Ecommerce

This guide provides strategies for implementing successful referral and affiliate programs for ecommerce businesses using RefRef.

Why Referrals Work for Ecommerce

Ecommerce businesses benefit from referral programs in several key ways:

Lower customer acquisition costs compared to paid advertising
Higher average order values from referred customers
Increased trust and conversion rates through social proof
Enhanced customer loyalty and repeat purchase behavior
Expanded reach into new customer segments

Designing Your Ecommerce Referral Program

Key Design Considerations

Incentive Type - Discounts, store credit, free products, or cash rewards
Incentive Value - Finding the right balance between appeal and profitability
Reward Structure - One-sided vs. two-sided rewards
Timing - When to reward referrers (after purchase, after return period, etc.)
Promotion Strategy - Where and how to promote your referral program

Popular Ecommerce Referral Models

The "Give $X, Get $X" Model
- Both referrer and new customer receive a discount or store credit
- Creates mutual benefit and clear value proposition
- Easy to communicate and understand
The Percentage Discount Model
- Offers percentage discounts instead of fixed amounts
- Works well for stores with varied price points
- Can scale with purchase value
The Tiered Rewards Model
- Increasing rewards for more successful referrals
- Gamifies the referral process
- Incentivizes ongoing participation

Implementation in RefRef

Create a new project using the Ecommerce template
Configure your reward structure and tracking parameters
Set up custom referral pages and emails
Integrate with your ecommerce platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.)
Implement post-purchase referral touchpoints

Optimizing Your Program

Key Touchpoints for Referral Prompts

Order confirmation pages and emails
Shipping confirmation and delivery notifications
Product review requests
Account dashboards and order history pages
Customer service interactions
Social media and loyalty program communications

Testing and Iteration

A/B test different incentive structures
Experiment with referral messaging and positioning
Try various placements within your customer journey
Test different sharing mechanisms (email, social, direct link)
Iterate based on conversion data

Advanced Strategies

Seasonal Campaigns - Enhanced referral incentives during key shopping periods
Product-specific Referrals - Targeted programs for high-margin or new products
Influencer Integration - Combining referral tracking with influencer marketing
Loyalty Program Integration - Awarding loyalty points for successful referrals
Post-purchase Upsells - Using referral offers to increase repeat purchases

Measuring Success

Track these metrics in your RefRef dashboard:

Participation rate (% of customers who refer)
Share rate (average referrals per participant)
Conversion rate (% of referrals who purchase)
Average order value of referred customers
Customer lifetime value comparison
Return on investment for referral incentives

Learn how FashionFinder, an online clothing retailer, achieved a 42% increase in new customer acquisition and a 28% higher average order value through their "Give $20, Get $20" referral program implemented with RefRef.