Why Loyalty Data Alone Isn’t Enough

Loyalty programmes like Smile.io are powerful tools for increasing customer retention—but only if you act on the data they generate.

Too often, brands accumulate points, referrals, and VIP tiers, but don’t use them to create timely, personalised marketing experiences. That’s where Klaviyo comes in.

With Smile.io + Klaviyo, you can:

• Trigger reward flows the moment points are earned

• Send targeted VIP onboarding emails

• Nudge customers before points expire

• Personalise campaigns using loyalty status, referral links, and more

This guide walks you through the full setup, from connecting the integration to launching high-converting flows and measuring results.

Step 1: Connect Smile.io to Klaviyo in 5 Minutes or Less

How to (Step-by-Step)

To connect Smile.io to Klaviyo, follow these steps based on the most recent integration process:

1. Log in to Smile.io
Access your Smile.io admin dashboard.

2. Navigate to Integrations
Go to the “Integrations” section and select “Klaviyo” from the list of available apps.

3. Connect to Klaviyo
Click the “Connect” button.
Ensure you’re logged into your Klaviyo account with Owner, Admin, or Manager permissions.
Click “Allow” to authorise the connection. This uses an OAuth setup for a seamless connection.

4. Sync Customer Data
After connecting, click “Sync Customer Data” in Smile.io.
This syncs key customer details such as:

• Points balance

• VIP tier

• Referral URLs

Syncing may take a few minutes to complete.

5. Verify the Integration
Once synced, Klaviyo will receive Smile.io data, including:

• Dynamic events (e.g. points earned, rewards redeemed)

• Profile properties (e.g. tier name, referral link)

These can now be used to build targeted segments, automated flows, and personalised email/SMS campaigns.

Step 2: Sync Smile.io Profile Properties to Klaviyo for Personalised Marketing

Once you connect and sync Smile.io, the following profile fields are automatically pushed into your Klaviyo customer profiles. Use these to personalise messaging, segmentation, and automations:

These properties are continuously updated and can be used to:

• Segment customers (e.g., high-tier or high-point segments)

• Personalise campaigns using dynamic tags like {{ person|lookup:'Smile Points Balance' }}

• Filter and trigger flows based on loyalty status or recent tier changes.
  
  
  

Step 3: Activate Smile.io Profile Properties with These 5 Proven Tactics

Once Smile.io syncs loyalty data to Klaviyo, you can use that data to drive personalisation, behavioural segmentation, and flow logic. Below are five high-impact ways to activate this data in both email and SMS.

1. Points Reminder in Campaigns

Use Smile Points Balance to show each customer how many points they currently have and nudge them to redeem.

You can increase urgency using countdown blocks—this guide on how to use countdown timers in email shows how to do it in Klaviyo.

Dynamic tag example:

You have {{ person|lookup:”Smile Points Balance”|default:”” }} points ready to use.

2. VIP Tier Personalisation

Tailor messaging or split flows based on Smile VIP Tier Name. This lets you create exclusive content for Gold, Silver, or Bronze members.

Flow filter example:

Properties about someone > Smile VIP Tier Name = Gold

3. Referral CTA in Post-Purchase Emails

Each customer has a unique Smile Referral URL. Insert this directly into email campaigns or flows to encourage advocacy and reward sharing.

Source: Smile.io

For more examples of converting post-purchase engagement into referrals and repeat purchases, explore these 10 post-purchase email examples.

4. Loyalty-Based Suppression in Promo Campaigns

Use Smile State to suppress promotional emails or points-based messaging for inactive or disabled loyalty members.

Campaign filter example:

Properties about someone > Smile State = active

5. Tier-Specific Flow Targeting Using VIP Tier ID

Use Smile VIP Tier ID when you want precise, system-level targeting, especially if tier names change or contain duplicate labels across different programs.

Advanced segmentation example:

Properties about someone > Smile VIP Tier ID = abc123-gold-tier-id

Source: Klaviyo

This is useful for programmatic flows or when using Klaviyo API calls in custom setups.

These profile properties transform static loyalty data into dynamic marketing opportunities within Klaviyo, allowing you to reward, retain, and re-engage customers based on their actual actions.

Step 4: Sync Smile.io Events to Trigger Real-Time Klaviyo Flows

Beyond profile properties, Smile.io sends real-time event data to Klaviyo, which you can use to trigger automated flows. These events represent customer interactions with your loyalty program, like earning points, redeeming rewards, or completing a referral.

These events appear in Klaviyo’s Activity Feed and Metrics dashboard and are fully usable in flows as triggers or conditional filters.

List of Key Smile.io Events Synced with Klaviyo

These events can be found in Klaviyo under Analytics > Metrics and can be used to:

• Trigger flows (e.g. Points Expiring → Send countdown reminder)

• Filter messages (e.g. only send if Referral Completed in the past 7 days)

• Split branches in existing flows using event conditions (e.g. VIP Tier Achieved → different rewards based on tier)

Step 5: Turn Smile.io Events Into High-Converting Flow Automations

Smile.io events give you powerful behavioural signals to trigger relevant, high-converting flows in Klaviyo. These events fire in real-time and allow you to send messages at exactly the right moment, based on what your customer just did.

Below are five proven use cases to get the most out of Smile event data:

1. Points Earned → Post-Purchase Reward Email

Event Trigger: Points Earned

After a customer earns points, immediately reinforce the value of your loyalty program by showing their updated balance and how to redeem rewards.

Flow idea: "Thanks for your order—you just earned points!"

Dynamic tag: {{ person|lookup:'Smile Points Balance' }}

2. Reward Expiring → Urgency Countdown Flow

Event Trigger: Reward Expiring

Create urgency and drive conversions by reminding customers to use rewards before they expire.

