Identify the right customers
A great pro program starts with knowing who it's for. Your ideal members are people who use your products regularly—whether for work, sport, creative pursuits, or community roles—and have influence within their circles.
This could include:
Ski patrollers, guides, and instructors
Yoga teachers and wellness professionals
Bike shop employees and mechanics
Coffee roasters and baristas
Outdoor educators or search and rescue volunteers
They don’t need to be celebrities or influencers. These are your most engaged, respected customers. They often introduce others to your brand, rely on your gear daily, and care about quality.
Set clear qualifications
To keep your program exclusive and valuable, it’s important to set clear entry criteria. Alliance Pro makes this easy.
You can customize the application form to collect the right information from each applicant. For example, a ski patroller might need to upload a certification or proof of employment. You decide what’s required—documents, ID, work history, or anything else relevant to your industry.
Want to keep things simple for internal staff or known partners? You can automatically approve applications from specific email domains (like @brandpartner.com) and assign them to the right member group instantly.
Add members manually or in bulk
Not every member needs to apply through the form. If you already have a list of trusted customers, ambassadors, or employees, you can:
Manually add a member with just their name, email, and group
Import multiple members via CSV with all relevant details
Include optional login links and welcome emails during the process
This helps you get your program up and running fast, without requiring every customer to fill out a form.
Is a pro program right for your brand?
If you're still deciding whether to start a pro program, consider these questions:
Does your brand align with the idea of a pro program?
If you value building a community of professionals who support your products and want deeper engagement, a pro program is a natural fit.
Do your products benefit from expert use?
Brands that make gear for high performance, technical tasks, or creative work often thrive with pro programs. Think tools, outerwear, specialty equipment, or professional apparel.
Do you already have an engaged customer base?
If you receive emails asking for discounts, notice repeat customers in specific industries, or see your gear in use by professionals, that’s a signal there’s demand.
Are your competitors doing it?
If other brands in your space are running pro programs, not having one may put you at a disadvantage. On the other hand, launching one early can help you stand out.
Are you looking for long-term value?
Pro programs don’t just drive revenue. They generate product feedback, build organic marketing, and create deeper loyalty over time.
Create perks that matter
You decide what members receive—but most pro programs offer:
Product discounts (often 20–40%)
Early access to new releases or restocks
Exclusive products or limited drops
Behind-the-scenes content or member-only updates
Alliance Pro allows you to create custom discount rules per member group, set annual spend limits, and apply pricing automatically at checkout—without using discount codes.
Build a stronger brand community
Beyond discounts, pro programs are a powerful way to connect with your most trusted customers.
Even small touches can help build that sense of belonging:
A welcome email that thanks them for their professional support
Occasional check-ins or surveys asking for feedback
Highlighting members on social or in a newsletter
Sharing stories from the field or the studio
Inviting them to beta test new products
Alliance Pro handles the admin—applications, approvals, renewals, and discounts—so you can focus on the human side.
Getting started with Alliance Pro
Alliance Pro is built to simplify the hard parts of running a pro program. Right from your Shopify admin, you can:
Set up a branded application form
Approve or reject applicants with one click
Add members manually or in bulk
Organize members into groups with custom discount tiers
Automate renewals and apply spend limits
Trigger workflows in Klaviyo or Mailchimp
You don’t need to manage spreadsheets or tags, and you don’t need separate tools for different parts of your program. Everything lives inside one clean system.
Need help or have questions?
Email us any time at [email protected]