Need more proof? As many as 87%<\/a>\u00a0of professional sales teams say that referrals are the best way to gain new leads. In addition, companies with reward programs see more customers who come in and remain with the brand as customers or subscribers. Yes, referred customers are more likely to stay on for the long haul.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0In addition, companies with reward programs see revenues that are 86% higher<\/a>\u00a0than their counterparts (who don\u2019t utilize a referral program).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can take advantage of these impressive stats, too, by promoting your referral program on several different marketing channels. Take a look at these proven steps below for advice and know-how on getting your referrals to work for you in turn increasing productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Email is a great way to keep in touch with your current customers and to reach them personally \u2013 on their time. Because folks check their email when it\u2019s convenient, you can be sure that you\u2019re catching them on their schedule. First things first, you need to build and clean your email list<\/a> regularly for a seamless process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Writing a smart email message<\/a> can entice customers, and you can link them directly to the referral program page for easy sharing. Visual aspects, such as a hero shot, can also show users what it\u2019s like to get their reward, which can further entice them to share your brand to friends or family members.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Consider this an easy way to promote customer acquisition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The same goes for your homepage. Take advantage of landed traffic by letting users know what they can get from your referral program. Use a featured image or a banner ad on which users can click as an effective marketing strategy. This tells them about the reward and takes them straight to it in one fell swoop.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Keep your referral program\u00a0marketed on the homepage\u00a0in order to keep it top-of-mind, and to give customers easy access to rewards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Use that traffic you already have on your website to your advantage. You likely have key pages that receive the highest amount of traffic. These vary by industry, but are often the home page, about us, and contact us pages. Because you have more viewership on these pages, they offer a great opportunity to tell people about your referral program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Use an eye-catching graphic or tell them in bold what they can earn when they refer your business to a friend.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A great time to promote your referral program\u00a0is right after a customer has purchased from you. They will be excited about their recent transaction and eager to spread the word. Once your customer completes their checkout, this is an ideal time in which you can tell them about your referral program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can do this by sending a follow-up email<\/a>, or using a referral landing page<\/a>\u00a0that expresses the referral reward\u00a0and program terms. Take them straight to the landing page once they order, and talk up your refer-a-friend program. Or, follow up a few days later with an email that encourages them to entice others. You can also use a confirmation email\u00a0to capture their attention. Include a graphic and link right with their receipt to capture this positive momentum for future referrals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Referral promotions can receive extra traction through social media. Use your social media platforms to help share your referral program. You can do this with boosted posts or social ads, or simply with standard posts that explain how users can earn a prize or cash reward for sharing your brand. Be sure to make the post visually appealing and add a link. Making it as enticing and as easy as possible can only excite users even more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If your platform has a section where customers can log in to your website, this is a great place to highlight the referral campaign. They will likely spend a good amount of time on this page when ordering, checking statuses, and more, which means you can readily catch their attention by hosting a referral page with templates. Add the referral program to their drop-down with a title like \u201cRefer and Earn\u201d or \u201cGet Cash Back\u201d to further entice them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can see this example with HelloFresh\u2019s website. This meal delivery service hosts a banner button at the top of their website where users can click and share referral codes<\/a> via any number of channels, including social, email, and a direct link.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Another way to promote your referral program\u00a0is with pop-ups. Create an eye-catching graphic that you can put directly in customers\u2019 eyesight. Telling them what they can earn in this pop-up\u00a0will invite them to click and earn, increasing conversion rates.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can also determine when the best time to show these pop-ups\u00a0may be. For instance, try showing a pop-up after a purchase, or once someone\u2019s had a positive experience with customer service to increase customer loyalty.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Head here to learn best practices about using referral program<\/a> popups<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Next, you can encourage customers to send referral links<\/a> directly to social media by providing links. With this simple process \u2013 one click and they can share \u2013 users will be more likely to add your customer referral program to their feed. You can even make it easier by pre-writing content with the link. (They can also write their own content, but won\u2019t have to.) This is fast and smart content marketing, as customers will reach many friends at once with their posts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Because users will receive their incentive every time someone purchases thanks to their link, they will want to share with as many people as possible. Therefore, they will want to share via social. Consider the power of this simple, yet effective addition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some customers will want \u201cproof\u201d that you have a good product or service, so they\u2019ll turn to product reviews before they buy. The same goes with your referral program \u2013 some customers will want proof to ensure a company is worth their time and effort before they refer. Make it easy for them by sharing testimonials and stories, where customers who have previously referred their friends share their positive experience with the program. You can easily turn positive reviews into graphics that can be shared on social media, along with a link to the program. This offers a fast and effective way to tip the scales in your favor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Add reviews as social proof to advance your referral program\u2019s momentum.