Set Up Referral Program
Platforms: All platforms Plans: All plans
AfterShip Referral's Referral Campaign allows businesses to incentivize their existing or potential customers (referred to as advocates) to promote the company’s products or services to their friends, family, or social network (referred to as referred friends). The process is typically a win-win for both the advocates and the referred friends, with both parties receiving some form of reward or benefit.
Here’s how the Referral campaign works for both sides:
Sign-Up: Advocates register for a referral program by providing their email address to access the referral link, which confirms their participation in the referral program.
Referral link: They receive a unique referral link that they can share with others.
Sharing: Advocates share their referral link with their friends, family, or social networks via email, social media, or personal communication.
Incentives: Advocates earn rewards or benefits (such as discounts, free shipping, or a free gift) depending on merchant's configuration when someone uses their referral link to sign up and make a purchase.
Discover the offer: Referred friends receive the referral link or code, which usually comes with a special offer (like a discount, free shipping, or a free gift), depending upon merchant's configuration.
Make a purchase: The referred person uses the referral link to sign up for the service and make a purchase on merchant's online store.
Benefit: Referred friends benefit from the offer — such as a discount on their first purchase, exclusive access to free products, or free shipping to use for future purchases.
Word-of-mouth: Referred friends are often encouraged to refer others, continuing the cycle of referral marketing to keep reaping the benefits of the referral program by bringing in more and more customers.
Go to Referral > Campaign in your AfterShip Referral account.
Activate the referral program by shifting the toggle to the right.
Click Customize to access the referral campaign editor where you can set up the referral program, configure the messaging, and edit the style settings of the widget.
Under the Settings tab, you need to configure the reward type for both Advocates and Referred friends. Choose the reward type. AfterShip Referral support four reward types to incentivize advocates and referred friends.
Set the discount value for the type of reward type selected for both advocates and referred friends.
a. Percentage off/Amount discount: Choose the reward type and set the Discount amount for your advocates (referrers) and referees (referred friends).
If you want to offer a percentage or specific value discount regardless of the order value to both the advocate and referred friend, ensure that the This discount requires a minimum order subtotal option is unchecked.
If you prefer to set specific condition for offering either of the discount type, select the This discount requires a minimum order subtotal option.
- The discount applies only if the order subtotal (the cost of the items before taxes and shipping) meets the specified minimum amount. For example, if the minimum order subtotal is set to $10. This means the advocate or referred friend next purchase must have a subtotal of at least $10 (excluding taxes and shipping) in order to use the discount.
The currency for this discount will match the currency set in your store.
The brand advocates will get a coupon code on their email ID as a reward when a referee makes the first successful purchase from your store after referring to your referral link.
The referred friend will get a coupon code of the amount you’ve mentioned in the Discount value field when a they visit your store after clicking on a referral link in a popup.
b. Free product
Click Select product. The list of active products on your Shopify store will be listed here.
Search for a specific product or simply browse through the list and Select the one you want to offer as a free gift.
Once selected, click Add.
Multiple product selection is not supported.
Advocates will receive a free product after the referred friend makes their first purchase, which they can order with their next purchase without making any payment on that specific product. A coupon code providing a 100% discount on the specific product will be emailed to the advocate, which they can apply on their next purchase, whether they’re buying the same product alone or with other items. The full value of the product will be waived.
Referred friends, if this reward type is selected, will also receive a free gift in the form of a coupon code with a 100% discount on that specific product after visiting your store via a referral link. They can use the coupon code on their next purchase, either when ordering the same product alone or with other products. The total value of the product will be waived.
c. Free shipping
If you want to waive the delivery charges for both the advocate and referred friend, select the Free shipping reward type for both.
If you want to offer free shipping regardless of the order value or shipping rate, ensure that both Exclude shipping fee over a certain amount and This discount requires a minimum order subtotal options are unchecked.
