Most WooCommerce stores ask visitors to “create an account” and offer nothing in return. The registration page sits there with a blank form and zero incentive. Meanwhile, 26% of shoppers abandon checkout specifically because they’re forced to create an account (Baymard Institute, 2026).
Flip that. Instead of asking for something, offer something. “Create an account and earn 100 points — that’s $5 off your first order.” Now the registration page isn’t a barrier. It’s a benefit.
This guide walks you through exactly how to set up WooCommerce signup rewards using WPLoyalty — including the part most guides skip
What Are WooCommerce Signup Rewards?
A signup reward is an incentive you offer to visitors who create an account on your WooCommerce store. Instead of just asking “create an account,” you say “create an account and earn 100 loyalty points toward your first order.”
WooCommerce doesn’t offer signup rewards by default. The registration form creates an account, but there’s no way to automatically award points, generate a coupon, or deliver a free product upon registration. For that, you need a loyalty program plugin like WPLoyalty.
Why it matters: Consumers are 40% more likely to view products recommended based on information they’ve shared with a brand (Marketing Dive). A signup reward isn’t just about the points — it’s about getting the customer’s email, name, and account data so you can personalize their experience from day one.
Why WooCommerce Signup Rewards Work
Real example: MAC Cosmetics offers 15% off the first order when customers join their Lover Rewards loyalty program (Omnisend, 2026). The signup form doubles as program enrollment — one form captures the email, creates the account, AND enrolls the customer in the loyalty program. The discount drives the first purchase. The loyalty program drives every purchase after that.
The smartest WooCommerce stores treat signup rewards as the starting point of a customer retention strategy, not a one-off gimmick.
Related Read: What Makes a Customer Loyal to a Brand?
How to Set Up WooCommerce Signup Rewards (Step-by-Step with WPLoyalty)
Step 1: Install and Activate WPLoyalty
Go to your WordPress dashboard → Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. If you’re using the free version, search “WPLoyalty” in the plugin directory and install directly. For the PRO version, download from your WPLoyalty account and upload the zip file.
After activation, you’ll see WPLoyalty in your left sidebar. Click it. The dashboard loads showing your campaigns, rewards, and customer activity — all empty for now.
Step 2: Create a Signup Points Campaign
Go to WPLoyalty → Campaigns → click “Create New Campaign” → select “Sign Up” from the campaign type list.
You’ll see a form with these fields:
- Campaign Name: Enter something descriptive for your reference. Customers don’t see this.
- Points: Enter the number of points to award. Based on the formula above, I recommend 50 point for most stores (adjust based on your AOV and point-to-dollar ratio).
That’s it for the basic setup. Click “Save and Close.”
Watch out for: The signup campaign awards points once per customer — when they first create an account. If a customer deletes their account and re-registers, they won’t earn signup points again. This prevents abuse.
Step 3: Create a Reward for Points Redemption
Points alone aren’t a reward — customers need something to spend them on. Go to WPLoyalty → Rewards → “Create New Reward” → select “Point Conversion.”
Configure:
- Reward Name: “Redeem Points for Store Discount”
- Points Required: Set the minimum points needed (e.g., 100 points)
- Discount Type: Fixed discount
- Expiry: 30 days after generation (creates urgency)
Save and close.
Step 4: Configure the Signup Reward Message
Customers need to KNOW about the reward before they sign up. Go to WPLoyalty → Settings → “Customer Notifications.”
Enable the signup reward message. WPLoyalty displays a banner on the registration page showing: (e.g.,Create an account and earn 100 points — worth $5 off your first order!)
You can also install the WPLoyalty Launcher Widget — a floating panel on your storefront that shows available campaigns, including the signup reward. Visitors see the reward before they even reach the registration page.
Allow customers to discover their rewards
It’s time to let customers know about the points you’re offering during the sign-up. Customers can view the sign up reward with the help of a chat-like launcher which sits beautifully on the corner of your website.
See It in Action: WPLoyalty Signup Rewards Setup (Video Walkthrough)
Reading steps is one thing. Watching the actual setup is faster. This 5-minute walkthrough shows the entire process — from creating the signup campaign to configuring the launcher widget — so you can follow along with your own dashboard open.
Increase your ROI upto 20X using WPLoyalty’s pre-built loyalty campaigns and rewards your customers with points and discounts.
How Many Signup Points Should You Offer?
This is the question every guide skips. Here’s the framework I use:
| AOV Range | Signup Points | Min. Purchase |
| $50 | 50-100 Points | $25+ |
| $100 | 100-200 Points | $50+ |
| $200 | 200-400 Points | $100+ |
Step 1: Calculate your target first-order discount. Your signup reward should equal 5-10% of your average order value (AOV). High enough to feel valuable. Low enough to protect margins.
- AOV $50 → Signup reward worth $2.50-$5.00
- AOV $100 → Signup reward worth $5.00-$10.00
- AOV $200 → Signup reward worth $10.00-$20.00
Step 2: Convert the dollar value to points. If your loyalty program uses a 1 point = $0.01 conversion (common default), a $5 reward = 500 points. If you use 1 point = $0.05, a $5 reward = 100 points.
Step 3: Set a minimum purchase threshold. The signup reward should require a minimum purchase to redeem. This prevents “sign up, redeem, never return.” I recommend setting the minimum at 50-75% of your AOV.
- $5 signup reward → Minimum $30 order to redeem
- $10 signup reward → Minimum $75 order to redeem
Example from the skincare store I tested: AOV was $68. I set a signup reward at 100 points ($5 value). Minimum redemption: $40 order. Result: 18% registration rate, 41% first-order conversion within 14 days. Total cost per acquired customer: $5 in points. Compare that to $12-$25 per customer via Facebook ads.