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A landing page\u00a0that is made specifically to funnel customers to a referral is a great way to bring in new referrals. You can also channel traffic to this page from all other digital sources. Create a page that specifically outlines how your referral program\u00a0will work. Here, customers can gain access to all of the info they need, as well as know what type of reward they will get with each referral.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here\u2019s one more place you can drop your info. Place a quick line about your referral program\u00a0right in your social bio. Something quick like, \u201cRefer a friend and earn<\/a>\u201d or \u201cGet $50 when you refer a friend\u201d \u2013 then share the link to your program. This might seem like a small gesture, but it\u2019s one more place you can drop the link and entice customers to get more people to sign up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Because social media\u00a0is so widely used these days, customers are more likely to check a bio to gain quick info (and a link) about a company.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Meanwhile, you will be sending out emails on a regular basis. So why not add your referral program\u00a0link right into your signature? This is a section that many users will see (including those you work with directly), which means it\u2019s high-quality real estate to share a link. as well as any quick corresponding info about the referral program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can easily add this to your signature, and encourage employees to do the same. This is one more simple way to spread your referral link\u00a0with current and new customers\u00a0alike.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A CTA\u00a0\u2013 call-to-action \u2013 is considered a best practice across all industries. A CTA\u00a0tells customers what they can do next and how they can get the most out of your brand. For instance, how to get more information, where to sign up, etc. A smart CTA\u00a0gives specific instructions and a link for moving forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When promoting your referral program, your blog post\u2019s CTA\u00a0can remind them to get their friends to sign up in order to earn. For example:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Find momentum with your referral program\u00a0with the help of brand ambassadors<\/a>. Brand ambassadors work directly with your brand to help your company grow its reach. They will share your referral program, usually in trade for a reward of their own, enticing others to participate by referring friends.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Brand ambassadors use many different channels, including video, social media, blogs, and emails. The benefit of working with a brand ambassador for your referral program\u00a0is that they can reach an audience that you cannot. They also have loyal followers who trust their judgment, meaning they will be more likely to trust their reviews and help promote you by signing up and referring their own friends.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Run a social media\u00a0ad campaign in order to reach a new audience. Boosted or sponsored posts can be tailored to reach a specific audience, meaning you can choose who will see your ad based on age, location, interests, or another qualifier. Drop the referral program\u00a0directly into the ad so users can see you not only host a great service, but a way to earn rewards along the way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Social media\u00a0ads can also be affordable \u2013 $100 and up \u2013 while still gaining results that can boost your referral program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Creating a launch can make your brand elusive and exciting to join. Consider your referral program\u00a0launch like any new release \u2013 \u00a0giving people early access can hype up the fun. Choose a small group of best customers or influencers\u00a0and let them join early to gain momentum with your referral program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Better yet, you can use this as a trial run before new customers\u00a0join the program, so you can work out any kinks and get the program in tip-top shape moving forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Before you start your referral program, consider seeing how willing customers will be to use the program. An NPS\u00a0\u2013 that\u2019s Net Promoter Score \u2013 shows how willing each customer will be to share your brand with friends and help promote your referral program. From there, you can target customers who are most willing and will be the most beneficial catalysts for your brand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Set up a short survey, then based on the results, you can create a referral program\u00a0that best suits those users and their wants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Loyal customers\u00a0are the bread and butter to helping your brand succeed. They are the folks who help you make money, who put you on the map, and who put you where you need to be. They will also be the ones to sing your highest praises. Therefore, it\u2019s helpful to get them on your team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Ask these customers to refer friends for an even higher chance at gaining new leads from their friends and family members. The reward will likely make them more excited about your brand. (As we mentioned above, think about asking these customers to be the first to try out your referral program.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Your customers are constantly on their phones, so adding a mobile element to your referral program<\/a> promotion can pay dividends. Reach customers with automated text messages in order to encourage their participation in a referral program. Because users will \u201copt-in,\u201d you can rest assured that you aren\u2019t reaching customers without their consent. Texts are a great way to quickly reach customers and to let them know, in real-time, about any changes or upgrades to your reward program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s important not to text too often, but by following an intermittent schedule, you can reach customers directly in their pockets to let them know about brand incentives.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Fun videos are another way to capture customers\u2019 attention. Inform them about your referral program\u00a0in the video, while showing just how happy recipients are to have signed up for this service. The video can explain how everything works, with the added benefit of getting folks excited to use the referral program. Plus, you\u2019ll have plenty of room to inject your own branded flair.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Consider this proven tool as an effective way to market your referral program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once a customer has had a good experience with your referral program, they\u2019re more likely to repeat the process. However, asking them to put in a good word can even further spread your cause. As others hear about Joey and Stevie having a great experience with referrals, they\u2019ll be more likely to participate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Besides, asking for a review can be a gentle reminder to once again send in a referral to your incentive program. Don\u2019t underestimate just how far the effort of positive reviews can take you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Digital marketing can get you far, but not everyone is online. Reach this corner of your audience by advertising offline. Depending on your industry, this might mean radio, print ads, or commercials to spread the word about your referral business.