Wellness Referral Program: How to Start One [+Tools]

Looking for more clients for your wellness-focused business? Your existing clients are your best spokespeople, as they can vouch for how much your products and services have helped improve their health. And people trust the experiences of peers who have used your products or services far more than any advertising from your brand. But referrals can be unpredictable. So, how to get clients to share with friends reliably? A wellness referral program can make sharing much easier – and more rewarding – for your clients. Here’s how to start one, plus some of our favorite referral program tools.

What is a wellness referral program?

A wellness referral program motivates your clients to share your wellness business with their friends and family members, by letting them earn rewards for each successful referral.

The most effective wellness referral programs are automated rather than manual. An automated system keeps track of the referrals made by your customers, and instantly rewards customers when their referrals turn into your new customers.

When we’re talking about wellness referral programs, we mean referral programs for businesses that help promote people’s health and well-being, but that are NOT traditional healthcare providers. 

Wellness referral programs work great for businesses like:

• Weight loss programs
• Healthy eating plans 
• Nutrition businesses
• Wellness resorts
• Vitamin, supplement, and wellness gummy stores
• Holistic wellness companies
• Personal medicine companies (e.g. hair loss treatments)
• Exercise programs
• Exercise equipment companies
• Assistive device companies (that sell the devices directly to people with disabilities)

 

Benefits of wellness referral programs

Wellness referral programs are crafted to engage your clients who already have a reason to recommend your products or services to others. By building trust, you can expand your client base without relying on costly marketing strategies. Here are the main benefits of wellness referral programs:

Increased brand exposure: Referral programs leverage the enthusiasm of satisfied clients who share their positive experiences, and turns them into your brand ambassadors. This organic promotion not only helps solidify your business’s reputation but also enhances social proof and attracts potential customers.

Improved trust in your services: Referrals are often viewed as more reliable than advertisements or direct messages from your brand. A Nielsen study found that 84% of individuals consider referrals to be the most trustworthy and effective form of advertising.

Creation of warm leads: When clients recommend your services, they connect you with people who could genuinely benefit from your solutions. These referrers understand your offerings and can introduce you to others who would appreciate your expertise.

Increased conversion rates: A personal recommendation greatly enhances the chances that others will choose your business. Due to the trust factor, they are more likely to engage with you. Research shows that a personal endorsement can be up to 50 times more effective in driving purchases compared to traditional advertising.

Cost-efficient and low-risk: Referral programs generally cost less than conventional ads. Additionally, with a referral program, you only provide rewards when a client brings in new business. This approach is much less risky than ads and other marketing methods, where you pay upfront without guaranteed results.

Steady customer loyalty: Referred clients tend to be more loyal to your business and continue to generate revenue for you. They have a 16% higher lifetime value compared to customers acquired through other channels.

Simplified referral tracking: Implementing a referral program makes it easy to monitor referrals. With the right referral software and the links it generates, you can effortlessly attribute each referral to the client who made it.

Referral software for wellness brands [Free Tools]

These referral tools for wellness brands are a free and easy way to help you start your referral program.

Want a fully automated referral program for your wellness business? Run your referral program with us at Referral Rock. Find out how we can build your program with you (and tailor it to your unique needs)

Are you ready for a wellness referral program?

Not every wellness brand is equipped to implement a referral program, despite the numerous advantages.

For a referral program to be effective, make sure you’ve nailed the following essentials.

You should have a reputation for providing a top-notch experience that distinguishes you from competitors. If your products and services don’t stand out, the referral program likely won’t yield the desired results, because people need a reason to share. 

This is especially vital if your wellness business involves in-person or live video consultations, like weight loss programs, nutritionists, personal medicine companies and wellness resorts do. Do you offer that warm, personal touch and show full commitment to helping someone achieve their wellness goals?

It’s crucial to have a loyal and satisfied client base that genuinely enjoys their experiences with you. Happy clients are more likely to recommend your brand to their friends.

Checking client satisfaction through reviews and surveys can be a helpful tool in gauging how well you’re meeting their needs.

In addition to all this, a digital component, such as a website or page to send referrals to, is essential. Referral programs are best for wellness brands that can handle referrals through digital means, because of the streamlined tracking that referral links offer.

