ReferralCandy: Turn Customers into Brand Ambassadors

An effective referral program can turn your happy customers into powerful brand ambassadors.

With ReferralCandy, you can set up an automated system that rewards your customers for referrals, driving organic business growth.

In this step-by-step guide, learn how to:

• Set up your ReferralCandy account in a few clicks 🖱️
• Integrate the program into your existing e-commerce site 🛒
• Personalize your rewards to maximize engagement 🎁

Ready to harness the power of word-of-mouth? Let's go!

Step by Step: Start Your Referral Program with ReferralCandy

1. Create your ReferralCandy account

To get started with ReferralCandy, you first need to create an account. It takes a few seconds, but it's essential:

1. Go to the ReferralCandy registration page
2. Fill out the form with your information:
   • Firstname
   • Name
   • Professional email address
   • Phone number
3. Click on “Create an account” to finalize your registration

Pro tip: Use a professional email address when registering. Not only will this give you access to better quality support, but it will also strengthen your credibility with the ReferralCandy team.

Once your account is created, you can move on to setting up your referral program initially.

2. Configure basic settings

After registering, ReferralCandy will guide you through the essential setup steps:

1. Follow the setup wizard that appears the first time you log in
2. Note the unique tracking code and the dedicated email address that will be given to you
3. Choose your base options, rewards currency, and program language

The tracking code you get is the core of your program. Keep it well, you'll need it for the next step.

These basic parameters are the foundation of your program. Take the time to set them up properly before moving on to technical integration.

3. Integrate the tracking code on your site

Integrating the tracking code is an essential technical step for the proper functioning of your program:

1. Carefully copy the tracking code provided by ReferralCandy
2. Paste this code on the purchase confirmation page of your e-commerce site
3. Make a test purchase to verify that the integration works well

Proper code placement is required for ReferralCandy to track and assign recommendations. If you are not comfortable with this step, do not hesitate to contact a web developer.

Once the code has been integrated and tested, you can move on to setting up sales tracking that allows rewards to be awarded accurately.

4. Set up sales tracking

To ensure that each recommendation is properly attributed and rewarded:

1. Set up your e-commerce to automatically send billing emails to the address provided by ReferralCandy
2. If this option is not available on your platform, explore the developer integration options offered by ReferralCandy

This step is essential for the proper functioning of your program. It allows ReferralCandy to accurately track sales from referrals and assign rewards accordingly.

Now that sales tracking is in place, you can define who can participate in your referral program.

5. Define your target audience

Targeting the right audience is essential to maximizing the effectiveness of your program:

1. In your ReferralCandy dashboard, go to the “Segments” section
2. Create a new segment or select an existing one for your campaign
3. Activate the automatic enrollment of customers corresponding to this segment

Strategic advice: Precisely targeting your audience can significantly increase the participation rate and overall effectiveness of your program. Think carefully about the characteristics of your customers who are most likely to recommend your brand.

Now that your audience is defined, it's time to create rewards that will motivate your customers to participate.

6. Create your rewards structure

The key to a successful referral program is attractive, well-structured rewards:

1. Define rewards:
   • For referrers (customers who recommend)
   • For referrals (new customers)
2. Choose from:
   • Discount coupons
   • Cash rewards
   • Personalized gifts
3. Customize the look and feel of your program:
   • Upload your logo
   • Add an attractive banner
   • Adapt the colors to your graphic charter

Expert tip: Feel free to test different reward structures over time. What works for one business doesn't work for another. The essential thing is to find the formula that best resonates with your target audience.

With your rewards in place, you're ready to officially launch your program and reap the benefits.

7. Launch and optimize your campaign

Launching your program is just the beginning. To ensure long-term success, you need to constantly monitor and optimize:

1. Officially launch your referral program
2. Monitor its effectiveness via the ReferralCandy dashboard:
   • Number of recommendations
   • Conversion rate
   • Program ROI
3. Adjust your campaign settings regularly:
   • Change rewards as needed
   • Refine your targeting
   • Optimize your communications

Key point for success: Analysis and optimization are essential. A referral program is never “over” - it's constantly evolving to adapt to the changing needs of your business and customers.

Examples of Referral Programs

To help you design your own referral program, here are some examples of brands that have successfully created innovative and effective referral systems:

1. Canva: Reward with Premium Items

Program : Refer a friend and get credit for Canva Premium items.

Why does it work :

• Boosts engagement by offering access to paid features
• Encourages free users to discover the value of Premium membership
• The sponsorship widget appears after exporting a design, capitalizing on immediate user satisfaction

2. Dropbox: Exponential growth thanks to free storage

Program : Gain an additional 500 MB of space for each referred friend, up to 16 GB.

Why does it work :

• Reward with an app-specific “currency”, reinforcing engagement
• Enabled a growth of 3900% in just 15 months
• Create a positive feedback loop: more space = more use = more sponsorships

3. Airtable: Paid plan credit

Program : Receive $10 credit for a paid Airtable plan by referring a friend.

Why does it work :

• Encourages free users to try premium features
• Create a virtuous cycle: more sponsorships = more credits = more premium use

4. Todoist: Reward based on conversion

Program : Get 2 free months of Todoist Pro when your friend upgrades to the paid version.

Why does it work :

• Motivates users to really convince their friends of the value of the product
• Each new conversion reinforces the recommendation cycle.

5. Trello: Easy discovery of the premium experience

Program : Earn a free month of Trello Gold by referring a friend.

Why does it work :

• Offers an overview of premium features, encouraging conversion
• Simplified award process, increasing chances of participation

6. Jobber: Reward Customization

Program : Users get a free month, non-users get a $50 gift card.

Why does it work :

• Rewards adapted to the status of the user (customer or not)
• Reinforces the idea of community rather than competition between small businesses

These examples demonstrate the diversity and effectiveness of referral programs in the SaaS sector. By analyzing these success stories, you can identify what could work for your own business.

Remember that the secret to a successful referral program lies in its ability to provide value to both sponsors and referees, while aligning with your business growth goals.

FAQs

How long does it take to see the first results of a referral program?

The first results may be visible as early as the first month, but it generally takes 3 to 6 months to see a significant impact.

Can I integrate ReferralCandy into my existing e-commerce platform?

Yes, ReferralCandy integrates with most major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.

Is it possible to completely customize the look and feel of the referral program?

ReferralCandy offers a good level of customization, but for total customization, you might need web development skills.

How can I encourage my customers to participate actively in the referral program?

Communicate about your program regularly, highlight the successes of other customers, and ensure that the referral process is simple and intuitive.

Conclusion

By following this step-by-step guide, you now have all the tools in hand to launch a powerful referral program with ReferralCandy. This strategy allows you to transform your satisfied customers into true brand ambassadors, thus stimulating organic and sustainable growth.

Remember that the success of a referral program is based on a balance between engaging rewards and a smooth user experience. Continue to test, analyze, and adjust your program to maximize its impact.

So, ready to increase the power of your word-of-mouth marketing? Start your referral program today and watch your business grow faster!