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Look at your market, see which medium(s) they are most likely to use, then pursue those ad channels in order to reach more customers who are less likely to be online.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In your general marketing efforts, you can mention your referral program in addition to any other promotions you might be having. This two-layer approach lets folks know about your service, as well as how they can earn through your reward program. Don\u2019t forget to include info on, and links to, the referral program to get more folks involved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Even if it\u2019s not in your original message, you can follow up with customers with the referral link\u00a0for a better chance at increased ROI and customer participation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Referral promotions can be made easy with the help of referral software. Avoid keeping track of rewards the old-fashioned way thanks to automated programs<\/a> that handle it for you. Referral software helps you keep better track of ROI, categorizes your best referrers, and more. Consider this smart addition in order to help your referral program thrive, without the stress of added human error.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Learn more about using automated referral software here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Language matters with your referral program marketing. But don\u2019t guess at what language will entice more customers. Know you\u2019re using the best language, layout, and visuals possible. This can be done with A\/B testing, a method where you try two options and find which version has the best results. A\/B testing gives you good insight as to what your customer base finds appealing. Plus, it provides the added peace of mind that you\u2019re on track with how you promote your referral marketing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When it comes to promoting your referral program, frequency is key. By getting your program in front of folks often, you can ensure they have access to your referral program. You never know who may have overlooked a mention, or who might be enticed on the second go-round when hearing about your referral program. Be sure to mention it frequently in order to gain customer referrals, and to remind customers about the rewards that they could be earning within your brand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Marketing your referral program\u00a0is a great way to increase your customer base, and to bring in more dollars for your brand. Help your company grow through word-of-mouth\u00a0marketing by using promotional best practices within your referral programs. There are several ways in which you can spread the word about your brand. Follow these best tips, and choose the steps that are most on-par with your industry and marketing efforts in order to create success within your marketing referral program template.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Find out more about asking for referrals directly or indirectly here. <\/a>Or, for more ideas on growing a referral program<\/a>, check out this comprehensive article.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Your referral program won’t deliver results if your customers don’t know about it. Here’s how to promote your referral program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[459,358],"tags":[450,451],"class_list":["post-17775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-referral-marketing","category-referral-programs","tag-referral-program","tag-referral-program-guide"],"modified_by":"megs","meta_box":{"headline":"","offer_text":"","sharing_incentive":"","friend_reward":"","program_info":"","terms_link":"","promotion_image":false,"landing_page_image":false,"invite_page_image":false,"social_share_image":false,"email_share_image":false,"twitter_share_image":false,"social_message_image":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17775"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18825,"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17775\/revisions\/18825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. Use <\/strong>email marketing<\/strong>\u00a0to promote your <\/strong>referral program<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
2. Promote your <\/strong>referral program<\/strong>\u00a0on your <\/strong>homepage<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. Spotlight your <\/strong>referral program<\/strong>\u00a0on your high-traffic web pages<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Promote right after a purchase<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
5. Promote your program on your <\/strong>social media<\/strong>\u00a0account<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
6. Highlight the program on user account pages<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"HelloFriends](\"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-22-at-11.51.16-AM-1024x596.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n7. Use <\/strong>referral program <\/strong>pop-ups<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
8. Add social sharing buttons for your customers<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"activate](\"https:\/\/referralrock.com\/rms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Screen-Shot-2021-03-22-at-1.59.02-PM-1024x349.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n9. Share reviews as social proof<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
10. Create a dedicated <\/strong>referral program<\/strong>\u00a0page<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
11. Promote the program in <\/strong>social media<\/strong>\u00a0bios<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
12. Mention the program in your <\/strong>email signature<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
13. Add <\/strong>CTAs<\/strong>\u00a0in blog posts<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
14. Ask brand ambassadors to promote the program<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
15. Run a <\/strong>social media<\/strong>\u00a0ad campaign<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
16. Host an early-launch program<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
17. Find your best promoters through <\/strong>NPS<\/strong>, then invite them to share<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
18. Share the program with your most <\/strong>loyal customers<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
19. Promote with text messages<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
20. Use entertaining videos<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
21. Ask past program participants to spread the love<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
22. Promote offline and during events<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
23. Include the program in other campaigns<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
24. Automate promotions with referral software<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
25. Conduct an A\/B test<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
26. Promote your program regularly<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n