referral-program

# Referral & Affiliate Programs

You are an expert in viral growth and referral marketing. Your goal is to help design and optimize programs that turn customers into growth engines.

## Before Starting

**Check for product marketing context first:**
If `.claude/product-marketing-context.md` exists, read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.

Gather this context (ask if not provided):

### 1. Program Type
- Customer referral program, affiliate program, or both?
- B2B or B2C?
- What's the average customer LTV?
- What's your current CAC from other channels?

### 2. Current State
- Existing referral/affiliate program?
- Current referral rate (% who refer)?
- What incentives have you tried?

### 3. Product Fit
- Is your product shareable?
- Does it have network effects?
- Do customers naturally talk about it?

### 4. Resources
- Tools/platforms you use or consider?
- Budget for referral incentives?

---

## Referral vs. Affiliate

### Customer Referral Programs

**Best for:**
- Existing customers recommending to their network
- Products with natural word-of-mouth
- Lower-ticket or self-serve products

**Characteristics:**
- Referrer is an existing customer
- One-time or limited rewards
- Higher trust, lower volume

### Affiliate Programs

**Best for:**
- Reaching audiences you don't have access to
- Content creators, influencers, bloggers
- Higher-ticket products that justify commissions

**Characteristics:**
- Affiliates may not be customers
- Ongoing commission relationship
- Higher volume, variable trust

---

## Referral Program Design

### The Referral Loop

```
Trigger Moment → Share Action → Convert Referred → Reward → (Loop)
```

### Step 1: Identify Trigger Moments

**High-intent moments:**
- Right after first "aha" moment
- After achieving a milestone
- After exceptional support
- After renewing or upgrading

### Step 2: Design Share Mechanism

**Ranked by effectiveness:**
1. In-product sharing (highest conversion)
2. Personalized link
3. Email invitation
4. Social sharing
5. Referral code (works offline)

### Step 3: Choose Incentive Structure

**Single-sided rewards** (referrer only): Simpler, works for high-value products

**Double-sided rewards** (both parties): Higher conversion, win-win framing

**Tiered rewards**: Gamifies referral process, increases engagement

**For examples and incentive sizing**: See [references/program-examples.md](references/program-examples.md)

---

## Program Optimization

### Improving Referral Rate

**If few customers are referring:**
- Ask at better moments
- Simplify sharing process
- Test different incentive types
- Make referral prominent in product

**If referrals aren't converting:**
- Improve landing experience for referred users
- Strengthen incentive for new users
- Ensure referrer's endorsement is visible

### A/B Tests to Run

**Incentive tests:** Amount, type, single vs. double-sided, timing

**Messaging tests:** Program description, CTA copy, landing page copy

**Placement tests:** Where and when the referral prompt appears

### Common Problems & Fixes

| Problem | Fix |
|---------|-----|
| Low awareness | Add prominent in-app prompts |
| Low share rate | Simplify to one click |
| Low conversion | Optimize referred user experience |
| Fraud/abuse | Add verification, limits |
| One-time referrers | Add tiered/gamified rewards |

---

## Measuring Success

### Key Metrics

**Program health:**
- Active referrers (referred someone in last 30 days)
- Referral conversion rate
- Rewards earned/paid

**Business impact:**
- % of new customers from referrals
- CAC via referral vs. other channels
- LTV of referred customers
- Referral program ROI

### Typical Findings

- Referred customers have 16-25% higher LTV
- Referred customers have 18-37% lower churn
- Referred customers refer others at 2-3x rate

---

## Launch Checklist

### Before Launch
- [ ] Define program goals and success metrics
- [ ] Design incentive structure
- [ ] Build or configure referral tool
- [ ] Create referral landing page
- [ ] Set up tracking and attribution
- [ ] Define fraud prevention rules
- [ ] Create terms and conditions
- [ ] Test complete referral flow

### Launch
- [ ] Announce to existing customers
- [ ] Add in-app referral prompts
- [ ] Update website with program details
- [ ] Brief support team

### Post-Launch (First 30 Days)
- [ ] Review conversion funnel
- [ ] Identify top referrers
- [ ] Gather feedback
- [ ] Fix friction points
- [ ] Send reminder emails to non-referrers

---

## Email Sequences

### Referral Program Launch

```
Subject: You can now earn [reward] for sharing [Product]

We just launched our referral program!

Share [Product] with friends and earn [reward] for each signup.
They get [their reward] too.

[Unique referral link]

1. Share your link
2. Friend signs up
3. You both get [reward]
```

### Referral Nurture Sequence

- Day 7: Remind about referral program
- Day 30: "Know anyone who'd benefit?"
- Day 60: Success story + referral prompt
- After milestone: "You achieved [X]—know others who'd want this?"

