Four essential tactics - with real world examples - that the best customer referral programs use.

1. 4 of the Best
Referral Program Examples
See how top brands
drive customer referrals
By Tony Mariotti
@tonymariotti

2. move the needle.
There are quite a few
referral marketing tactics
but four of them really

3. who are killing it.
Here are the four best tactics
and real world examples
used by top brands

4. 1 Make Referral Programs
Easy to Find

5. a Call to action placed throughout your site in the header,
including your homepage. (Not buried in your footer.)
Make Referral Programs
Easy to Find
1

6. a Call to action placed throughout your site in the header,
including your homepage. (Not buried in your footer.)
b
1
Placement at the top, leftmost area of web pages is best.
Make Referral Programs
Easy to Find

7. a Call to action placed throughout your site in the header,
including your homepage. (Not buried in your footer.)
b
c Not hidden behind a login.
1
Placement at the top, leftmost area of web pages is best.
Make Referral Programs
Easy to Find

8. a Call to action placed throughout your site in the header,
including your homepage. (Not buried in your footer.)
b Placement at the top, leftmost area of web pages is best.
c Not hidden behind a login.
d Use color to attract attention.
1 Make Referral Programs
Easy to Find

9. Example: Prize Candle

10. and you ask for the referral.
People are happy to share
and refer friends to your business
if your messaging is clear

11. and see what happens.
A good call to action is easy;
just place a verb in front of
“what’s in it for them”

12. Verb
+
What’s in it for me
=
Call to action
Remember this:

13. 2 Use a Clear and Concise
Call to Action

14. a Let sharers know, “What’s in it for me.”
Use Clear and Concise CTAs2

15. a Let sharers know, “What’s in it for me.”
b Let sharers know what their friend gets, too.
Use Clear and Concise CTAs2

16. a Let sharers know, “What’s in it for me.”
b Let sharers know what their friend gets, too.
c Make it crisp and short – avoid being too wordy.
Use Clear and Concise CTAs2

17. a Let sharers know, “What’s in it for me.”
b Let sharers know what their friend gets, too.
c Make it crisp and short – avoid being too wordy.
d Make an offer they can’t refuse.
Use Clear and Concise CTAs2

18. Example: Republic Wireless

19. to your whole list.
The fastest way to promote
your referral program is to
send a dedicated email blast

20. a Send periodic, dedicated email blasts to your list.
Take Advantage of Email3

21. a Send periodic, dedicated email blasts to your list.
b Reduce clutter: Use one – and only one – call to action.
Take Advantage of Email3

22. a Send periodic, dedicated email blasts to your list.
b Reduce clutter: Use one – and only one – call to action.
c Place links to your referral page in transactional emails.
Take Advantage of Email3

23. a Send periodic, dedicated email blasts to your list.
b Reduce clutter: Use one – and only one – call to action.
c Place links to your referral page in transactional emails.
d Place links to your referral page in newsletters, too.
Take Advantage of Email3

24. Example: Pura Vida Bracelets

25. increase performance.
Once you’re up and running,
now it’s time to optimize
to find out what will

26. a Modify (A|B test) offers, copy, images and shared
content.
Always be Testing (A|B)4

27. a Modify (A|B test) offers, copy, images and shared
content.
b Measure and test sharing rates and referral conversions.
Always be Testing (A|B)4

28. a Modify (A|B test) offers, copy, images and shared
content.
b Measure and test sharing rates and referral conversions.
c Take advantage of seasonal or trending events.
Always be Testing (A|B)4

29. Example: Naturebox

30. Thanks!
For more tips and examples, visit us:
Tony Mariotti
@tonymariotti
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