| name | referral-program |
| description | Design customer-referral mechanics — reward structure, referral triggers, tracking, viral loop design. Distinct from affiliate program (customer-focused, not commercial partner). |
| signal | {"mode":"linguistic","genre":"referral-program-spec","type":"inform","format":"markdown","structure":"w-referral-program","receiver":"existing customers + operations","receiver_capacity":"medium"} |
| department | partnerships |
| agent_affinity | ["partnerships-head"] |
| required_compartments | {"offer_architecture":50,"lifecycle_optimization":40} |
| upstream_dependency | retention-check |
| execution_mode | interactive |
| tier | structured_ai |
| temperature_gate | warm |
| required_tools | ["file_read","file_write"] |
| required_mcps | ["filesystem"] |
| required_integrations | {"referral_tracking":["referralcandy-api","rewardful-api"],"crm":"gohighlevel-api","email":"convertkit-api"} |
| credentials_required | ["GHL_API_KEY","CONVERTKIT_API_KEY"] |
| evidence_gate | ["reward_structure_specified","triggers_mapped","tracking_wired","viral_loop_designed","signal_score_gte_0_8"] |
| keywords | ["referral","referral program","viral loop","customer referral"] |
| priority | 1 |
| version | 1 |
/referral-program — Customer Referral Mechanics
Structure
W(referral-program) =
1. Reward Structure (who gets what — referrer + referee)
2. Triggers (when ask for referral)
3. Tracking + Attribution
4. Viral Loop Design (k-factor optimization)
5. Communication Cadence
6. Success Metrics
Reward Structure Options
| Pattern | Example |
|---|
| Cash for referrer | $500 per closed referral |
| Credit for both | $500 credit referrer + $500 off referee |
| Service perks | Extra coaching hours / DFY service for referrer |
| Exclusive access | Mastermind seat, retreat invite |
| Hybrid | Cash + perks combo |
For high-ticket: perks > cash (cash feels transactional to premium buyers).
Triggers
- Post first-win — within 7-14 days of milestone hit (highest conversion)
- NPS >= 9 moment — ask in the NPS reply email
- Testimonial capture — pair with referral ask
- Renewal / re-up — "bring a friend" bonus
- Milestone anniversaries — 90-day / 180-day / 365-day
Viral Loop Design (k-factor)
k = (invites sent per user) × (conversion rate on invites)
Target k > 1 = organic growth. Most programs k = 0.1-0.5 (supplements acquisition, not replaces).
Process
Phase 0 — Load
- Offer Doc, Retention output (thriving clients)
- Compartment 10 Lifecycle
Phase 1 — Reward Structure
Per offer tier, select reward pattern.
Phase 2 — Trigger Mapping
Per client journey stage, define when referral ask fires.
Phase 3 — Tracking Wire-up
Referral links, attribution, CRM tagging.
Phase 4 — Communication
Email/SMS asking for referral + providing share-asset.
Phase 5 — Success Metrics
k-factor, referral-driven revenue %, CAC via referral vs paid.
Output Format
# Referral Program — [Creator Brand]
**Reward Pattern:** [cash | credit-both | perks | hybrid]
**Target k-factor:** [0.3+]
**Version:** 1.0
## Reward Structure
- Referrer receives: [...]
- Referee receives: [...]
- Payout trigger: [when referee completes X]
## Triggers
| Trigger | Timing | Communication |
|---|---|---|
| Post first-win | Day 7-14 post-milestone | Email + SMS |
| NPS 9+ | In NPS reply | Email |
| [...] |
## Tracking
- Referral link format: [...]
- Attribution: [last-click / first-click]
- CRM tag: referral_source=[referrer-id]
## Communication Cadence
### Post-first-win email
[copy]
### NPS-9 email follow
[copy]
### Share-assets
- Share link template
- Suggested message for referrer to use
- Landing page for referees
## Success Metrics
- k-factor: [target]
- Referral-driven revenue: [% of total]
- Referral CAC vs paid CAC: [comparison]
Verification Checklist
Next Skills
/email-sequence — referral ask emails/case-study — referrals from Thriving clients pair with case studies
References
- Partnerships department Department
- Lifecycle best practices
v1.0 — 2026-04-19. Cycle 6 Partnerships.
