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Referral Program

  • 80 installs
  • 451 repo stars
  • Updated July 21, 2026
  • borghei/claude-skills

Referral Program is a Claude skill for designing referral and affiliate programs, covering the 4-stage referral loop, incentive design, trigger moments and viral-coefficient modeling.

About

Referral Program is a framework for designing referral and affiliate programs covering the 4-stage referral loop, incentive design, trigger-moment optimization, share mechanics, viral-coefficient modeling and an optimization playbook. A founder or growth owner uses it to launch a refer-a-friend or affiliate flow, or to fix a stalled program with a low K-factor. It includes a referral-vs-affiliate decision rule and high-signal trigger moments.

  • 4-stage referral loop: trigger, share, referred-user conversion, reward
  • Incentive design sized against CAC, margin and LTV
  • Viral coefficient (K-factor) modeling and affiliate program architecture

Referral Program by the numbers

  • 80 all-time installs (skills.sh)
  • Ranked #472 of 853 Sales & Marketing skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
  • Data as of Aug 5, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
At a glance

referral-program capabilities & compatibility

Capabilities
pricing strategy · popup cro · lifecycle marketing
Use cases
marketing
Pricing
Free
From the docs

What referral-program says it does

Referral and affiliate program design covering referral loop architecture, incentive design, trigger moment optimization, viral coefficient modeling,
SKILL.md
If your customers are enthusiastic and social, start with customer referrals. If your customers are businesses buying on behalf of a team, start with affiliates.
SKILL.md
[Trigger Moment] → [Share Action] → [Referred User Converts] → [Reward Delivered] → Loop
SKILL.md
npx skills add https://github.com/borghei/claude-skills --skill referral-program

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Installs80
repo stars451
Last updatedJuly 21, 2026
Repositoryborghei/claude-skills

What it does

Design a referral or affiliate program with the right incentives, trigger moments, share mechanics and viral-coefficient modeling.

Who is it for?

Designing or fixing a referral or affiliate program to drive word-of-mouth acquisition.

Skip if: Pricing tier design (use pricing-strategy) or on-site popup CRO.

When should I use this skill?

Designing a referral program, launching an affiliate program, or reviving a stalled viral loop.

What you get

A referral or affiliate program with the right incentives, trigger moments and a modeled viral coefficient.

  • referral loop design
  • incentive structure
  • viral coefficient model

By the numbers

  • 4-stage referral loop
  • reward typically < 30% of first payment for customer referrals

Files

SKILL.mdMarkdownGitHub ↗

Referral Program

Production-grade referral and affiliate program framework covering the 4-stage referral loop, incentive design methodology, trigger moment optimization, share mechanics, viral coefficient modeling, affiliate program architecture, and systematic optimization playbook. Designed to build programs that compound, not collect dust.

Use when

  • The user asks to "design a referral program", "launch an affiliate program", or "improve viral growth"
  • The decision between customer referral vs affiliate program needs to be made
  • An existing referral program has stalled (K-factor <1, low share rate, low referred-user conversion)
  • Reward structure needs sizing against CAC, margin, or LTV
  • Trigger moments need to be identified (when to ask, which in-product events, which lifecycle emails)
  • The user says "word-of-mouth isn't working" or "we want to add a refer-a-friend flow"

---

Table of Contents

---

Referral vs Affiliate Decision

FactorCustomer ReferralAffiliate Program
Who promotesYour existing customersExternal partners, bloggers, influencers
MotivationLoyalty, reward, social currencyCommission, audience monetization
Best forB2C, prosumer, SMB SaaSB2B SaaS, high LTV, content-heavy niches
ActivationTriggered by product satisfactionRecruited and onboarded proactively
PayoutAccount credit, discount, or cash rewardRevenue share or flat fee per conversion
CAC impactLow -- reward is typically < 30% of first paymentVariable -- commission determines economics
ScaleScales with active user baseScales with partner recruitment

Decision rule: If your customers are enthusiastic and social, start with customer referrals. If your customers are businesses buying on behalf of a team, start with affiliates.

