Learn how to activate your program in the background, complete your test flows safely, and prepare your setup for a smooth go‑live.
Before you start
Before testing your program, you must have the following set up:
Your members. Sync your Shopify customers or import members from a CSV file.
Learn more in Sync Shopify customers and Import members from a CSV file.
Loyalty on your website. If your store is on Shopify, add the Loyalty blocks to your storefront.
Turn off email notifications in Loyalty.
Turn on your Loyalty program elements
Enable all program components you want to validate during testing.
Activate the following:
All points earning rules you want to test
All rewards
Your full tier system
Any additional Loyalty settings included in your program such as benefits
Referrals, if you use them (Settings > Referrals)
Keep email notifications off
Email notifications are sent from Marketing. Keep all Loyalty emails switched off during testing.
Learn more in Notifications.
To test emails separately, use Test send in each Marketing email template.
Learn more in Test your campaign.
Program is live in the background
As soon as you enable earning rules, your program becomes active in the background. Existing loyalty members may start earning points.
When you finish testing, contact the Loyalty team, we will remove all test data before you go live.
Test key customer journeys
Follow the same steps your customers take to ensure the program works correctly end‑to‑end.
Test the full journey:
Join the program
Earn points through a purchase
Redeem a reward
Progress through tiers
Check your storefront blocks
Test referrals, if you use them
These steps use Shopify test orders, fulfillment, and storefront blocks.
1. Join the program
Create a customer account in your store, or join through the Enrollment block if automatic enrollment is turned off. Confirm the member appears in Members in Loyalty.
2. Earn points
Place a test order to trigger earning rules.
Points should appear in the member’s account on the Loyalty page after the order is fulfilled.
Learn how to fulfill the order in Shopify.To create an order without a real transaction, use Shopify’s test order tools.
Learn more in official Shopify documentation on Placing test orders.
3. Redeem a reward
Redeem a reward and confirm that Loyalty:
Deducts points accurately
Generates a valid coupon code
Displays the redemption on the Loyalty page
Shows the reward correctly in account activity
If you added the Loyalty rewards checkout extension, redeem a reward in checkout as well.
4. Progress through tiers
Trigger a tier upgrade and verify:
The tier changes correctly
Tier‑specific earning rates, reward costs, and benefits apply
The new tier is displayed on the Loyalty page
5. Check your storefront blocks
Visit your storefront as a logged-in member and as a customer who isn't enrolled. Confirm that:
Members see their points balance, available rewards, and tier progress.
Customers who aren't enrolled see the Enrollment block, if automatic enrollment is turned off.
The Product page points block shows the correct number of points.
6. Test referrals
As a test member, copy a referral link from the Referral block.
Open the link in a private browser window and confirm the referral popup and discount appear.
Place and fulfill a test order with the referral discount.
Confirm the referring member receives their referral bonus points.
Learn more in Set up referrals.
Keep your Loyalty page hidden
Your Loyalty page must only be accessed by direct URL during testing.
As long as the Loyalty page isn’t linked from your store navigation, customers can't accidentally find it.
Launch your program
When your testing is complete:
Turn off all points rules, rewards, the tier system, and any additional Loyalty settings related to your program.
Contact the Loyalty team to remove all test data.
Review points rules, reward requirements, and tier logic.
Double-check your email templates and program copy.
Turn your points rules, rewards, and tier system back on.
In Loyalty, go to Emails and turn on the email notifications you want to send.
Add your Loyalty page to your store navigation.
After completing these steps, your Loyalty program is ready to go live.