Wellness referral program tips

Now that you know you’re ready for a referral program, follow these tips to help set one up. 

Select your rewards carefully

Although you won’t get referrals without an exceptional product and stellar customer experience, people usually need another added motivation before they actually share. What’s in it for them? That’s where referral rewards come in. 

Reward both the referrer and their friend, to both encourage people to refer and encourage referred friends to pay for your services. This structure is known as a double-sided reward. Double-sided rewards give people another way to help their friends (in addition to helping friends improve their wellness). They won’t feel like they’re “selling out” their friends just to get a reward of their own. 

You might also offer tiered rewards, which increase in value after every successful referral someone makes. This helps create super-advocates who bring in multiple new customers. 

But what kind of rewards to offer? For the referrer, we recommend cash referral bonuses, cash-equivalent gift cards, or gift cards to other (non-competing) businesses. This way, people can spend the rewards on whatever they choose. And if your brand is focused on weight loss, nutrition, or exercise, a gift card for new clothes, or new fitness wear, is an awesome tie-in. 

You can also offer discount codes or credits towards your services. We recommend this reward for the referred friend, as it encourages them to sign on for your services or place their first order. Of course, if you have clients who come to you for recurring services, you can also offer this type of reward to the referrers. 

Note: Although this doesn’t apply often for wellness businesses, stay alert about laws that may apply to your referral program. 

 In the U.S., you can’t legally offer rewards for a referral if the referred client uses federal healthcare funds to at least partially pay for your services. If you get referrals of federally funded clients, instead make a donation to charity worth the same as your traditional referral rewards.

Find your best advocates first

Instead of launching a referral program to every current and past client at once, why not give your VIPs a preview first?

Figure out your most dedicated advocates – those clients who:

• Have spent the most on your products or services
• Have used your services for an extended period of time
• Already promote you – whether in person, on social media, or through glowing reviews. The more they mention your name, the more beneficial it is for your referral program.
• Have recently shared a positive comment, left a favorable review, or provided encouraging feedback in person.

Start by reaching out to these clients with a personalized message. Invite them to assist in bringing in new clients through the program. After that, introduce the program to all your clients.

Ask for referrals the right way

One of the simplest and most effective methods to secure client referrals is to just ask for them. Since you’ve built a solid relationship with your client, and likely have had ongoing discussions with them (in the case of personal consultation-based businesses), it feels natural to reach out.

Timing is key when you make your referral request. Look for those moments when your clients are particularly pleased and have you on their minds. For instance, consider asking when they:

• Leave a glowing review or comment on social media
• Provide positive feedback in a survey
• Show their appreciation during or after an appointment or consultation
• Recommend your services to friends outside of the referral program
• Complete a session or consultation and you know they’re satisfied: ask, “Would you like to help someone else improve their wellness? Who comes to mind?”

If you know a client was pleased with your services and they’re seeing you in person, ask directly in a conversation. You could also ask for a referral when you send the invoice for a completed appointment or consultation.

Ask via email if you aren’t working with them in person – or send a thank-you card where you introduce your referral program using a QR code.

Once you’ve identified the right moment, how do you make the request?

• Share how much you value their choice to trust you with their wellness needs.
• Remind them of the reasons they selected your services, emphasizing why they would be excellent at referring others.
• Be specific! Ask if they know anyone who fits your ideal client profile and could benefit from your services.
• Lastly, provide a clear link to your referral program to make it easy for clients to take action.

Make sharing easier with One Click Access

By simplifying the sharing process, you can attract more customers to your program, which in turn boosts referrals. A fantastic way to remove barriers and improve sharing is by eliminating the need for customers to log into your program.

With Referral Rock’s One Click Access links, your customers can start sharing your business right away. They’ll be automatically enrolled in the program, bypassing the need to sign up or complete lengthy forms. All they have to do is share a little information about their friends to send referrals.

Remember to include One Click Access links in every email you send to promote your referral program, such as newsletters and transactional emails – not just those aimed solely at generating referrals.

Plus, Referral Rock enables both new and existing members to access their referral portal using popular social logins like Google and Facebook, so they won’t need to remember a password.