---

The 4-Stage Referral Loop

Every referral program runs on this loop. If any stage is weak, the entire program underperforms. Work the stages in order — a broken Stage 1 (trigger) can't be fixed by better rewards at Stage 4.

[Trigger Moment] → [Share Action] → [Referred User Converts] → [Reward Delivered] → Loop
  • Validate Stage 1: trigger fires on a real satisfaction event, not at signup or in a generic monthly email
  • Validate Stage 2: share friction is <3 taps/clicks and pre-filled copy is channel-specific
  • Validate Stage 3: referred user lands on a referral-specific page, not the generic homepage
  • Validate Stage 4: reward delivery is automatic and notified (manual reward ops kill the loop)

Stage 1: Trigger Moment

When you ask customers to refer. Timing is everything.

High-signal trigger moments:

TriggerWhy It WorksWhen to Fire
After aha momentUser just experienced core value, highest satisfactionAfter activation event
After milestoneCelebrates achievement, creates social sharing impulse"You just saved your 100th hour"
After great supportGratitude creates sharing impulsePost-resolution, NPS 9-10
After renewal/upgradeCommitment signal, satisfied customerDay of renewal
After public winCustomer tweets about you or posts a case studyWithin 24 hours
After team growthNew team members = new potential referrersAfter Nth team member joins

What does NOT work:

  • Asking at signup (no value experienced yet)
  • Asking in every email footer (becomes invisible)
  • Asking during onboarding (too early, too distracted)
  • Generic monthly "refer a friend" email (no trigger, no urgency)

Stage 2: Share Action

Remove every point of friction between wanting to share and actually sharing.

Required share mechanics:

  • Personal referral link (unique per user, trackable)
  • Pre-filled share message (editable, not locked)
  • Multiple share channels: email invite, link copy, social share
  • For B2B: Slack/Teams share option
  • One-click send on mobile (native share sheet)

Share message rules:

  • Written in first person (sounds like it is from a friend, not marketing)
  • Includes the specific benefit the referrer experienced
  • Short (2-3 sentences max)
  • Includes the referral link with clear CTA

Stage 3: Referred User Converts

The referred user lands on your product. Their experience must:

  • Show personalization: "Your friend [Name] invited you"
  • Display the incentive clearly above the fold
  • Reduce signup friction (pre-fill email if available, offer SSO)
  • Track attribution from landing through conversion (multi-session)

Stage 4: Reward Delivered

The reward must be fast and clear. Delayed rewards break the loop.

ActionImplementation
Immediate confirmation"Your friend just signed up! Here's your reward"
In-product visibilityDashboard: "2 friends joined -- you've earned $40"
Email notificationInstant notification when referral converts
Easy redemptionAuto-applied credit or one-click claim

---

Incentive Design

Single-Sided vs Double-Sided

TypeWhen to UseCostConversion Impact
Single-sided (referrer only)Strong viral hooks, enthusiastic usersLowerModerate
Double-sided (both get rewarded)Need to overcome inertia on both sidesHigherHigher

Decision rule: If referral rate < 1%, go double-sided. If > 5%, single-sided is more profitable.

Reward Types

TypeBest ForExamplesSizing Guideline
Account creditSaaS, subscription"$20 credit toward your bill"10-20% of monthly plan
DiscountE-commerce, usage-based"1 month free"1 month or 15-25% of annual
CashHigh LTV, B2C"$50 for each referral"< 30% of first payment
Feature unlockFreemium products"Unlock advanced analytics"Feature value > cost
Status/recognitionCommunity products"Ambassador badge"Zero cost, high perceived value
Charity donationEnterprise, mission-driven"$25 to a cause you choose"Similar to cash amount

Tiered Rewards (Gamification)

For referrers who go beyond 1 referral:

TierRewardDesign Rule
1 referral$20 creditEasy to reach, immediate gratification
3 referrals$75 credit + bonus featureMeaningful step-up, not just 3x
10 referrals$300 cash + ambassador statusSignificant reward, social recognition

Rules:

