Two-sided reward
Both people get something. Inviting a friend feels like doing them a favour.
See it in: Referrals.com
Playbook
Six patterns behind every referral program that works
We've studied the programs everyone copies. The same few ideas keep coming up. Use them as a checklist before you launch.
Product as reward
Give more of what customers already value in your product. It costs less than cash and brings them back.
See it in: Referrals.com, Contrib.com
Milestones
Clear steps with a prize at each. People finish what they can see.
See it in: Referrals.com, RealtyDAO.com
Ask at the right moment
Right after a win: a first result, a delivery, a renewal. Not in a cold email months later.
See it in: Contrib.com, RealtyDAO.com
Pay on real value
Reward the inviter when the friend becomes a real customer, not when they type an email.
See it in: Handyman.com
Plan to change it
Set a review date before launch. Rewards that made sense at 100 customers rarely fit at 10,000.
See it in: Linked.com
Before you launch
The six-line checklist
If you can tick every line, you're ready. If not, that's where to start.
Launch your program on Referrals.com- We know the moment our customers are happiest, and we ask then.
- Both the referrer and the friend get something they actually want.
- The reward is paid when the friend becomes a real customer.
- One sentence explains the whole offer.
- Every referral is counted once, and we can see where it came from.
- There's a date in the calendar to review the rewards.