Referral Program Automation
The Referral Program automation incentivizes existing guests to refer friends and family, creating a self-sustaining customer acquisition channel with trackable rewards.
Overview
Purpose: Convert satisfied guests into brand ambassadors who drive new bookings.
Trigger: Post-stay satisfaction metrics, booking confirmations, and manual program enrollment.
Channels: Email campaigns, in-app notifications, SMS invitations.
Setup Instructions
- Navigate to Automations in your SendSquared dashboard
- Click + Create New Automation
- Select Referral Program from the template library
- Configure the automation with the following nodes:
Step 1: Configure Referral Triggers
- Set up Program Entry Points:
- Post-stay 5-star reviews
- Repeat booking confirmation
- High NPS score responses
- Personal referral invitation
- Loyalty tier achievement
Step 2: Create Reward Structure
- Design Incentive System:
- Referrer bonus: $50 credit per booking
- Referee bonus: 15% off first booking
- Milestone rewards: Extra bonuses at 3, 5, 10 referrals
- VIP tier: Special perks for top referrers
Step 3: Build Tracking System
- Configure Referral Attribution:
- Unique referral codes
- Tracked referral links
- Email/phone matching
- Cookie-based attribution
Email Templates
Referral Program Invitation
Subject: Give $50, Get $50 - Share the travel love
Hi [Guest Name],
We loved hosting you at [Property Name] and hope you had an amazing stay!
Want to share the experience with friends? Introduce them to [Company] and both of you benefit:
YOUR REFERRAL REWARDS:
💰 $50 credit for each friend who books
🎁 Extra $100 after 5 successful referrals
👑 VIP status at 10 referrals
YOUR FRIENDS GET:
💫 15% off their first booking
🔒 Access to our best properties
⚡ Priority customer support
How it works:
1. Share your unique code: FRIEND-[YourID]
2. Friends use code at checkout
3. You both get rewards automatically!
Easy sharing options:
[Email Invite] [Copy Link] [Share on Social]
Your personal referral dashboard: [Link]
Start referring today! Your code never expires.
Best regards,
[Referral Team]
[Company Name]
P.S. Track your rewards anytime at [Dashboard Link]
Personal Invite Template
Hi there,
[Referrer Name] thought you'd love this vacation rental experience!
As their friend, you get:
• 15% OFF your first stay
• Exclusive property access
• Priority booking support
• Flexible cancellation policy
Use code FRIEND-[ID] when booking any property.
Top-rated properties from [Referrer]'s trip:
1. [Property Name] - [Location]
"The view from the deck is incredible!" - [Referrer]
$[Price]/night | [Rating] ⭐
2. [Property Name] - [Location]
"Perfect for families with young kids." - [Referrer]
$[Price]/night | [Rating] ⭐
3. [Property Name] - [Location]
"Exactly as described, amazing host." - [Referrer]
$[Price]/night | [Rating] ⭐
[Start Planning Your Trip]
Need help? Reply to this email or call [Phone].
Happy travels!
[Guest Relations]
Referral Milestone Achievement
Subject: 🎉 Congratulations! You've earned VIP status
Amazing news, [Guest Name]!
You've successfully referred 10 friends to [Company]. You're now a VIP Referrer!
YOUR NEW VIP BENEFITS:
✨ $100 bonus added to your account
💎 VIP booking priority forever
🏆 15% personal discount on all stays
🔑 Early access to new properties
👥 Free concierge service
🎁 Annual premium property night
Your total referral earnings: $[Amount]
Friends who've booked through you: [Count]
Your impact on our community: [X] families' vacations made better!
Continue referring and unlock even more rewards:
• 15 referrals: $250 bonus + free premium membership
• 20 referrals: $500 bonus + exclusive property access
• 25 referrals: Annual free luxury stay
Keep sharing your unique code: FRIEND-[YourID]
[View Your Rewards Dashboard]
Thank you for being an incredible ambassador!
[VIP Relations Team]
SMS Templates
Quick Referral Invite
Hi [Name], it's [Referrer]! Check out this vacation rental site I love. Get 15% off with code FRIEND-[ID]: [Link] Enjoy!
Reward Notification
Great news! Your friend [Name] booked using your code. $50 credit added to your account. Share more: [Link]
Social Media Integration
Facebook Share Template
Just had the best vacation! Found amazing rentals through @[CompanyHandle]. My friends can save 15% with my code: FRIEND-[ID]
Top property I recommend: [Property Link]
#vacationrentals #traveldeals #friendsandfamily
Instagram Story Template
[Background: Property photo]
"Found my perfect vacation spot!
Save 15% on your next getaway
Swipe up to book ⬆️
Code: FRIEND-[ID]"
Referral Dashboard Email
Subject: Your referral dashboard update
Hi [Guest Name],
Here's your monthly referral report:
REFERRAL STATS:
• Total referrals: [Count]
• Successful bookings: [Count]
• Earnings this month: $[Amount]
• Total lifetime earnings: $[Amount]
RECENT ACTIVITY:
• [Date]: [Friend Name] completed stay (Earned: $50)
• [Date]: [Friend Name] booked future stay
• [Date]: [Friend Name] referred their friend!