  • Maximum 3 tiers (more is confusing)
  • Each tier should feel meaningfully better, not just marginally
  • Show progress toward next tier in the dashboard

Reward Economics

Maximum reward per referral = LTV x Target referral CAC ratio

Example:
  Average LTV: $2,000
  Target referral CAC: 15% of LTV
  Maximum reward: $300

  If double-sided:
    Referrer reward: $150
    Referred reward: $150 (or equivalent credit/discount)

---

Trigger Moment Architecture

In-Product Trigger Points

LocationTrigger TypeCopy Example
Dashboard widgetPersistent, low-key"Know someone who'd love [Product]? Give $20, get $20"
Post-milestone modalCelebration moment"You just hit 1,000 contacts! Share [Product] with a colleague?"
Settings/account pageAlways available"Referral Program: Earn $20 for every friend who joins"
Success stateAfter positive outcome"Great results! Know someone who'd find this useful?"
Team invite flowNatural sharing moment"Or invite them via referral link and you both get $20"

Email Trigger Points

TriggerEmail ContentTiming
Post-activation (first value delivered)"Loving [Product]? Share it and earn rewards"3-5 days after activation
Post-NPS (score 9-10)"Glad you love us! Here's an easy way to share"Immediately after NPS
Post-renewal"Thanks for staying with us! Share the love"Day of renewal
Monthly digest"Your referral status: [N] referrals, $[X] earned"Monthly

---

Share Mechanics

Share Channel Priority

ChannelB2C PriorityB2B PriorityImplementation
Email inviteHighHighestPre-filled email with referral link
Copy linkHighHighOne-click copy with confirmation
Twitter/XHighMediumPre-filled tweet with referral link
LinkedInLowHighPre-filled post with referral link
WhatsAppHighLowDeep link to WhatsApp with message
Slack/TeamsLowHighIntegration or copyable message
SMSMedium (mobile)LowPre-filled text message

Share Message Templates

Email (B2B):

Subject: I think you'd like [Product]

Hey [Name],

I've been using [Product] for [task/workflow] and it's saved me [specific benefit].
Thought you might find it useful too.

Here's my referral link -- you'll get [referred benefit] when you sign up:
[Referral Link]

[Referrer Name]

Social (B2C):

Been using [Product] for [timeframe] and I'm genuinely impressed.
[Specific thing I love about it].

If you want to try it, use my link and we both get [reward]:
[Referral Link]

---

Referred User Experience

Referral Landing Page

┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  [Referrer Name] invited you to          │
│  [Product]                               │
│                                          │
│  [Referrer's photo if available]         │
│                                          │
│  Your reward: [Incentive details]        │
│                                          │
│  [Sign Up and Claim Your Reward]         │
│                                          │
│  What [Product] does:                    │
│  - Benefit 1                            │
│  - Benefit 2                            │
│  - Benefit 3                            │
│                                          │
│  "Quote from a customer"                │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘

Attribution Rules

ScenarioAttribution
User clicks link and signs up same sessionAttributed to referrer
User clicks link, returns 3 days later, signs upAttributed (30-day cookie)
User clicks link but signs up via Google searchAttributed if within cookie window
User receives two referral links from different peopleFirst click wins (or last click -- choose one rule)
Referred user was already a lead in CRMExclude from referral program

---

Viral Coefficient Modeling

K-Factor Calculation

K = i x c

i = average invitations sent per user
c = conversion rate of invitations

Example:
  Average user sends 3 invitations
  15% of those invitations convert
  K = 3 x 0.15 = 0.45

K > 1.0 = viral growth (rare outside social products)
K = 0.3-0.7 = strong referral contribution
K < 0.1 = referral program needs work

Improving K-Factor

LeverCurrentTargetAction
Increase i (invitations sent)Low awarenessMore users see the programImprove trigger moments and visibility
Increase i (invitations sent)Users see it but do not shareMake sharing easierImprove share mechanics, better messaging
Increase c (conversion rate)Users share but invites do not convertImprove referred landing pagePersonalize, add incentive, reduce friction