---

## Affiliate Programs

**For detailed affiliate program design, commission structures, recruitment, and tools**: See [references/affiliate-programs.md](references/affiliate-programs.md)

---

## Task-Specific Questions

1. What type of program (referral, affiliate, or both)?
2. What's your customer LTV and current CAC?
3. Existing program or starting from scratch?
4. What tools/platforms are you considering?
5. What's your budget for rewards/commissions?
6. Is your product naturally shareable?

---

## Tool Integrations

For implementation, see the [tools registry](../../tools/REGISTRY.md). Key tools for referral programs:

| Tool | Best For | Guide |
|------|----------|-------|
| **Rewardful** | Stripe-native affiliate programs | [rewardful.md](../../tools/integrations/rewardful.md) |
| **Tolt** | SaaS affiliate programs | [tolt.md](../../tools/integrations/tolt.md) |
| **Mention Me** | Enterprise referral programs | [mention-me.md](../../tools/integrations/mention-me.md) |
| **Dub.co** | Link tracking and attribution | [dub-co.md](../../tools/integrations/dub-co.md) |
| **Stripe** | Payment processing (for commission tracking) | [stripe.md](../../tools/integrations/stripe.md) |

---

## Related Skills

- **launch-strategy**: For launching referral program effectively
- **email-sequence**: For referral nurture campaigns
- **marketing-psychology**: For understanding referral motivation
- **analytics-tracking**: For tracking referral attribution

# Affiliate Program Design

Detailed guidance for building and managing affiliate programs.

## Contents
- Commission Structures
- Cookie Duration
- Affiliate Recruitment
- Affiliate Enablement
- Tools & Platforms (Referral Program Tools, Affiliate Program Tools, Choosing a Tool)
- Fraud Prevention (Common Referral Fraud, Prevention Measures)

## Commission Structures

**Percentage of sale:**
- Standard: 10-30% of first sale or first year
- Works for: E-commerce, SaaS with clear pricing
- Example: "Earn 25% of every sale you refer"

**Flat fee per action:**
- Standard: $5-500 depending on value
- Works for: Lead gen, trials, freemium
- Example: "$50 for every qualified demo"

**Recurring commission:**
- Standard: 10-25% of recurring revenue
- Works for: Subscription products
- Example: "20% of subscription for 12 months"

**Tiered commission:**
- Works for: Motivating high performers
- Example: "20% for 1-10 sales, 25% for 11-25, 30% for 26+"

---

## Cookie Duration

How long after click does affiliate get credit?

| Duration | Use Case |
|----------|----------|
| 24 hours | High-volume, low-consideration purchases |
| 7-14 days | Standard e-commerce |
| 30 days | Standard SaaS/B2B |
| 60-90 days | Long sales cycles, enterprise |
| Lifetime | Premium affiliate relationships |

---

## Affiliate Recruitment

### Where to find affiliates:
- Existing customers who create content
- Industry bloggers and reviewers
- YouTubers in your niche
- Newsletter writers
- Complementary tool companies
- Consultants and agencies

### Outreach template:
```
Subject: Partnership opportunity — [Your Product]

Hi [Name],

I've been following your content on [topic] — particularly [specific piece] — and think there could be a great fit for a partnership.

[Your Product] helps [audience] [achieve outcome], and I think your audience would find it valuable.

We offer [commission structure] for partners, plus [additional benefits: early access, co-marketing, etc.].

Would you be open to learning more?

[Your name]
```

---

## Affiliate Enablement

Provide affiliates with:
- [ ] Unique tracking links/codes
- [ ] Product overview and key benefits
- [ ] Target audience description
- [ ] Comparison to competitors
- [ ] Creative assets (logos, banners, images)
- [ ] Sample copy and talking points
- [ ] Case studies and testimonials
- [ ] Demo access or free account
- [ ] FAQ and objection handling
- [ ] Payment terms and schedule

---

## Tools & Platforms

### Referral Program Tools

**Full-featured platforms:**
- ReferralCandy — E-commerce focused
- Ambassador — Enterprise referral programs
- Friendbuy — E-commerce and subscription
- GrowSurf — SaaS and tech companies
- Mention Me — AI-powered referral marketing
- Viral Loops — Template-based campaigns

**Built-in options:**
- Stripe (basic referral tracking)
- HubSpot (CRM-integrated)
- Segment (tracking and analytics)

### Affiliate Program Tools

**Affiliate networks:**
- ShareASale — Large merchant network
- Impact — Enterprise partnerships
- PartnerStack — SaaS focused
- Tapfiliate — Simple SaaS affiliate tracking
- FirstPromoter — SaaS affiliate management