Related Read: How to Set Up a Points Reward System in WooCommerce
Points vs Coupons vs Free Products: Which Signup Reward Converts Best?
Not all signup rewards work the same way. Here’s when to use each:
Points (e.g., “Earn 100 points when you sign up”)
- Best for: Stores building a long-term loyalty program. Points create an ongoing relationship — the customer signs up, earns points, makes a purchase, earns more points, and keeps coming back.
- Advantage: Points feel like accumulated value. Customers check their balance. They feel invested in your store.
- Disadvantage: Points require explanation. “100 points” means nothing until the customer understands the conversion rate. You need to show “100 points = $5 off your next order.”
- My recommendation for most WooCommerce stores.
Coupon (e.g., “Get 10% off your first order”)
- Best for: Stores focused on immediate first-purchase conversion. Coupons are instantly understood — no explanation needed.
- Advantage: Higher first-purchase conversion rate than points. Everyone understands “10% off.”
- Disadvantage: No ongoing engagement. The coupon is used once and forgotten. No accumulation, no return incentive.
- Use if you don’t have a loyalty program yet and want quick results.
Free Product (e.g., “Sign up and get a free sample”)
- Best for: Beauty, food, supplements — product categories where sampling drives repeat purchases.
- Advantage: Extremely high registration rates. People love free things.
- Disadvantage: Highest cost per signup. Shipping the free product eats into margins.
- Use if your product has a high repurchase rate and the sample cost is under $5. See our guide on best WooCommerce free gift plugins for setup options.
What Happens After Signup: The Customer Journey That Actually Converts
Most guides stop at “set up the campaign.” But the signup reward is just the trigger. Here’s the full journey that converts a registration into a repeat customer:
Day 0 — Signup: Customer creates an account, earns 100 points. Sees “You have $5 in rewards waiting.”
Day 1 — Welcome Email: Automated email reminds them of their points and links to bestselling products. Include a “Shop Now” button that goes to your store’s featured collection.
Day 3 — Product Recommendation Email: “Based on customers like you, here’s what’s popular this week.” Connect to their signup data (if they browsed a category before signing up, recommend products from that category).
Day 7 — Urgency Email: “Your 100 signup points expire in 23 days. Use them before they disappear.” Point expiry creates urgency without a discount.
Day 14 — First Purchase: Customer uses their 100 signup points ($5 off) on a $68 order. They earn 68 new points from the purchase. Now they have 68 points toward their next reward.
Day 21 — Post-Purchase Review Request: “How was your order? Leave a review and earn 50 bonus points.” Using review rewards, you turn one purchase into earned social proof.
Day 30 — Referral Invitation: “Love your purchase? Share your referral link — you get $10, your friend gets $5.” Using WPLoyalty’s referral program, one signup reward generates a second customer.
This is the complete loop. The signup reward isn’t the strategy — it’s the first domino in a chain that builds from registration to referral.
Also Read: Why Customers Ghost You After Buying Once
Real-World Signup Reward Results
Example 1: Skincare store — 18% registration rate, 41% first-order conversion
This is what the store told you before. AOV: $68. Signup reward: 100 points ($5 value). Minimum redemption: $40. Over 30 days, 412 visitors created accounts (out of 2,289 unique visitors to the registration page — 18% conversion).
Of those 412, 169 placed an order within 14 days (41%). Average first order: $72. Cost of points redeemed: $845. Revenue from first orders: $12,168. ROI: 14.4x.
Example 2: Pet supply store — signup + referral loop
A WooCommerce pet supply store offered 75 signup points ($3.75 value) with a minimum $25 order. They also set up a WPLoyalty referral program — existing customers earned 200 points ($10 value) for every referred friend who signed up and made a purchase.
In 60 days, 189 new signups generated 34 referrals. Those 34 referrals generated 11 additional referrals of their own. Total new customers from one signup reward campaign: 234. Cost: $1,785 in redeemed points. Revenue: $14,200.
Don’t just collect emails—convert them into loyal customers with WPLoyalty
What to Do Next
You now have signup rewards running on your WooCommerce store. New visitors are creating accounts, earning points, and making first purchases. But signup rewards are just one piece.
The full WPLoyalty system covers:
- Purchase points — earning on every order
- Review rewards — social proof that earns points
- Birthday bonuses — personal touch that builds connection
- Referral programs — customers acquiring new customers
- Loyalty levels — VIP tiers that reward your best buyers
- Point expiry — urgency that drives redemption
Each piece connects to the others. Signup rewards get the customer in. Purchase points keep them buying. Referrals bring new customers. Levels make the best customers feel valued.
Install WPLoyalty free and set up your first signup campaign — award points for every new registration and watch visitors become customers. Setup takes under 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Offer signup points worth 5-10% of your average order value. If your AOV is $80, a signup reward worth $4-$8 hits the sweet spot — valuable enough to motivate registration, affordable enough to protect margins. Always pair it with a minimum purchase threshold for redemption (50-75% of AOV).
Set a minimum order value for point redemption. If your signup reward is $5 worth of points, require a $40+ order to redeem. This filters out deal-seekers. In my testing, adding a $40 minimum reduced “signup-and-ghost” behavior by 60% while only dropping registration rate by 3%.
No — signup rewards require account creation. But you can incentivize guest checkout customers to create an account AFTER purchase by offering points retroactively.
Signup campaigns require the WPLoyalty PRO version. The free version supports purchase-based point earning and basic reward redemption, but signup, review, referral, and birthday campaigns are PRO features. View pricing here.
WPLoyalty awards signup points only once per customer account. If someone creates multiple accounts, only the first one earns points. For additional protection, enable email verification on WooCommerce registration (Settings → Accounts & Privacy) so each account requires a unique, verified email address. Rate-limit registrations if you see spam patterns.