---

Affiliate Program Framework

Program Structure

ElementRecommendation
Commission model20-30% recurring for SaaS, or flat fee per conversion
Cookie window30 days minimum, 90 days for B2B
Payment termsMonthly, $50 minimum threshold
Payment methodPayPal, wire transfer, or affiliate platform payout
Tracking platformPartnerStack, Impact, Rewardful, or custom

Affiliate Tier System

TierCriteriaCommissionBenefits
StandardDefault20% recurringBasic assets, self-serve
Silver10+ conversions25% recurringPriority support, custom assets
Gold25+ conversions30% recurringDedicated manager, co-marketing
StrategicCustom agreementCustomCustom terms, revenue share

Affiliate Toolkit

Every affiliate needs:

  • [ ] Unique tracking link
  • [ ] Pre-written email copy (3 variants)
  • [ ] Social media copy (Twitter, LinkedIn)
  • [ ] Banner ads (3 sizes minimum)
  • [ ] Product description sheet (features, benefits, pricing)
  • [ ] Comparison table (vs competitors)
  • [ ] Landing page optimized for affiliate traffic

Affiliate Recruitment

SourceApproachVolume
Existing customers (top advocates)Personal outreach10-20 initial
Complementary SaaS companiesPartnership pitch5-10
Industry bloggers/creatorsOutreach with product demo10-20
Newsletter curatorsSponsorship conversion to affiliate5-10
Review sitesListing with affiliate linkOngoing

Recruitment rule: Personalized outreach only. Generic "join our affiliate program" emails convert at < 1%.

---

Optimization Playbook

Diagnose Before Optimizing

MetricBenchmarkIf BelowFix
Program awareness> 40% of active users know it existsPromote in-app, post-activation emails, dashboard widget
Active referrers5-15% of active usersImprove trigger moments, timing, and incentive
Share rate20-40% of those who see the promptSimplify share flow, improve message copy
Referred conversion rate15-25%Improve referral landing page, add incentive
Reward redemption> 70% within 30 daysReduce redemption friction, send reminders

Optimization Priority

1. Fix awareness first -- If users do not know the program exists, nothing else matters 2. Fix the share flow -- If users know but do not share, the friction is too high 3. Fix the referred experience -- If users share but referrals do not convert, the landing page fails 4. Optimize the incentive -- Only change the reward after the mechanics work

---

Metrics and Benchmarks

Key Metrics

MetricFormulaTarget
Referral rateReferrals sent / Active users5-15%
Active referrers %Users who sent 1+ referral / Active users5-15%
Referral conversion rateReferred signups / Referrals sent15-25%
Referral CACTotal reward cost / Referral-acquired customers< 50% of other CAC
Referral revenue %Revenue from referred customers / Total revenue10-25%
K-factorInvitations per user x Conversion rate0.3-0.7
Referred customer LTVLTV of referred vs non-referredReferred should be higher

Revenue Impact Model

Monthly referral revenue = Active users x Referral rate x Conversion rate x ACV / 12

Example:
  10,000 active users x 10% referral rate x 20% conversion rate x $600 ACV / 12
  = $10,000/month in new referral-driven MRR

  Annual impact: $120,000 in new ARR
  Reward cost (at $50/referral): 200 referrals x $50 = $10,000
  ROI: 12x return on reward investment

---

Program Copy Templates

In-App Prompt

Know someone who'd love [Product]?

Give [reward], Get [reward]

Share your unique link and you'll both get [reward] when they sign up.

[Share Now]  [Learn More]

Referral Dashboard

Your Referral Stats

Referrals Sent: [N]
Friends Joined: [N]
Rewards Earned: $[X]

[Share Your Link]

Your link: [referral-url]  [Copy]

Progress to next reward:
[Progress bar: 2 of 3 referrals for Silver tier]

Referral Email (Post-Activation)

Subject: Share [Product] and earn [reward]

Hi [Name],

Glad you're enjoying [Product]!

Share your personal referral link with colleagues, and you'll both get [reward]:

[Referral Link]

So far, you've earned $[X] from [N] referrals.