If you prefer to set specific conditions for offering free shipping, choose the options below:
a. Exclude shipping fee over a certain amount: When this option is enabled, you must specify a shipping threshold. The shipping fee will be waived if the order's shipping cost for the referred friend or advocate exceeds the set threshold. For example, if the threshold is set to $10, the referred friend or advocate’s next purchase must have a shipping fee greater than $10 for the shipping charge to be waived.
b. This discount requires a minimum order subtotal: The coupon holder must meet a minimum cart subtotal (before taxes and shipping fees) to qualify for free shipping. For instance, if the minimum subtotal is set to $10, the advocate or referred friend's next purchase must have a subtotal of at least $10 (excluding taxes and shipping) to be eligible for free shipping.
The value is in the same currency as your store’s currency.
Note:
If both options are selected, the coupon will only apply when all conditions are met. Be sure to set values carefully for both options.
Customer experience
Select and set conditions for offering the rewards to advocates and referred friends.
You can specify conditions as to when an advocate or referred friend is eligible to receive a reward.
For each reward type, you can enable a different set of conditions. (as mentioned with each reward type above).
Set the reward expiration date for both advocate and referred friend. Both the advocate and the referred friend must use their coupon within the defined period to avail the reward.
Click Save to finish the process.
In case your customer has already logged in to your store, their email address will automatically be saved. It means they don’t have to enter their email ID again to get the referral invite link.
Once your customers click on the Get invite link button, a unique link will be generated. It can be shared via Email, Facebook, and Twitter. Even your customers can copy it to the clipboard and share it in a way they like.
Once a successful referral connection is established, your advocates will receive their reward (discount coupon) in the following email template.
If the chosen product for the Free product reward type is inactive or out of stock, you’ll get a message to select a different item.
Overview
AfterShip Referral's Referral Campaign allows businesses to incentivize their existing or potential customers (referred to as advocates) to promote the company’s products or services to their friends, family, or social network (referred to as referred friends). The process is typically a win-win for both the advocates and the referred friends, with both parties receiving some form of reward or benefit.
How it works
Here’s how the Referral campaign works for both sides:
1. For Advocates:
Sign-Up: Advocates register for a referral program by providing their email address to access the referral link, which confirms their participation in the referral program.
Referral link: They receive a unique referral link that they can share with others.
Sharing: Advocates share their referral link with their friends, family, or social networks via email, social media, or personal communication.
Incentives: Advocates earn rewards or benefits (such as discounts, free shipping, or a free gift) depending on merchant's configuration when someone uses their referral link to sign up and make a purchase.
2. For Referred Friends:
Discover the offer: Referred friends receive the referral link or code, which usually comes with a special offer (like a discount, free shipping, or a free gift), depending upon merchant's configuration.
Make a purchase: The referred person uses the referral link to sign up for the service and make a purchase on merchant's online store.
Benefit: Referred friends benefit from the offer — such as a discount on their first purchase, exclusive access to free products, or free shipping to use for future purchases.
Word-of-mouth: Referred friends are often encouraged to refer others, continuing the cycle of referral marketing to keep reaping the benefits of the referral program by bringing in more and more customers.
Set up a referral campaign
Go to Referral > Campaign in your AfterShip Referral account.
Activate the referral program by shifting the toggle to the right.
Click Customize to access the referral campaign editor where you can set up the referral program, configure the messaging, and edit the style settings of the widget.
Under the Settings tab, you need to configure the reward type for both Advocates and Referred friends. Choose the reward type. AfterShip Referral support four reward types to incentivize advocates and referred friends.
| Reward Type | Description | Advantage for Referrer | Advantage for Referee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage off | A discount offered as a percentage of the total purchase amount. | Referrers earn a percentage-based reward when the referred friend makes their first purchase. | Referees receive a discount on their purchase, usually as a percentage off, after clicking on the referral link. |
| Amount discount | A fixed monetary discount off the total order or a specific product. | Referrers receive a fixed dollar amount as a reward when the referred friend makes their first purchase. | Referees get a set amount off their total purchase after clicking on the referral link. |
| Free shipping | Waives the shipping fees for both referrer and referee on a particular order or purchase. | Referrers enjoy free shipping for themselves or their referrals once the referred friend makes their first purchase. | Referees benefit from free shipping on their orders after clicking on the referral link. |
| Free product | A free product is offered to the referrer and/or referee after a successful referral. | Referrers receive a free product after the referred friend makes their first purchase. | Referees receive a free product after clicking on the referral link. |
Set the discount value for the type of reward type selected for both advocates and referred friends.
a. Percentage off/Amount discount: Choose the reward type and set the Discount amount for your advocates (referrers) and referees (referred friends).
