8 Examples of Referral Programs for Small Businesses

Referral programs are one of the best and most cost-effective ways to promote your brand and reach a bigger audience. It’s an easy way to make your existing customers spread the word about you and bring their friends and family to your platform.

This is why many small businesses turn to referral marketing. They know the power of word-of-mouth marketing to increase brand awareness, sales, and customer base.

So if you own a small business, it’s time to consider creating a referral program that will make it easier for your customers to refer others and help you grow your customer base and get more sales!

But before we share some of the best examples of referral programs for small businesses, let’s explain a few things about them.

How Successful Are Small Business Referral Programs?

Small business referral programs can be an effective way to generate new business leads and increase revenue. By incentivizing existing customers or clients to refer friends, family, or colleagues to your business, you can tap into a powerful source of potential new customers who are already primed to trust your brand.

When customers refer their friends and family to your business, it can help increase awareness of your brand and what you have to offer. In general, people trust recommendations from their close ones more than online reviews or any other source of information. So referral programs are here to help your customers spread the word about your business and get rewarded for doing so.

In other words, referral marketing can be useful to businesses of all sizes. But since it helps you use your resources wisely while increasing your customer base, it’s perfect if you have a small business.

However, the success of your program will depend on several factors, including the strength of your existing customer base, the appeal of your products or services, and the quality of the incentives you offer for referrals.

How Does a Referral Program Work for Small Businesses?

Referral programs can work very well for small businesses, especially those with loyal customers who are passionate about the products or services offered. The program can help you build better relationships with your customers by making them feel appreciated for helping you out.

If you offer a good reward to them, you’ll give them a reason to stay loyal and continue referring others to your business. At the same time, it’ll help you get new customers who are more likely to stay loyal because of a recommendation they got from a person they trust.

And if they are satisfied with your product or service, they will keep the cycle going and share your program with their own family members or friends.

Just keep in mind that to make a referral program work for your small business, it’s important to offer incentives that are meaningful and relevant to your customers and make it as easy as possible for them to refer others.

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If you’re considering setting up a referral program for your small business, take a look at the following examples to inspire you.

1. Pawns.app

Pawns.app is a free app developed by a trusty brand called IPRoyal. The app can be downloaded and installed on any desktop and mobile device anywhere in the world and used instantly to start making some passive income in your free time. Basically, you have two options to earn some money – by sharing your unused bandwidth with others or completing 2-minute online surveys.

The fact that Pawns.app pays with money, not points, and has a low $5 minimum payout threshold makes it stand out from the competition. This makes it very attractive to anyone who wants to earn some side money easily and quickly.

Pawns.app has a successful referral program for many reasons. First, it offers a $1 reward for anyone who joins the app using a referral link, making it quite attractive from the very start. Second, it offers a 10% lifetime commission per referral’s earnings.

In other words, you get a forever bonus equal to 10% of your active referrals’ payouts, which ensures a lifetime passive income. Third, it provides all the materials and tools you need to succeed. Fourth, it supports instant payouts via PayPal. And five, it uses simple language to explain what you get by joining the program.

• Commission rate – a 10% lifetime commission per referral’s payouts.
• Getting paid – 30 days after your referrals become active Pawns.app users.
• Payment methods – PayPal, banks, crypto, etc.

2. OnePoll

OnePoll is one of the most popular survey platforms that give people a chance to earn a little extra money for their coffee. As long as you reside in the US or UK, you can access the site, register, and start completing surveys. Whenever you complete a survey, the site pays you a cash amount of up to $0.25. Even though reaching the $40 minimum payout threshold can take time, it’s still better than nothing.

The referral program of this brand allows users to increase their earnings by inviting friends and family to join OnePoll. As a member of their program, you can earn a one-time flat commission of $0.50 whenever someone uses your link to register on the survey site.

However, you can also earn a bonus if your referrals earn a specific amount of money on OnePoll. For example, if they earn $20 from completing surveys on the site, you’ll get a $1 bonus. And if they earn $40, which can take a while, you’ll get a $2.50 bonus.

Overall, if your referrals actively use the app, you can earn more than just the flat $0.50 commission per registration. But keep in mind that you can’t refer more than 15 users per month, which can be a flop.

• Commission rate – a flat $0.50 commission per registration and a chance for bonuses.
• Getting paid – after reaching the $40 or £40 minimum payout threshold.
• Payment methods – check only for users from the UK, and PayPal for both UK and US users.

3. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is another platform that lets you earn some passive income by completing everyday online activities, such as taking surveys. Other ways you can earn on the platform include playing games, watching videos, shopping online, and even making Swagbucks your default search engine. The platform pays you in points which can be redeemed for cash via PayPal or gift cards.

Even though you won’t earn a lot by doing these easy online tasks, you can maximize your earnings by joining Swagbucks’ referral program. As a program member, you can share your unique referral link with your friends and family and earn 10% recurring commissions per referral’s earnings.

More precisely, if someone uses your link to sign up on Swagbucks and starts using it, you’ll get 10% of whatever they make for life. So as long as your referrals are active on the platform, you’ll get your commissions. Plus, you can refer as many people as you want, as there’s no maximum limit.

• Commission rate – a 10% recurring commission per referral’s earnings, with a chance for bonuses.
• Getting paid – N/A
• Payment methods – bank transfer and PayPal.

4. Ipsos i-Say

Ipsos i-Say is a well-known survey platform that pays users for taking the time to share their opinions on a variety of topics. You can sign up for free and start taking surveys during commercial breaks or commuting. The platform is available in most countries across Europe and North America.

