Looking to ditch the manual spreadsheets, sticky notes, and “Did we add points for that?” headaches? This guide’s for anyone who wants a loyalty program that just works—without turning into a full-time job. Whether you’re a developer, product owner, or a marketer who’s tired of duct-taping things together, here’s how to set up automated loyalty point accrual and redemption using Talon.One.
Let’s skip the buzzwords and get your loyalty system running right. We’ll cover the real steps, the gotchas to avoid, and what actually makes a difference for your team and your customers.
Step 1: Know What You’re Trying to Build
Before you even open Talon.One, write down (yes, on paper) what you want your loyalty program to do. Here are the basics you should answer:
- How do customers earn points? (Purchases, referrals, reviews, etc.)
- What actions spend points? (Discounts, free items, upgrades, etc.)
- Any limits? (Max points per day, expiration, minimum spend, etc.)
- Are there tiers or just a single point pool?
- What data do you actually have access to? (Don’t assume—check.)
Pro tip: Don’t overcomplicate. Start with a single way to earn and a single way to redeem. You can always add more later.
Step 2: Set Up Your Talon.One Account
Assuming you’ve signed up and have admin access, log in to Talon.One. If you’re not set up, you’ll need to get through their onboarding first—yes, it can be a little dense. Have your API keys handy.
Key setup tasks: - Create your “Application” in Talon.One (this is basically your environment). - Add your team members if needed. - Familiarize yourself with the “Campaigns,” “Rules,” and “Loyalty Programs” sections. These are where the automation happens.
What to watch for: - The interface is powerful, but it’s not always intuitive. If you feel lost, check their docs or just Google it. You’re not alone. - Make sure you’re in the right environment (production vs. test). It’s easy to mix these up.
Step 3: Create a Loyalty Program
This is where the magic (read: automation) begins.
- Navigate to Loyalty Programs: In the sidebar, find “Loyalty Programs” and click “Create Loyalty Program.”
- Name your program: Pick something clear, like “Main Store Loyalty.”
- Set up points: Choose a point name (“Points” is fine unless you want something fancy). Decide if points expire and how many decimal places you want.
- Configure tiers (optional): If you want Silver/Gold/Platinum levels, set them up here. But honestly, for most new programs, skip this for now.
- Save and note the Program ID: You’ll need this for rules and API calls.
Honest take: The loyalty setup is flexible, but the UI can bury you in options. Stick to the basics first. You can always tweak the program later.
Step 4: Define How Customers Earn Points
This is where you automate point accrual. Talon.One uses “Rules” to trigger actions—think: “If a customer spends $10, give 10 points.”
- Go to Campaigns: Create a new campaign or select an existing one.
- Add a Rule: Click “Add Rule.” Name it clearly (“Accrue points on purchase”).
- Set Conditions: For example:
- Trigger when a purchase is made.
- Check if the customer is enrolled in the loyalty program.
- Set Effects: Add “Add Loyalty Points” effect.
- Configure how many points per dollar spent (e.g., 1 point per $1).
- Choose which program to add points to.
- Optionally, set caps or exclusions (e.g., no points for gift cards).
What works well: - Rules are flexible. You can get granular (double points on weekends, exclude certain products, etc.). - Testing rules in “Draft” mode before going live is smart.
What doesn’t: - Complex rules can eat up admin time and make troubleshooting a pain. If you’re not careful, you’ll spend more time in Talon.One than with your customers.
Step 5: Automate Redemption—Let Customers Spend Points
Redemption is where most loyalty programs get messy. Here’s how to keep it simple and automated:
- Create a Redemption Rule: In your campaign, add a new rule for redemptions.
- Set Conditions: Trigger when a customer has enough points and wants to redeem.
- Add Effects:
- “Deduct Loyalty Points” (for the correct amount).
- “Add Discount” or “Apply Free Product” as needed.
- Configure Limits: Set max redemptions per user, per day, etc. Trust me, you’ll want guardrails.
- Connect to Checkout: Use the Talon.One API to trigger the redemption at checkout or wherever you want customers to use their points.
Heads up: Redemption logic almost always needs some integration work. You’ll need your devs (or a good agency) to hook up your site/app to Talon.One. The API is solid but not “plug and play.”
Step 6: Integrate with Your Existing Systems
Here’s the part people gloss over: none of this works until your systems talk to each other.
- You’ll need to connect: Your e-commerce platform (Shopify, Magento, custom backend, etc.) to Talon.One’s API.
- Common integrations: Sending purchase events (so customers earn points), and redeeming points (when customers use them).
- Refer to the docs: Talon.One’s API is RESTful and well-documented, but expect some trial and error.
- Webhook setup: Use webhooks to keep your systems in sync—e.g., update customer profiles when points change.
What to ignore: Don’t bother with “out-of-the-box” connectors unless you’re on a platform that’s explicitly supported (and even then, test thoroughly). Custom integration is usually required.
Step 7: Test, Test, Then Test Again
Before you announce your shiny new loyalty program, run through every scenario you can think of:
- Earning points (various order values, new and returning customers, edge cases)
- Redeeming points (with enough points, with not enough, at various thresholds)
- Expiry logic (if you set expiration)
- Error handling (what happens if the API fails?)
Pro tip: Use Talon.One’s “Playground” and your own test environment. Make friends with your QA team.
Step 8: Monitor, Adjust, and Keep It Simple
Once you’re live, keep an eye on:
- Points issued vs. points redeemed (balance is key; too much liability is a problem)
- Customer feedback (“Why didn’t I get my points?” is a red flag)
- System performance (slow or unreliable logic = unhappy customers)
Don’t:
- Add three new ways to earn points every week.
- Change rules constantly.
- Ignore customer confusion.
Do:
- Start simple.
- Watch your analytics.
- Tweak based on real data, not hunches.
Real Talk: What Works and What Doesn’t
What Works
- Automating the boring stuff: Once set up, Talon.One takes care of the math and tracking.
- Rule flexibility: You can get as creative (or as basic) as you want.
- Solid API: For developers, the integration is clear, if not always quick.
What Doesn’t
- Complexity for the sake of complexity: If you make your rules too clever, they’ll break or confuse people.
- UI overload: The admin interface can be overwhelming at first. Stick to the basics until you’re comfortable.
- Assuming it’s plug-and-play: You’ll need to do real integration work—no magic button.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Iterative
Getting loyalty right isn’t about launching a perfect program on day one. Start with the simplest version that automates point earning and redemption with Talon.One. Watch it. See where things break or confuse customers. Tweak, improve, and add features as you go.
You don’t have to win awards for “most creative loyalty program.” You just need something that works, keeps your customers coming back, and doesn’t drive your team up the wall. Start simple, automate what you can, and let real feedback guide the next step.