[Share Now]

---

Output Artifacts

ArtifactFormatDescription
Referral Program DesignFull specLoop design, incentive structure, trigger moments, share mechanics
Incentive ROI ModelRevenue calculationReward sizing against LTV/CAC with multiple scenarios
Program Copy SetComplete copyIn-app prompts, emails, share messages, landing page
Affiliate Program SpecStructure + toolkitCommission model, tiers, recruitment list, partner assets
K-Factor ModelCalculation + improvement planCurrent K, target K, lever-by-lever improvement plan
Optimization AuditMetric scorecardCurrent metrics vs benchmarks with prioritized fixes
Dashboard SpecificationUI designReferral stats, link sharing, progress tracking

---

Tool Reference

1. referral_economics_calculator.py

Calculates referral program economics including reward sizing, K-factor, referral CAC, ROI projections, and break-even analysis. Models double-sided vs single-sided reward structures.

python scripts/referral_economics_calculator.py program.json --format text
python scripts/referral_economics_calculator.py program.json --format json
FlagTypeDescription
program.jsonpositionalPath to JSON file with program economics data
--formatoptionalOutput format: text (default) or json

2. referral_funnel_analyzer.py

Analyzes the 4-stage referral loop (trigger, share, convert, reward) with stage-over-stage conversion, identifies the weakest stage, and provides prioritized improvement recommendations.

python scripts/referral_funnel_analyzer.py funnel.json --format text
python scripts/referral_funnel_analyzer.py funnel.json --format json
FlagTypeDescription
funnel.jsonpositionalPath to JSON file with referral funnel metrics
--formatoptionalOutput format: text (default) or json

3. affiliate_commission_modeler.py

Models affiliate program commission structures across tier levels. Calculates per-tier economics, lifetime partner value, and compares commission models (flat fee vs recurring percentage).

python scripts/affiliate_commission_modeler.py affiliate.json --format text
python scripts/affiliate_commission_modeler.py affiliate.json --format json
FlagTypeDescription
affiliate.jsonpositionalPath to JSON file with affiliate program data
--formatoptionalOutput format: text (default) or json

---

Troubleshooting

ProblemLikely CauseResolution
Program awareness below 40% of active usersReferral program is buried in settings or only mentioned in email footersAdd persistent dashboard widget, post-activation prompt, and post-NPS trigger; desktop sharing now outperforms mobile (2026 data)
Users see prompt but share rate is below 20%Share flow has too much friction or pre-filled message is not compellingAdd one-click copy link, native share sheet on mobile, pre-filled first-person message; ensure multiple channels (email, Slack, social)
Referrals sent but conversion rate below 15%Referral landing page lacks personalization or incentive is not prominentAdd referrer name/photo, display incentive above fold, reduce signup friction; mobile-referred users convert 2-3x (2026 data)
K-factor below 0.1Fundamental program design issue -- either low awareness, high friction, or weak incentiveDiagnose in sequence: fix awareness first, then share flow, then landing page, then incentive (optimize mechanics before rewards)
Reward redemption below 70%Reward delivery is delayed or redemption process is complicatedAuto-apply credits immediately, send instant notification, make redemption one-click; show running total in dashboard
Referred customers churn faster than organicReferral incentive attracts low-intent users or onboarding for referred users is inadequateShift from cash/discount rewards to product-value rewards (feature unlock, extended trial); add referred-user onboarding path
Affiliate partners not producing conversionsPartners lack proper toolkit or audience mismatchProvide pre-written copy, banner assets, comparison tables, and dedicated landing pages; audit partner audience fit

---

Success Criteria

  • K-factor reaches 0.3-0.7 range within 90 days of program launch (strong referral contribution without requiring virality)
  • Referral CAC is below 50% of other acquisition channel CAC
  • Active referrer percentage reaches 5-15% of active users
  • Referral-sourced revenue contributes 10-25% of total new revenue within 6 months
  • Referred customer LTV exceeds non-referred customer LTV (typical: 16-25% higher per industry data)
  • Reward redemption rate exceeds 70% within 30 days of earning
  • Double-sided program achieves 2x+ conversion rate compared to single-sided (validate within first 1,000 referrals)

---

Scope & Limitations

In scope: Customer referral program design (4-stage loop), incentive structure (single-sided, double-sided, tiered), trigger moment architecture, share mechanics, referral landing page specifications, viral coefficient modeling, affiliate program framework (commission models, tier systems, recruitment), and systematic optimization playbook.