Even though it doesn’t give you as many survey opportunities as other similar platforms, it’s still a better way to use your free time. Once you complete a survey, Ipsos i-Say will give you points which can then be redeemed for gift cards or cash.

The referral program of this company, also known as the “Refer a Friend” program, helps users increase their earnings by inviting others to their platform. As a member of the program, you can earn 100 points for every friend or family member who uses your link to sign up on Ipsos i-Say.

However, there’s a catch. Your friend must complete at least one survey so you can get your share. And they must be older than 16 and from the UK because the platform only allows referring people from this region. Another downside is that you can only earn from up to five new referrals per month, so don’t invite all of your friends in one month.

• Commission rate – 100 points or $1 per new referral.
• Getting paid – the points are added to your account five days after someone uses your link to join Ipsos i-Say and completes the first survey.
• Payment methods – PayPal.

5. PrizeRebel

PrizeRebel is one of the oldest survey platforms in the world, giving people a chance to make some side money for over 15 years. Completing each survey gives you a certain number of points that can be exchanged for cash or gift cards from Target, Starbucks, Walmart, etc. However, you have to earn at least 200 points to withdraw your earnings.

The PrizeRebel’s referral program allows users to invite friends, family, and anyone else aged 18+ to the platform and increase their earnings. So if you join it, you can share your original link on various social media platforms and get a 15% to 30% commission whenever someone uses it to register on PrizeRebel and complete surveys.

The program has three levels, Bronze, Gold, and Platinum, depending on the number of points you make. If you’re part of the Bronze level, your commission will be 15% per referral’s cash rewards. The Gold level offers a 25% commission, and the Platinum a 30% commission per referral’s earnings. The multi-tier commission structure can be something to consider when creating your referral program.

• Commission rate – 15% to 30% commission per referral’s earnings.
• Getting paid – N/A
• Payment methods – PayPal and bank deposit.

6. Tomlinson Bomberger

Here’s something different. The full-service lawn care, landscape, and pest control contractor known as Tomlinson Bomberger serves people in central Pennsylvania. It’s a well-established company that started small but has grown into a full-service company serving both residential and commercial customers in the region.

The company’s excellent referral program uses great messaging, which shows how much they appreciate their referrals. It uses an enticing call to action that makes people want to join it immediately by telling them they could earn $75 easily.

Basically, everyone you refer to the platform who makes a qualifying purchase on Tomlinson Bomberger will get you a flat $75 commission, which is impressive. Now the question is, what is a qualifying purchase? It’s a landscape, hardscape, or tree pruning/removal project that costs at least $500 or a full 6-step lawn care program or quarterly pest control program.

• Commission rate – a flat $75 commission per qualifying purchase.
• Getting paid – you’ll get a check at the end of the season.
• Payment methods – check.

7. Dave’s Cooling & Heating

Dave’s Cooling & Heating is a little-known HVAC business that offers heating repair, AC repair, furnace repair, air duct cleaning, ductless systems, boiler repair, and other HVAC services to people in Frederick, MD.

This small business has an amazing referral program that focuses on the community. They ask satisfied customers to reward them for a job well done by referring their friends to their business. Not only that they will reward the new customer with a $50 bonus, but they will also give the same reward to the customer that referred the friend.

The referral program uses clear terms that explain how it works so that anyone can understand what they get by joining it. The only downside is the lack of information about the payouts.

• Commission rate – a flat $50 commission per referral.
• Getting paid – N/A
• Payment methods – N/A

8. Bandier

Bandier is a multi-brand activewear and athleisure retailer that offers a curated selection of high-end clothing, shoes, and accessories from various brands, including Adidas by Stella McCartney, P.E Nation, Alo Yoga, and Beyond Yoga, among others.

The brand has a simple referral program that encourages visitors to give their friends a discount on their first order so they can get a bonus. Plus, they can earn additional points for any future purchases made by their referrals. But the way Bandier explains how their program works is very clever.

They put the focus on helping your loved ones get a $25 discount on their first order higher than $100, and who doesn’t want to do that for their friends? It’s a pretty clever tactic to make people refer friends to your site. By doing that, you’ll also get your reward, which is $25 per successful referral.

• Commission rate – a $25 commission per successful referral.
• Getting paid – N/A
• Payment methods – N/A

5 Best Practices for Small Business Referral Programs

Each of these eight referral programs can help you decide what to include and avoid when building your own. Here are five things to keep in mind when creating your small business referral program.

1. Offer incentives

Offer incentives to both the referrer and the referred customer. This can be in the form of discounts, free products, or other rewards that motivate them to refer others to your business.

2. Keep it simple

Keep the referral process simple and easy to understand. Provide clear instructions on how to refer someone, and ensure the process is quick and easy for both the referrer and the referred customer.

3. Use strong and clear CTA

Make sure you use a clear call to action at the top of your referral landing page that will catch your customers’ eyes. Use simple language to invite them to refer and point out the reward they will get by doing so.

4. Make it shareable

Make it easy for your customers to spread the word about you by integrating social sharing into your program. The simpler it is to share it on social media, the more they will do it. Consider adding buttons with customized messages that can be easily shared on the desired platform.

5. Follow up

Follow up with both the referrer and the referred customer after the referral is made. This shows that you value their business and appreciate their referral. It also gives you an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with them.

Conclusion

Referral programs can be a powerful tool for small businesses looking to expand their customer base and increase sales without spending a lot of money on marketing. This is why we strongly recommend that you create your own program if you want to get more customers and more sales in a cost-effective way.

We hope the eight examples of referral programs for small businesses will give you an idea of how a successful referral program should look and inspire you to create your own.

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