Resources

2026 Referral Marketing Playbook

Most brands run one referral program and call it a day. The highest-performing brands run three or more. This playbook shows you exactly how.
2026 referral marketing playbook open to the first referral program example, "refer a friend" for retailers, banks, credit unions, and telecom.

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Leading brands are running multiple referral programs simultaneously, each targeting a specific audience, growth goal, and stage of the customer journey. This playbook breaks down 10 proven plays your team can use to diversify your referral strategy, lower CAC, and turn customer-led-growth into one of your most efficient acquisition channels.

Inside, you’ll learn:

  • When to run limited-time burst campaigns to create urgency and spike engagement
  • How to use welcome offers to convert first-time visitors into advocates
  • How three-party referral structures expand your reach through agents and partners
  • How employee ambassador programs turn your team into a new growth channel
  • When bankable rewards, sweepstakes, and leaderboards drive deeper participation
  • Placement strategies across web, email, mobile, in-app, and in-store touchpoints that maximize engagement
  • Reward structures, audience targeting rules, and KPIs for every play

10 Plays. One Goal. More Efficient Growth.

Each play in this guide includes the objective, ideal timing, reward logic, audience targeting, promotional placement strategy, and optimization tips, so your team can go from planning to launch with less guesswork and fewer delays.

Download the playbook today and start running the plays that top brands are already using to scale referral revenue.

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