NEXT MILESTONE:
[3] more referrals to unlock VIP Platinum status!
Share your code: FRIEND-[YourID]
Current conversion rate: [X]% of friends referred book
Pro tip: Friends who use social sharing convert 2x higher!
[Share Now] [View Full Dashboard]
Keep inspiring travel!
[Referral Team]
Double-Sided Rewards Campaign
Referee Welcome Series
Welcome Email (Day 1):
Subject: Welcome to [Company] - Your 15% off is ready!
Dear [Referee Name],
Welcome to [Company]! [Referrer Name] spoke highly of our service.
Your exclusive welcome gift:
• 15% off code: FRIEND-[ID]
• Valid on any property
• No expiration date
• Stackable with other deals
Featured properties in your area:
[Property recommendations based on location]
[Start Your Search]
Questions? We offer concierge assistance: [Phone]
Welcome email (Day 3):
Subject: [Referrer Name] recommends these properties
Hi [Referee Name],
Planning your first stay? [Referrer] loves these properties:
1. [Property Name]
Why [Referrer] loves it: "[Direct quote]"
Your price with code: $[Discounted Price]
2. [Property Name]
[Referrer]'s tip: "[Specific amenity highlight]"
Your price with code: $[Discounted Price]
Booking bonus: Book within 7 days, get additional $20 credit!
[Browse Recommended Properties]
Local travel expert,
[Guest Relations]
Gamification Elements
Leaderboard Campaign
Subject: You're #[Rank] on our Referral Leaderboard!
Hey [Guest Name],
See how you rank among top referrers this month:
🏆 TOP REFERRERS:
#1: [Name] - 12 referrals
#2: [Name] - 10 referrals
#3: [Name] - 8 referrals
...
#[Your Rank]: YOU - [X] referrals
Beat #[Next Rank] and win: [Prize]
WEEKLY CHALLENGE:
Refer 3 friends this week and get bonus $100!
[Share Your Code] [View Full Leaderboard]
Let's climb to the top!
[Referral Team]
Achievement Badges
NEW ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! 🏅
[Guest Name], you've earned:
"Super Connector" Badge
For: Referring 5 unique families in one month
Your reward:
• Exclusive badge on profile
• Priority support access
• 10% personal booking discount
• Featured ambassador highlight
Next achievement to unlock:
"Travel Guru" - Refer travelers to 3+ destinations
[View Your Profile]
Program Management Tools
Dashboard Metrics
REFERRAL PROGRAM HEALTH CHECK:
Week over Week:
• Referral sign-ups: +15%
• Conversion rate: 23%
• Average referee value: $450
• Top referrer growth: 2x
Program Adjustments:
• Increase first booking discount to 20%
• Launch double referral bonus (Sept)
• Add seasonal property spotlights
• Implement friend group booking
Segmentation performance:
• Repeat guests: 31% conversion
• 5-star reviewers: 45% participation
• Social sharers: 2.5x average referrals
Automated Testing
A/B TEST RESULTS:
Test 1: Reward Amount
• Control: $50 bonus → 18% participation
• Variable: $75 bonus → 24% participation
Winner: $75 bonus (+32% ROI)
Test 2: Referee Discount
• Control: 15% off → 23% conversion
• Variable: $100 credit → 19% conversion
Winner: 15% discount
Test 3: Invite Timing
• Control: 48hr post-stay → 15% click rate
• Variable: 7 days post-stay → 22% click rate
Winner: 7-day delay
Seasonal Campaigns
Holiday Referral Boost
Subject: 🎁 Holiday Bonus: Double Referral Rewards
'Tis the season for giving!
HOLIDAY SPECIAL: December 1-31
• Double rewards: $100 per referral
• Friends get 20% off holiday stays
• Bonus gift card for 3+ referrals
Perfect gifts for friends:
1. Ski property credits
2. Beach house Christmas packages
3. New Year's celebration rentals
[Share Holiday Savings]
Happy holidays!
[Referral Team]
Summer Referral Competition
SUMMER SHARECATION CHALLENGE
Compete for prizes while sharing amazing rentals!
WEEKLY PRIZES:
• Week 1: Beach property weekend
• Week 2: Lake house getaway
• Week 3: Mountain cabin retreat
• Week 4: Grand prize package
Earn points:
• 10 points: Successful referral
• 5 points: Social share
• 3 points: Email invite sent
Current standings: You're at [Points] points!
[Join Challenge]
Best Practices
- Personalize referral messages
- Make sharing extremely easy
- Provide visual sharing assets
- Track and reward promptly
- Create milestone celebrations
- A/B test rewards structure
- Gamify the experience
- Monitor fraud attempts
Success Metrics
Track these key metrics:
- Referral participation rate
- Friend conversion rate
- Average customer acquisition cost
- Viral coefficient
- Lifetime value of referred customers
- Program ROI
- Social sharing engagement