7 Examples of Good Visual Design in Referral Program

From merely relying on traditional methods to going completely digital, the marketing world has gone a long way. Today, one of the well-known and economical marketing strategies is through a referral program.

You may have already heard your parents or friends raving to you about a product or service that they love. With their stories, we are sometimes encouraged to get the same product because we are expecting to experience the same satisfaction. This is the power of a referral.

A referral program is a lot like that. It is an initiative run technically by word-of-mouth to gain new customers through existing ones, with the help of incentives. It is one of the most trusted ways to tap your business’ full potential. Referral programs work because you are already taking advantage of the great experiences of a happy customer to advertise and make way for your new clients.

Some of the most notable referral programs you may have seen are simple but effective ways to get more members and clients aboard. A few of them are from Paypal, Dropbox, and Airbnb.

Paypal is a mother inspiration for referral programs that drew success. The company paid existing users to invite their friends to sign up. Most of it was done through emails, IMs, and even in blogs. According to Elon Musk, the company spent about $60 to $70 million on this program. Starting from $20 per referral, downgraded to $10, then to $5 until it altogether stopped when the company's base was already growing consistently even without the referral program.

Dropbox, on the other hand, was modeled after Paypal's referral program. Instead of cash incentives, the company rewarded its members by giving them up to 16 GB of free storage. Aside from that, they also sent referral links through emails for the new recruits. Both the recruiter and the recruit got incentives, urging them to invite more. Founder and CEO Drew Houston said that through this program the sign-ups increased by 60% permanently.

With the coming of the digital age, referral programs have also evolved and incorporated more creative designs into landing pages in websites to emails, digital posters, and in-apps.

Modern referral programs currently utilize software that specializes in creating design templates that are customizable and are able to track the referrals and rewards

But if a simple email works just fine for big companies, why bother with referral programs with good design?

Simple: Because creative design is essential in a competition that is cut throat and stiff. In a world where images and videos dominate the internet, it is only right to incorporate design into your referral marketing plan in order to grab the attention of users and upstage your rivals.

Compiled below is a list of eight examples of referral programs with creative and good visual designs:

1. Technicians for Sustainability, LLC

The simplicity and use of cute and colorful graphics immediately grab the attention of the users. The slogan is witty and perfectly summarizes the point of the company's incentive, wherein with every referral the company will donate money to the customer's choice of non-profit. Moreover, there is a clear explanation of how their referral system works which makes it easier to convince users to participate.

2. Brooklinen

This is an email referral program message from Brooklinen. The company used GIF to get their point across. The simplicity of it all speaks a thousand words. Clear and concise slogan partnered with an enticing pile of big bucks, what else do you need to be convinced? Convenience is also part of the thought process with this design, giving a straightforward and clear explanation of the incentive and a link that users can click to or share for easy access.

3. Digital Ocean

Digital Ocean's email-based referral program not only uses GIF but also utilizes a creative animation that is engaging and straightforward. It shows the referral system and how it works and as well as the referral code link that is accessible. Like the previous example, both the old customers and new ones can get incentives thus, urging both to keep referring more people.

4. mQn Photography Referral Program

It is neat and simple, yet it conveys everything that customers need to know. The picture in the middle shows off how good the services of the company are. The design is so minimalistic that it demonstrates elegance. There is a call to action at the bottom which helps drive users to participate, and the reward system is also clearly conveyed.

5. UNIQLO

UNIQLO's referral program landing page is unique in its own way, doing what the company does best, creativity. The use of color is what grabs the attention of the user. The call-to-action is straightforward that all the user needs to do is click on it and participate.

6. T-Mobile

T-Mobile's referral program design is simple yet engaging. Everyone wants to be their own boss, and their distinctive way of rewarding their loyal customers for doing referrals is to give them shares in the company itself. This program is inspired by listening to customer feedback and figuring out how to put life into it.

7. Soylent

And last but not least is Soylent's referral program landing page, offering good savings or redemption but most of all, a good photo that provides entertainment and curiosity.

A good visual design for your referral program plays a vital role in your marketing scheme. Creative designs are hard to miss and can grab anyone’s attention effortlessly. The more unique it is, the more retentive it becomes. And this is not only for a specific design, but good visuals actually help you create a positive association with your brand.

In addition, professionally designed website landing pages or posters also contribute to building your brand’s identity, credibility, and reputation because they represent the face of your company and prospective clients care and appreciate clean, meticulous, and intuitive designs.

Now that you have seen several examples, you now have a better grasp of how to build a referral program with dynamic designs, so let your ideas and imagination run free!