Streamline the sharing process

A crucial aspect of a successful referral program is to make the referral process as easy as possible. Provide users with multiple ways to share your offer, such as via email, social media, and SMS, catering to their preferred communication styles. 

Additionally, create a unique referral link for each participant in your program, enabling them to share it in the manner that works best for them.

Remember, you’re asking your customers for a favor, as you want them to promote your business for you. If the referral process feels too complicated or lengthy, they might get frustrated and abandon it. The aim is to reduce the number of steps involved.

• Ensure that referring someone takes just 1-2 clicks or taps.
• On your referral program landing page, present the program in 3-4 bullet points, emphasizing the rewards and advantages of sharing.
• Offer pre-written messages that users can easily send to their friends, eliminating the need for them to create their own text. These messages should be friendly and come from the perspective of the referring customer.
• Make sharing seamless on mobile devices, as this is where people frequently share things they love with their friends.
• If there’s more information to share, include it in a separate FAQ section to keep the main referral page clear and user-friendly.

Promote, promote, promote

The more members you engage, the higher your chances of generating successful referrals and increasing revenue. So, make sure people know the program exists!

To effectively promote your program, it’s essential to utilize a variety of channels. Even if you have everything set up perfectly, your referral program won’t thrive if clients aren’t aware of it. Here are some strategies to consider for promotion:

• Send dedicated emails to all your clients about your referral program, ideally on a monthly or quarterly basis.
• Include short mentions of your referral program in newsletters and other regular communications.
• Add details about your program in your invoice emails.
• Mention your program in your email signatures.
• If you work with clients in person, place referral flyers where they’ll see them – with a QR code to bring offline interest to your online referral page.
• Tell people about your program on your thank you page, right after they complete purchase or registration.
• If you have one, integrate referral promotions directly into your client portal, providing easy access through direct links.
• Feature a prominent banner or hero image on your website’s homepage that links to your referral landing page.
• Use subtle promotional techniques on your website, like adding a link in the footer or menu, to make it easy for users to find and engage with your program.
• Share updates about your referral program on your social media channels.

Boost existing sharers’ engagement

It’s important to keep your existing participants engaged in your referral program. Those who have already signed up may need a little nudge to keep sharing. One great way to do this is by using automated emails sent at key moments.

For instance, consider sending a reminder email 3-5 days after someone joins your program. You can also celebrate members via email whenever they earn a reward, and take advantage of Referral Rock’s Monthly Summary emails, which offer a personalized overview of each member’s referral activities every month.

In addition, we recommend sending promotional emails about your referral program at least once a month during the first year. After that, aim for quarterly updates while also exploring other promotional strategies. This method not only attracts new referrers, but also keeps your program top of mind for those who may have referred in the past but have since forgotten about it.

Choose the right referral software

Referral software tools simplify the tracking of referrals, identifying where they come from, and quickly distributing rewards. They also provide valuable insights into your referral program, helping you assess its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.

Additionally, these tools create unique links that facilitate easy promotion of your program on social media and through email.

Referral Rock software improves the creation, tracking, rewarding, and marketing aspects of your referral program, making it an essential resource for anyone aiming to run a successful referral campaign.

With Referral Rock, you can:

• Effortlessly track referrals: Each participant receives a unique referral link, allowing you to pinpoint the source of every referral. Customers can also keep tabs on their referral activity through customized dashboards.  
• Customize your program: Choose any rewards structure you want, and personalize the program based on your brand’s needs.
• Automate your marketing: Engage your customers with automated promotional emails and simplify sharing with password-free links. Plus, instantly pay out rewards when they’re earned.
• Integrate with key tools: Connect Referral Rock seamlessly with over 50 different applications, including your CRM. 
• Analyze program performance: Quickly assess how your program is doing and make data-driven enhancements.  
• Get started quickly: Launch your program in just a few days, with expert assistance available throughout your setup and launch process.

Start your own wellness referral program

A wellness referral program allows you to utilize personal recommendations to attract new clients. This digital marketing approach offers several advantages, such as easy tracking of referrals, enhanced visibility for your services, and consistent growth. To differentiate yourself, prioritize delivering an exceptional experience, offer valuable rewards, promote your program actively, and ensure that sharing is as effortless as possible.