If you want to offer a percentage or specific value discount regardless of the order value to both the advocate and referred friend, ensure that the This discount requires a minimum order subtotal option is unchecked.
If you prefer to set specific condition for offering either of the discount type, select the This discount requires a minimum order subtotal option.
- The discount applies only if the order subtotal (the cost of the items before taxes and shipping) meets the specified minimum amount. For example, if the minimum order subtotal is set to $10. This means the advocate or referred friend next purchase must have a subtotal of at least $10 (excluding taxes and shipping) in order to use the discount.
The currency for this discount will match the currency set in your store.
Customer experience
The brand advocates will get a coupon code on their email ID as a reward when a referee makes the first successful purchase from your store after referring to your referral link.
The referred friend will get a coupon code of the amount you’ve mentioned in the Discount value field when a they visit your store after clicking on a referral link in a popup.
b. Free product
Click Select product. The list of active products on your Shopify store will be listed here.
Search for a specific product or simply browse through the list and Select the one you want to offer as a free gift.
Once selected, click Add.
Multiple product selection is not supported.
Customer experience
Advocates will receive a free product after the referred friend makes their first purchase, which they can order with their next purchase without making any payment on that specific product. A coupon code providing a 100% discount on the specific product will be emailed to the advocate, which they can apply on their next purchase, whether they’re buying the same product alone or with other items. The full value of the product will be waived.
Referred friends, if this reward type is selected, will also receive a free gift in the form of a coupon code with a 100% discount on that specific product after visiting your store via a referral link. They can use the coupon code on their next purchase, either when ordering the same product alone or with other products. The total value of the product will be waived.
c. Free shipping
If you want to waive the delivery charges for both the advocate and referred friend, select the Free shipping reward type for both.
If you want to offer free shipping regardless of the order value or shipping rate, ensure that both Exclude shipping fee over a certain amount and This discount requires a minimum order subtotal options are unchecked.
If you prefer to set specific conditions for offering free shipping, choose the options below:
a. Exclude shipping fee over a certain amount: When this option is enabled, you must specify a shipping threshold. The shipping fee will be waived if the order's shipping cost for the referred friend or advocate exceeds the set threshold. For example, if the threshold is set to $10, the referred friend or advocate’s next purchase must have a shipping fee greater than $10 for the shipping charge to be waived.
b. This discount requires a minimum order subtotal: The coupon holder must meet a minimum cart subtotal (before taxes and shipping fees) to qualify for free shipping. For instance, if the minimum subtotal is set to $10, the advocate or referred friend's next purchase must have a subtotal of at least $10 (excluding taxes and shipping) to be eligible for free shipping.
The value is in the same currency as your store’s currency.
Note:
If both options are selected, the coupon will only apply when all conditions are met. Be sure to set values carefully for both options.
Customer experience
Select and set conditions for offering the rewards to advocates and referred friends.
You can specify conditions as to when an advocate or referred friend is eligible to receive a reward.
For each reward type, you can enable a different set of conditions. (as mentioned with each reward type above).
Set the reward expiration date for both advocate and referred friend. Both the advocate and the referred friend must use their coupon within the defined period to avail the reward.
Click Save to finish the process.
Additional considerations
In case your customer has already logged in to your store, their email address will automatically be saved. It means they don’t have to enter their email ID again to get the referral invite link.
Once your customers click on the Get invite link button, a unique link will be generated. It can be shared via Email, Facebook, and Twitter. Even your customers can copy it to the clipboard and share it in a way they like.
Once a successful referral connection is established, your advocates will receive their reward (discount coupon) in the following email template.
If the chosen product for the Free product reward type is inactive or out of stock, you’ll get a message to select a different item.
Updated on: 27/03/2025
Thank you!