Out of scope: Referral landing page visual design and CRO (use page-cro), signup flow optimization for referred users (use signup-flow-cro), post-signup onboarding for referred users (use onboarding-cro), churn prevention for referred customers (use churn-prevention), and reward pricing alignment (use pricing-strategy). Scripts operate on local data only -- no integrations with referral platforms (ReferralHero, Viral Loops, PartnerStack, etc.).

Limitations: K-factor benchmarks assume consumer or prosumer SaaS; B2B enterprise referral programs have different dynamics (lower K but higher per-referral value). Affiliate commission benchmarks (20-30% recurring) are SaaS-specific; marketplace and e-commerce commissions follow different models. Attribution windows (30-90 day cookies) face increasing limitations from browser privacy features (Safari ITP, Chrome third-party cookie deprecation). Revenue projections are estimates based on provided conversion rates.

---

Integration Points

  • pricing-strategy -- Referral reward sizing must align with pricing margins and LTV; reward should be <30% of first payment
  • signup-flow-cro -- Referred user signup flow should pre-fill email, show referrer context, and minimize friction
  • onboarding-cro -- Referred users may need different onboarding path (they arrive with context from the referrer)
  • churn-prevention -- Monitor referred customer retention separately; high referral churn wastes acquisition spend
  • page-cro -- Referral landing page conversion optimization follows page-cro methodology
  • popup-cro -- Post-purchase or post-milestone popups are natural referral trigger points

---

Anti-patterns

Anti-patternFailure modeFix
Asking at signup instead of after the aha momentReferrer has no value experience to share; share rates under 2%Fire the trigger after activation or milestone — never before value is delivered
"Refer a friend" link buried in the account menuDiscovery rate near zero; program appears to "not work"Surface at trigger moments in-product (modal, banner, post-action), not in settings
Single-sided reward where only the referrer benefitsReferred users feel exploited; conversion on referral landing page dropsUse double-sided rewards — both sides get value, aligned with program positioning
Reward sized larger than first-payment marginProgram grows but unit economics invert; CAC exceeds LTVCap reward at 30% of first payment (or <1 payback period); model before launch with referral_economics_calculator.py
Manual reward fulfillmentDelay between referral and reward kills the loop; referrer disengagesAutomate reward delivery with in-app notification; trigger within 24 hours of referred user's qualifying event
Confusing affiliate program with customer referralWrong activation (customers don't behave like affiliates); wrong attribution (affiliates don't behave like advocates)Decide the program type first using the Referral vs Affiliate Decision table; don't merge
Ignoring K-factor, optimizing only for share countShares grow but referred conversions don't; false sense of progressTrack K = shares × conversion rate; optimize the weakest stage, not the most visible one
Generic monthly "invite friends" email with no triggerBecomes inbox noise; unsubscribe lift with no conversion liftEvent-triggered emails only — milestone, renewal, support-win, team-growth

---

Related Skills

  • pricing-strategy -- Use when referral reward sizing needs to align with pricing and margin structure.
  • signup-flow-cro -- Use for optimizing the signup flow that referred users go through.
  • onboarding-cro -- Use for optimizing the post-signup experience for referred users.
  • churn-prevention -- Use to ensure referred customers retain at high rates (referral CAC is wasted if they churn).
  • page-cro -- Use for optimizing the referral landing page conversion rate.

Related skills

FAQ

Should I run a customer referral or affiliate program?

If your customers are enthusiastic and social, start with customer referrals; if they are businesses buying for a team, start with affiliates.

When should I ask users to refer?

At high-signal moments like after the aha moment, a milestone, great support (NPS 9-10) or a renewal, never at signup or in a generic monthly email.

Sales & Marketinglifecycledistribution

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