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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.smile.io/llms.txt

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VIP tier milestones determine how customers move through your VIP program. They define what a customer needs to do to unlock each tier and how their progress is tracked over time. When setting up milestones, you’ll choose:
  • How progress is measured (points or amount spent)
  • How progress is tracked over time (calendar year or lifetime)
These settings determine how customers earn and maintain VIP status.
Feature availability: VIP is available on Growth, Plus, and Enterprise plans.

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Milestone types

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Points-based milestone

Customers enter VIP tiers based on the number of points they earn. Because points can be awarded for more than just purchases, this option allows for more flexible progression. Best for:
  • Rewarding multiple actions (purchases, social actions, and other engagement)
  • Encouraging ongoing interaction beyond spending
Keep in mind:
  • Customers may reach tiers without high spending if many non-purchase actions are rewarded
  • Tier progression may feel faster depending on your earning rules

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Amount spent milestone

Customers enter VIP tiers based on how much they spend. This ties VIP progression directly to revenue. Best for:
  • Rewarding high-value customers
  • Keeping VIP tiers closely aligned with purchase behavior
Keep in mind:
  • Only purchases contribute to tier progression
  • Tier progression is typically slower but more predictable
Note: Amount spent takes into account the Grand Total of each order made by your customers that is marked as Paid, excluding any discounts used. This includes any shipping fees and taxes.

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Milestone timeframes

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Lifetime

Customer progress never resets. Customers move through VIP tiers based on their total activity over time, and once they reach a tier, they keep it permanently. Best for:
  • Rewarding long-term loyalty
  • Letting customers progress at their own pace
  • Creating a more stable VIP experience
Keep in mind:
  • Customers do not need to re-qualify for their tier
  • Customers cannot move down tiers once they’ve advanced
  • Works best when top tiers include ongoing benefits that encourage repeat purchases

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Calendar year

Customer progress is measured within a single calendar year and resets at the start of the next year. Best for:
  • Customers who make frequent purchases throughout the year
  • Encouraging consistent repeat purchases
  • Reducing time between purchases
Keep in mind:
  • Customers must re-qualify each year to maintain their tier
  • Customers can move down tiers if they don’t re-qualify
  • This setup can encourage customers to make purchases before the year resets
Note: When using the Calendar year method, start dates before the current calendar year automatically reset to January 1 of the current year.

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How Calendar year works

When a customer reaches a VIP tier, they keep it:
  • For the remainder of the current year
  • For the entire next calendar year
Example:
  • A customer reaches Gold in November 2026
  • They keep Gold for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027
  • During 2027, they must re-qualify to keep Gold in 2028
If they don’t re-qualify, their tier is recalculated based on their activity in that year.

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Choosing the right setup

Your milestone type and timeframe should reflect your program goals:
  • Want to encourage engagement beyond purchases? → Points-based milestones
  • Want to reward spending directly? → Amount spent milestones
  • Want customers to stay active every year? → Calendar year
  • Want long-term progression without resets? → Lifetime
You can combine these settings to create the experience that best fits your program. Once you’ve chosen your milestone type and timeframe, you can configure your VIP program in Configure VIP settings.