Prerequisites
Before getting started, ensure you have:
Required Permissions:
To configure a refer-a-friend loyalty program the user must have the following permissions:
Owner
Other Requirements
A Loyalty Pro subscription
How to Set Up a Refer-a-Friend Program
1. Configure Referral Points
Navigate to Settings > Loyalty > Referral Points
Give Customers Points for Referrals
Enable this setting to allow referring customers to earn points based on their referred friend’s first purchase.
Points Earned per $100 Spent
Define how many points a referring customer earns from their friend’s purchase.
Example:
Setting 100 points per $100 spent = 1 point per $1 spent by the referred friend.
Start Date
Choose when referred-friend purchases begin counting toward referral points.
Purchases made before this date will not qualify.
Referrals Count Regardless of Text Opt-In Status
Control whether referred friends must opt into SMS messaging to qualify.
Enabled: All referred-friend sales count
Disabled: Only sales from SMS-opted-in friends count
2. Create Refer-a-Friend Audiences
AIQ provides referral-specific traits to segment both:
Customers who refer others
Customers who were referred
These audiences can be used to modify points, send campaigns, or issue rewards.
Referring Persona Traits
These target customers who referred others.
Available traits include:
Trait Name | Description |
Referred friends that opted-in | Target customers whose referred friends opted into messaging. |
Referred friends who purchased | Target customers whose referred friends made at least one purchase. |
Total orders made by referred friends | Segment by order volume. |
Average total spent by referred friends | Segment by average spend. |
Total spent by referred friends | Segment by total spend. |
Referred by Contact ID / Phone | Target personas referred by a specific customer. |
These target customers who signed up using a referral link.
Signed up via referral
Targets personas who joined using any customer’s RAF link
3. Create RAF Incentives
With RAF audiences created, you can reward:
Referring customers
Referred friends
Both parties
Incentives may include:
Bonus loyalty points
Percentage-off discounts
Free products
Tier boosts
You can apply rewards using:
Audience-based point modifications
Discount gifting
Automated campaigns
4. Promote Your RAF Program
To tell customers about your referral program:
Navigate to Marketing > Campaigns > Create New Campaign
Select Email on the Channels screen
On Recipients, choose All Subscribed Users (or another relevant audience)
Create your messaging
Suggested content example:
"Hey {{firstName}},
Did you hear about our Refer-a-Friend program?
Send this link to your friends: {{referFriendURL}}
The more friends you refer, the more free points you earn!
📌 Note:
Each persona has a unique RAF URL available in their Loyalty Wallet.
5. Continue to Review and send or save as draft
Example Use Cases
Use Case 1:
Reward referring customers with bonus points once their friend makes their first purchase.
Use Case 2:
Offer both the referrer and referred friend a discount on their next purchase to increase conversion.
FAQ
Can a retailer have multiple RAF links per customer?
No.
RAF links are unique per persona to properly track referral attribution. Each customer profile has one unique referral link.
Need Help?
If you need help configuring or promoting your Refer-a-Friend program, reach out to AIQ Support via the chat widget in your AIQ Dashboard.