued every time the event occurs. Use for purchases and repeatable engagement.
Every Unique Action
Points are issued once per unique value of a data parameter you specify. Use where an action repeats but should only earn once per item, such as one review per product.
