Referral program implementation

Referral program implementation is a “refer a friend” system: your client gets a personal link or promo code, shares it, and when the friend buys — both get a bonus (for example, a discount for the referred friend and points or a discount for the one who referred). We set up bonus rules on both sides, tracking of invitations and purchases, a member’s personal account, protection from fraud and an export for accounting. The point is to grow sales from trust: it is easier for people to buy on a friend’s advice than from an ad. Unlike an affiliate program (see the “Affiliate tracking implementation” service), where external professionals (bloggers, websites) promote you for money, a referral one is about your own clients and a small, friendly bonus; and unlike loyalty (see the “Loyalty / rewards program implementation” service), which retains those who already bought, a referral one is about acquiring new ones through their hands. Importantly and honestly: a referral program works only if the product is liked enough that people want to share it. If clients are unhappy with you or the product is incidental (bought once and forgotten) — they will not recommend it, and no bonus will fix that; the program does not cure a bad product, it helps a good one grow faster. Also honestly about money: the bonus is paid on two sides, that is a double cost on one sale — the rate must be calculated so the acquired client pays back both bonuses. A rough guide: if the average order value is below the sum of the two bonuses, the program loses money on every sale — so it works best with a meaningful order value or repeat purchases. And about honest tracking: there may be attempts at abuse (being your own “friend”, fake accounts) — we put protection in place, but no system gives 100%. Picture this: a happy client sends a friend their link, the friend buys at a discount, and the client gets a bonus — both are pleased, and you got a buyer with no advertising spend. The base price starts from 35,000 ₽; it depends on the bonus scheme and the integrations.

• Clients are happy but recommend you spontaneously — you neither reward nor track it.
• Acquisition runs only through paid advertising, and it keeps getting more expensive.
• There is no “refer a friend” mechanic — word of mouth does not turn into sales.
• You hand out bonuses for recommendations manually and untracked — confusion and disputes.

• Personal referral links and promo codes for clients
• Two-sided bonuses: both for the referred and the one who referred (fixed or percentage, different levels)
• Tracking of invitations, clicks and purchases via referral links
• A member’s personal account: their link, invitees, accrued bonuses
• Protection from fraud and self-invitations (anti-fraud, as far as possible)
• Export of accruals for accounting and integration with a CRM
• Notifications to members (a bonus accrued, a friend bought)
• Help with the bonus scheme so that acquisition stays profitable

• Happy clients bring new ones — growth from trust, not from advertising
• Acquisition is cheaper than paid channels — you pay a bonus for an actual purchase
• Word of mouth becomes manageable and measurable
• The effect and cost of the program are visible — without manual confusion

• You leave a request, describe the product and the desired bonus scheme
• We calculate the economics, set up links, bonuses, the account and protection
• We connect it, test the accruals, and launch

• How is a referral program different from affiliate?

  Affiliate (see the “Affiliate tracking implementation” service) is external professional partners (bloggers, websites) who promote you for a commission. A referral one is your own clients who recommend you to friends for a small, friendly bonus. The tracking mechanic is similar, but the audience and the rates are different. Sometimes both are launched.

• Will the program work if I still have few clients?

  It is not about the number but about how happy they are. A referral program amplifies the recommendations of happy clients — if there are few of them but they love you, the program will help them bring friends. But if the product is still raw or clients are lukewarm, they will not recommend it, and no bonus will replace that — then we will honestly talk you out of it and suggest working on the product first or another channel.

• Won’t people game the bonuses?

  Attempts happen (being your own “friend”, fake accounts), so we put protection in place: checks, limits, tying the bonus to a real paid purchase. No system promises to fully eliminate abuse, but bringing it down to negligible is realistic. Bonuses are paid on two sides, so we calculate the scheme so the acquired client pays back both accruals.