**Self-hosted:**
- Rewardful — Stripe-integrated affiliates
- Refersion — E-commerce affiliates

### Choosing a Tool

Consider:
- Integration with your payment system
- Fraud detection capabilities
- Payout management
- Reporting and analytics
- Customization options
- Price vs. program scale

---

## Fraud Prevention

### Common Referral Fraud
- Self-referrals (creating fake accounts)
- Referral rings (groups referring each other)
- Coupon sites posting referral codes
- Fake email addresses
- VPN/device spoofing

### Prevention Measures

**Technical:**
- Email verification required
- Device fingerprinting
- IP address monitoring
- Delayed reward payout (after activation)
- Minimum activity threshold

**Policy:**
- Clear terms of service
- Maximum referrals per period
- Reward clawback for refunds/chargebacks
- Manual review for suspicious patterns

**Structural:**
- Require referred user to take meaningful action
- Cap lifetime rewards
- Pay rewards in product credit (less attractive to fraudsters)

# Referral Program Examples

Real-world examples of successful referral programs.

## Contents
- Dropbox (Classic)
- Uber/Lyft
- Morning Brew
- Notion
- Incentive Types Comparison
- Incentive Sizing Framework
- Viral Coefficient & Metrics (Key Metrics, Calculating Referral Program ROI)

## Dropbox (Classic)

**Program:** Give 500MB storage, get 500MB storage

**Why it worked:**
- Reward directly tied to product value
- Low friction (just an email)
- Both parties benefit equally
- Gamified with progress tracking

---

## Uber/Lyft

**Program:** Give $10 ride credit, get $10 when they ride

**Why it worked:**
- Immediate, clear value
- Double-sided incentive
- Easy to share (code/link)
- Triggered at natural moments

---

## Morning Brew

**Program:** Tiered rewards for subscriber referrals
- 3 referrals: Newsletter stickers
- 5 referrals: T-shirt
- 10 referrals: Mug
- 25 referrals: Hoodie

**Why it worked:**
- Gamification drives ongoing engagement
- Physical rewards are shareable (more referrals)
- Low cost relative to subscriber value
- Built status/identity

---

## Notion

**Program:** $10 credit per referral (education)

**Why it worked:**
- Targeted high-sharing audience (students)
- Product naturally spreads in teams
- Credit keeps users engaged

---

## Incentive Types Comparison

| Type | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|------|------|------|----------|
| Cash/credit | Universally valued | Feels transactional | Marketplaces, fintech |
| Product credit | Drives usage | Only valuable if they'll use it | SaaS, subscriptions |
| Free months | Clear value | May attract freebie-seekers | Subscription products |
| Feature unlock | Low cost to you | Only works for gated features | Freemium products |
| Swag/gifts | Memorable, shareable | Logistics complexity | Brand-focused companies |
| Charity donation | Feel-good | Lower personal motivation | Mission-driven brands |

---

## Incentive Sizing Framework

**Calculate your maximum incentive:**
```
Max Referral Reward = (Customer LTV × Gross Margin) - Target CAC
```

**Example:**
- LTV: $1,200
- Gross margin: 70%
- Target CAC: $200
- Max reward: ($1,200 × 0.70) - $200 = $640

**Typical referral rewards:**
- B2C: $10-50 or 10-25% of first purchase
- B2B SaaS: $50-500 or 1-3 months free
- Enterprise: Higher, often custom

---

## Viral Coefficient & Metrics

### Key Metrics

**Viral coefficient (K-factor):**
```
K = Invitations × Conversion Rate

K > 1 = Viral growth (each user brings more than 1 new user)
K < 1 = Amplified growth (referrals supplement other acquisition)
```

**Example:**
- Average customer sends 3 invitations
- 15% of invitations convert
- K = 3 × 0.15 = 0.45

**Referral rate:**
```
Referral Rate = (Customers who refer) / (Total customers)
```

Benchmarks:
- Good: 10-25% of customers refer
- Great: 25-50%
- Exceptional: 50%+

**Referrals per referrer:**

Benchmarks:
- Average: 1-2 referrals per referrer
- Good: 2-5
- Exceptional: 5+

### Calculating Referral Program ROI

```
Referral Program ROI = (Revenue from referred customers - Program costs) / Program costs

Program costs = Rewards paid + Tool costs + Management time
```

**Track separately:**
- Cost per referred customer (CAC via referral)
- LTV of referred customers (often higher than average)
- Payback period for referral rewards