| name | referral-mechanics |
| description | Build sharing into the product without it feeling forced. Viral loops, invite flows, referral incentives, and the moments where asking users to share feels natural. Use when building invite systems or when organic growth needs structure. |
Referral Mechanics
Build sharing into the product without it feeling forced.
How to use
/referral-mechanics Apply referral constraints to this conversation.
Constraints
Timing
- MUST ask for referrals at moments of peak value (after a win, not before)
- NEVER ask for a referral before the user has experienced core value
- SHOULD identify the natural "sharing moments" in the product flow
- NEVER interrupt a task flow with a referral prompt
Incentive Structure
- Two-sided rewards beat one-sided (both referrer and referred get value)
- MUST make the incentive relevant to the product (credits > cash > swag)
- SHOULD make the reward immediate, not delayed
- NEVER create incentives that reward volume over quality
- MUST set clear terms and honor them consistently
Mechanics
- Share link must be short, clean, and preview well on social
- MUST show the referrer their impact (how many people signed up through them)
- SHOULD pre-write the share message but let users customize it
- NEVER auto-post to social media without explicit user action
- MUST make invite flows work across all channels (email, link, messaging apps)
Anti-Patterns
- Aggressive pop-ups asking for referrals
- Requiring invites to access features (hostage mechanics)
- Referral programs with confusing or changing rules
- Gamifying referrals to the point where users spam their contacts
- Not tracking or attributing referrals properly
