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Linked.com · 2018 to 2019

Thirty-three experiments

Linked.com used Referrals.com as a test lab, running 33 campaigns in a year: token rewards for sharing, pop-ups, and voting contests like "Who is the best NBA player of all time?"

Screenshot of linked.com
Linked.com
campaigns in about a year
33campaigns in about a year
shares from 482 participants
1,283shares from 482 participants
shares per participant, the highest of the five
2.7shares per participant, the highest of the five

The offer

CTB tokens for sharing, plus voting contests with no reward at all.

How it worked

  1. 1

    Many small campaigns tested different formats side by side.

  2. 2

    Voting contests gave people a reason to share that wasn't a reward.

  3. 3

    The biggest single campaign paid CTB tokens for sharing and drew 215 participants.

What the numbers show

  • People shared a lot: 1,283 shares from 482 participants, more per person than any other program here.
  • Votes and questions are fun to pass on, so they spread even without a prize.
  • But spread over 33 campaigns, no single one grew big. Testing found formats; focus would have scaled them.

Integration points

Every place a referral platform plugs in, in the order a referral happens. Each one shows where it appears, how to add it and what you can edit, with a live example. To run a program like Linked.com's, start with the highlighted points.

5 of 10 used

  1. 1Referral widgetUsed by Linked.comThe panel or pop-up on your site or app where a customer is asked to refer.
    In Linked.com's programPop-up and embedded widgets, tested across 33 campaigns.

    Where it shows

    On your site or app: a floating button, a pop-up after a key moment, or a panel inside a page such as the account or thank-you page.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Create the campaign and its rewards in your referral platform.
    2. 2.Copy the widget install code from the campaign.
    3. 3.Paste it before the closing body tag on the pages where it should appear, or add it through your tag manager.
    4. 4.Choose how it displays: floating button, pop-up or inline panel.

    What you can edit

    • Headline and description
    • Button text and colour
    • Logo and brand colours
    • Display style and position on the page
    • Which pages show it
    • When a pop-up opens: on load, after a delay or after an action

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Event to track: widget_view

  2. 3Share buttonsUsed by Linked.comOne-tap sharing to email, messaging and social, plus copy link.
    In Linked.com's program1,283 shares from 482 participants, the most per person of the five.

    Where it shows

    Next to the referral link: in the widget, on thank-you screens and in emails.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Pick the channels your customers actually use.
    2. 2.Write a ready-made message for each channel.
    3. 3.Keep copy link as a fallback for everything else.

    What you can edit

    • Which channels show, and their order
    • The pre-filled message for each channel
    • Title and image used in social previews

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's share buttons from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: share

  3. 4Invite emailsNot part of this programEmails sent to friends on the customer's behalf, or the referral link in your own emails.

    Where it shows

    In the friend's inbox, and as a referral block inside your own emails.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Let customers type friends' emails in the widget.
    2. 2.Set the sender name and reply-to address.
    3. 3.Add a referral block with the customer's link to your regular emails.

    What you can edit

    • Subject line and message
    • Sender name and reply-to
    • Reminder email and when it's sent
    • The referral block in your newsletters

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's invite emails from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: invite_sent

  4. 5Referral landing pageNot part of this programWhere the friend arrives. It names who sent them and what they get.

    Where it shows

    The page a friend arrives on after clicking a referral link.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Use an existing page or create one just for referred friends.
    2. 2.Say who sent them and what they get, at the top.
    3. 3.Give one clear call to action above the fold.

    What you can edit

    • Headline and reward wording
    • Showing the referrer's name
    • Page design and images
    • Call to action and terms

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's referral landing page from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: referral_click

  5. 6Sign-up trackingUsed by Linked.comRecords that the referred friend created an account or joined the list.
    In Linked.com's programParticipants joined each campaign with their email.

    Where it shows

    Behind the scenes, on your sign-up, join or waiting-list form.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Add the tracking code to the page shown after sign-up, or send a sign-up event from your server.
    2. 2.Include the new customer's email or ID so the referral is matched.
    3. 3.Test it end to end with a real referral link.

    What you can edit

    • Which forms count as a sign-up
    • What details are sent
    • Whether a sign-up alone earns a reward

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's sign-up tracking from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: signup

  6. 7Conversion trackingNot part of this programRecords the moment that counts: first purchase, booking, install or paid plan.

    Where it shows

    Behind the scenes, on your order confirmation, booking or upgrade step.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Decide what makes a referred friend a real customer.
    2. 2.Send a conversion event with the order ID and value, from the confirmation page or your server.
    3. 3.Use the order ID so the same order is never counted twice.

    What you can edit

    • The action that qualifies
    • Minimum order value
    • A holding period before rewards unlock, to cover refunds

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's conversion tracking from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: conversion

  7. 8Reward unlock and noticeUsed by Linked.comGives the reward and tells both people, by email or in the product.
    In Linked.com's programCTB tokens for sharing in the token campaigns; none for the voting contests.

    Where it shows

    In the customer's account or balance, in an email notice and as a message in the product.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Choose the reward for each side: discount, credit, cash, product or perk.
    2. 2.Connect how it's delivered: coupon codes, account credit, gift cards or shipped items.
    3. 3.Write the notice that tells both people they've earned it.

    What you can edit

    • Reward type and amount for each side
    • When it unlocks
    • Limits per customer
    • The notice wording and channel

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's reward unlock and notice from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: reward_issued

  8. 9Progress trackerNot part of this programShows each customer how many friends joined and what the next reward is.

    Where it shows

    In the widget, on the account page and in your regular emails.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Turn on referral counts for each customer.
    2. 2.Show the next milestone and what it unlocks.
    3. 3.Repeat it in your emails so progress stays in view.

    What you can edit

    • Milestones and their rewards
    • What counts: invites, sign-ups or customers
    • Wording and design of the tracker

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's progress tracker from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: progress_view

  9. 10LeaderboardNot part of this programRanks top referrers publicly or among customers, for programs built on status.

    Where it shows

    On a public campaign page or inside your product.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Decide whether it's public or for customers only.
    2. 2.Choose what ranks people, such as customers referred.
    3. 3.Set the period and the prize for the top spots.

    What you can edit

    • What people are ranked by
    • Period: monthly, seasonal or all time
    • How names show: full, first name or hidden
    • Prizes and who's excluded, such as staff

    Live example

    linked.com ↗

    Linked.com's leaderboard from its “Social Rewards Token” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: leaderboard_view

The lesson for your business

Test formats fast, then put your weight behind the one that works. Fun formats like votes get shared even without a reward.

Run a program like this on Referrals.comGet help applying it

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Figures are Referrals.com campaign records for linked.com as of October 2026, excluding internal test accounts. Linked.com is part of the VNOC network, like Referrals Group.