customer referral programs

Introducing Refer-a-Friend Website Widgets

refer-a-friend computerWe’re excited to announce that we’re making it even easier for businesses to increase referrals! Now, in addition to receiving referrals through the QuickLinkt Smartphone App, businesses can also allow clients to send referrals through their website with Refer-a-Friend Website Widgets. Better yet, we’re making referral software accessible to the masses by offering Refer-a-Friend Widgets for free. 

Businesses can add QuickLinkt referrals to their site by adding a Refer-a-Friend page or a Refer-a-Friend slider. Whether the business has a WordPress or custom site, the technology can be added in under 5 minutes without any coding. All referrals are tracked through the QuickLinkt Web Manager, and businesses can update or change referral incentives at any time.

With these new features, any business can use QuickLinkt to power its referral program for free. While similar services offer Referral Website Widgets with monthly subscription fees or charge per lead, we wanted to offer a digital referral solution that would be accessible to any small business or agent. Businesses can visit quicklinkt.com/getstarted to create their widget and start their referral program without entering any credit card information.

Business that are already running referral programs using QuickLinkt mobile referrals can also use these features at no additional cost. By logging into the Web-Managemet System, you can access your Refer-a-Friend Widget and Slider under the Settings menu. You can also find detailed instructions on adding referrals to your website in our Help Desk.

By increasing the number of ways businesses can receive referrals, we’re making easier for customers to share their favorite businesses and for businesses to increase leads. If you’d like to learn more about our new Refer-a-Friend Website Widgets or starting your free referral program, visit quicklinkt.com/getstarted or feel free to email us at hello@quicklinkt.com.

Awesome Referral Programs: Airbnb

Airbnb is a unique online marketplace that allows people to list, find and book accommodations around the globe. Anyone can list their condo, house, cabin or even castle on the site and receive bookings from travelers wanting a unique, local experience. Like any business, word-of-mouth is a powerful source of growth for Airbnb: travelers share their awesome holidays with friends and family, and people who list their space attest to the safety, ease and practicality of Airbnb.

 

Despite so much growth coming from referrals, the company’s Jason Bosinoff described Airbnb’s official referral program as outdated and underutilized. Information on the referral program was hidden on the company’s website and users couldn’t make referrals from the mobile app. The referral program needed a revamp.

So, Airbnb went to work building its program. It ended up seeing an increase in signups by 300% per day. Looking at these incredible results, there’s some clear takeaways that any business should keep in mind when designing referral programs.

 

1. Incentivize

If you want to increase the number of referrals AND the number of referrals that result in new business, it’s best to create 2-way referral incentives. With Airbnb, the incentive was simple – refer a friend and you’ll both get a $25 travel credit when they book their first trip. The 2-way incentive is perfect because it encourages both new customers to try your business, and increases loyalty from your current customer base.

2. Make it Accessible

One of the main learnings from Airbnb is that it needs to be easy for your customers to make referrals. The company made its referral program far more visible on its website and launched mobile referrals from its iOS and Android app. Allowing customers to submit referrals from their Smartphone allowed for in-the-moment referrals, and ensured that users would never miss an opportunity to invite their friends to use Airbnb. 

3. Track, Track, Track

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Before re-designing and launching its new referral program, Airbnb developed clear success metrics and then measured and improved them once the program was launched. Its metrics included:

  • Monthly Active Users Sending Invites
  • Invitees per Inviter
  • Conversion Rate to New User
  • Conversion Rate to New Guest
  • Conversion Rate to New Host

No matter how you structure your referral program, decide how you determine success and make measurement part of the process to improve success.

 

There you have it! Basic principles learned from Airbnb’s referral program. So whether you’re a realtor, freelance photographer, crossfit coach… you name it, you can start your referral program by following this advice.

 

Sources:

http://nerds.airbnb.com/making-referrals-work-for-airbnb/

https://www.airbnb.ca/about/about-us