The Most Comprehensive Guide to Referral Programs

38+ of our best resources

Referral programs? You’ve come to the right place. We put together the best of what we’ve learned through our years of referral marketing.

Referral programs are the most recommended marketing strategy.

They’re described as “a standout winner that can’t be touched by any other method” by Forbes, and “the second highest source of quality leads” by Social Media Today.

As a form of word-of-mouth marketing, referral programs make it easier and more rewarding for others to share your brand. It can be a customer, an employee, or a partner – whenever a referral ends in a sale, there’s a reward for their effort.

Whether you’re about to start your first referral program, or looking to improve your current marketing campaign, our referral program resource has you covered.

Do You Need a Referral Program?

Not every business needs a referral program. We round up some must-read articles that help you decide if your business would benefit from one.

Why Referral Programs Work? Ways You Can Benefit From Customer Referrals

Customer referrals are one of the most trusted forms of marketing. Read all the reasons why referral programs work for your business.

5 Ways To See if a Referral Program Can Work for You

Referral programs can work for your business. They just need a little work. We share five ways to get things running smoothly.

Are You Ready to Launch a Referral Program

So you’re thinking of launching a referral program. How do you know if you’re ready? This article and quiz will help to find out.

Benefits of Referral Programs You Can’t Afford To Miss

There are many reasons why businesses use referral marketing. We give you the six most common.

Referral Programs vs. Affiliate Programs: Which Is Right for You?

What's the difference between a referral program vs. affiliate program? We clear up some of the confusion.

Debunking the Top 5 Worst Referral Program Myths

There’s a lot of information going around about referral programs. We separate fact from fiction.

Leading Indicators of Referral Program Success

How do you know if your referral program is actually a success? Here are the top indicators.

Getting Started

Interested in trying out a referral program for your business? This section has everything you need to know about getting started, from how one works to the many referral program types.

Expectations for Your First Referral Program

Congratulations! You’re starting to set up your first referral program. Here are some things to keep in mind while diving in.

Referral Marketing 101: How To Create a Referral Program That Wins More Customers

From general tips to referral program software, We cover all the key points of a referral marketing program.

The Mechanics of Referral Marketing: How It Works

The path to referral program success needs more than just a nice incentive. Find out exactly what makes the tactic work.

Starting your SaaS Referral Program

SaaS companies have their own market and marketing needs. We explain how a specific SaaS referral program can boost your business.

Refer-a-Friend Best Practices and Tips

Referring a friend isn’t as simple as it sounds – there are a number of best practices and strategies. Here are a few to guarantee success.

The Basics of B2B Referral Programs

How is a B2B referral program different from its B2C counterpart? We break down the two distinct programs.

Referral Program Template: A Blueprint for Conversions

There are key similarities among all referral programs. We put these together to create a tried-and-tested referral template.

Build a Referral Program FAQ

Customers will have some questions before joining a referral program. Here are the most common ones to include in your referral program FAQ.

Referral Program Glossary and Terms to Remember

Referral marketing goes by many names – word-of-mouth marketing, refer-a-friend marketing, and more. We round up the most important definitions.

Referral Rewards and Incentives

The right reward and incentive is critical to your referral program. What do you offer and how do you offer it? We share all the answers below.

How to Choose the Best Referral Rewards and Incentives [With Examples]

Referral programs can bring in a lot of new business – and referral program incentives are what get people to participate. Learn which incentives are the most attractive.

A Comparison of Classic Customer Incentives

Get some quick referral incentive ideas from our round up of the most classic types – from cash to discounts – and why they still work.

Pros and Cons of Offering Referral Program Incentives

There’s a lot to consider when deciding what will incentivize your customers. We share the different types of incentives, and pros and cons of each.

Recurring vs. One-Time Referral Rewards

It’s easy to think the more often you give incentives, the more customers you’ll attract. Our comparison reveals this isn’t always the case.

Learn From These Proven Refer-a-Friend Program Ideas

Refer-a-friend campaigns have worked for many big-name brands (Airbnb, Dropbox, and Uber to name a few). Learn to launch one for your business.

Messaging and Promoting Your Program

For a referral program to be successful, customers have to know about it. Learn how to spread the word about your referral program with the right messaging and promotion.

The Best Ways to Effectively Promote Referral Programs

The more customers who know about your referral program, the more effective it will be. We share 20 different ways to spread the word.

Landing Page Tips that Get Customers to Join Your Program

Landing pages are one of the most overlooked aspects of a referral program. Here are some ideas on how to create a landing page that results in more referrals.

Inspiring Referral Email Examples That Grab Your Customer’s Attention

Emails are personal, direct messages sent straight to customers. Make the most of this communication with real-life examples.

40 Catchy Referral Slogans for Your Referral Program

If you want referrals, you have to grab people’s attention. Take inspiration from a great list of catchy referral slogans.

8 Ways to Announce Your Referral Program

Program announcements are one of the top ways to promote your program. We share eight different methods, from social media to snail mail.

Referral Messaging Examples and Best Practices

Do you need a referral message? We will explain its importance, best practices, and some examples to inspire your own referral messaging.

Best Practices for Combining Referral Marketing and Social Media

Social media and referral programs are a match made in marketing heaven. Here are the best practices to create a social referral program.

Best Program Ideas and Examples

Sometimes, you need a little inspiration to create a great referral program. These successful referral program examples should get the creative juices flowing.

The Absolute Best Referral Program Ideas for Every Part of Your Campaign

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to referrals, there are a lot of referral program ideas out there. We bring you some of the best.

The Top 25 Referral Program Examples That Matter

Curious about what the best referral programs are? Here’s a list of referral program examples that top the charts.

Referral Gamification: How to Ramp Up Your Referral Program’s Fun Factor

Using elements of gamification in your referral program may be exactly what you need to level up. View some great gamified examples.

15 Best App Referral Program Examples

Most everyone searches, shares, and explores via mobile. This list reveals great ideas for mobile-friendly referral programs.

Referral Software and Tracking

Find out if automating your referral program with referral marketing software is the right approach for your business, and compare the different referral software services.

Why Referral Programs Fail

Learn how to keep track of your referral program, what metrics to measure, and possible reasons why referral programs fail.