Message angle: “Your reward expires in 3 days—don’t miss out!”

Add countdown timers for extra impact (see: Countdown Timer Email Guide).

3. VIP Tier Achieved → Onboarding Series

Event Trigger: VIP Tier Achieved

Welcome newly upgraded VIP members with tier-specific perks, early access offers, or exclusive content.

Flow split idea: Split by Smile VIP Tier Name (e.g. Bronze vs Gold) to tailor the message accordingly.

4. Referral Completed → Advocate Thank-You

Event Trigger: Referral Completed

Send a “thank-you” flow when a customer successfully refers someone. Reinforce their impact and prompt them to refer again.

Message idea:
“You just earned 500 points for referring a friend—thank you! Here’s your link again:
{{ person|lookup:'Smile Referral URL' }} “

5. Points Expiring → Re-Engagement Nudge

Event Trigger: Points Expiring

Target customers who are sitting on unused points. Combine urgency with a low-lift redemption CTA.

Flow timing: Trigger 3 days before expiry for best results. Consider offering double-point promos or recommended redemptions.

For more win-back inspiration, check out our proven strategies in this Winback Flow guide.

These flows build a retention system that responds to real actions, not just assumptions. Combined with profile properties and dynamic personalisation, Smile.io events make your Klaviyo automation smarter, faster, and far more relevant.

Step 6: QA Your Emails and SMS to Ensure Loyalty Data Renders Correctly

Klaviyo’s preview/test tools don’t support Smile.io variables like Smile Points Balance or Smile VIP Tier Name. To avoid broken tags or blank content in live emails, you must QA with a real customer profile that has synced Smile data.

How to QA Smile Loyalty Data:

1. Create a test customer profile in Shopify/Recharge and join the Smile.io loyalty programme.

2. Trigger a sync so Smile data like points, VIP tier, and referral link appear in Klaviyo.

3. Build your campaign or flow, inserting dynamic tags like:
   
   
   

   • {{ person|lookup:'Smile Points Balance' }}

   • {{ person|lookup:'Smile VIP Tier Name' }}
     
     
     

4. Send a live test email to your test account (not via preview).

5. Verify everything renders properly: dynamic text, referral links, and conditional blocks.

Avoid the most common mistakes by reviewing our top 15 email marketing mistakes to avoid in Klaviyo—especially relevant when working with dynamic loyalty data.

Quick QA Checklist:

• ✅ Fallbacks in dynamic text (|default: used)

• ✅ Segment logic shows/hides blocks correctly

• ✅ Referral links populate and work

• ✅ Flow filters based on points/tier trigger as intended

Pro Tip: Always test both email and SMS to ensure variables like points and tiers render across devices.

Bonus: Advanced Loyalty Stack — Smile.io + Klaviyo + Shopify/Recharge

For advanced brands, combining Smile.io with Klaviyo, Shopify, and Recharge enables smarter, behaviour-driven loyalty flows.

Smarter Segmentation

Use Shopify tags and Recharge status to layer context:

• Identify VIP subscribers or churn risks.

• Target based on subscription activity and loyalty tier.

Smarter Flows

Trigger flows like:

• Subscribe & Earn Bonus Points: Reward new subscribers with extra points.

• Top Subscriber Rewards: Offer perks to long-term VIPs.

If you're looking to take your Klaviyo flows even further, explore how Klaviyo’s predictive analytics can be layered into loyalty flows to anticipate and respond to customer behaviour.

Smarter Personalisation

• Pause loyalty messages for cancelled subscribers.

• Show custom blocks based on tags or subscription status.

• Celebrate milestones with loyalty bonuses.

FAQs

1. Can I use Smile.io data in SMS campaigns, or only in email?

• Yes, Smile.io properties and events can be used in SMS flows and campaigns just like email—just make sure your SMS templates include the right dynamic tags.

2. What happens if a customer’s tier or points change mid-flow?

• Klaviyo checks real-time profile data at each step of a flow. If a property like VIP Tier updates, any future emails in that flow will reflect the new value.

3. Is the Smile.io integration available on all Klaviyo plans?

• Some features, like Customer Profiles and advanced segmentation, require a paid Klaviyo plan. Ensure you’re not on the free tier to unlock full functionality.

4. Can I trigger flows based on Smile.io rewards redeemed?

• Yes. Use the Points Redeemed event or Reward Expiring to build post-redemption or reminder flows.

5. Are there GDPR concerns when syncing loyalty data?

• If you're operating in the EU, ensure your privacy policy reflects the sharing of customer data between Smile.io and Klaviyo.

Conclusion

Many brands collect loyalty data but fail to act on it. With Smile.io and Klaviyo fully integrated, you can stop guessing and start sending hyper-targeted emails and SMS based on real-time behaviours like points earned, referrals completed, or VIP status unlocked. 

Whether you're rewarding top spenders or nudging inactive members, loyalty flows driven by dynamic data help you build stronger, more profitable relationships. If your current setup isn’t doing that, it’s time to fix it.

Key Takeaways

• Quick Setup: Connect Smile.io to Klaviyo in minutes using OAuth.

• Dynamic Personalisation: Use profile properties like points and tier names in campaigns and flows.

• Behavioural Automation: Trigger flows using events like “Points Earned” or “VIP Tier Achieved.”

• Smart Segmentation: Create dynamic audiences using Smile data for advanced targeting.

• Real Testing: Always QA live emails using real test accounts—Klaviyo preview won’t show Smile variables.

• Stack Power: Combine Smile with Shopify and Recharge to drive even deeper retention logic.

Is your Smile.io data just sitting there unused?

Turn points, referrals, and VIP tiers into powerful Klaviyo flows that bring customers back again and again. Click here to get your free integration audit now.