Refgrow Referral Playbook
How to start making money with referrals for your product
Who this playbook is for
This playbook is designed for:
- Indie hackers
- SaaS and AI founders
- Early-stage products and MVPs
- Marketing and no-code tools
Goal: Launch a referral program in 1-2 days and get your first referral-driven revenue without paid ads.
How to use this playbook
- Follow the steps in order.
- Do not skip steps.
- Each step builds leverage for the next one.
0
Make sure your product is referral-ready
Before launching referrals, you should have:
- Clear positioning
- A simple landing page that explains value
- Basic onboarding flow
Remember: Referrals amplify traction. They do not fix unclear products.
1
Create your referral program in Refgrow
Your first task is to set up a working referral foundation.
Action checklist:
- Create a new project
- Connect Stripe or LemonSqueezy
- Add the Refgrow tracking script
- Verify that conversions are tracked
Outcome: Clicks and purchases are now attributed correctly.
Rule: One product = one referral program. Do not overcomplicate.
2
Set a simple and attractive commission
Your initial commission model matters more than optimization.
- Easy to explain
- High perceived value
- Strong long-term incentive
Recommended starting setup:
- 30-40% lifetime commission
- No earning caps
- Hold period: 14-30 days
Common mistake: Low commission with complex rules.
3
Embed the affiliate dashboard inside your product
This is where Refgrow shines. Your users should discover referrals inside your product.
Best practices:
- Place the affiliate dashboard in the main menu or profile
- Use a clear label like "Earn with referrals"
- Add a short explanation above the dashboard
Outcome: Users self-activate as affiliates without manual outreach.
Example copy: Invite friends. Earn 30% from every payment. Forever.
4
Activate your first affiliates
Do not start with cold outreach. Start with:
- Active users
- Customers who gave feedback
- People who already see value
Target: 5-10 active affiliates, not 100 inactive ones.
5
Give affiliates something to sell
Affiliates should never guess how to pitch your product.
Minimum affiliate kit:
- 2-3 sentence product pitch
- 1-2 clear use cases
- Screenshots or demo link
Rule: If it's hard to explain, it won't be shared.
6
Use coupon codes for content creators
Coupons work extremely well for:
- Twitter and LinkedIn creators
- YouTubers
- Bloggers and newsletters
Use coupon tracking for influencer-style partners.:
7
Double down on what works
Open your dashboard and focus on signals, not vanity metrics.
Track:
- Who brings signups
- Who brings revenue
- Which channels convert best
Do not scale blindly.:
8
Put the program on autopilot
Protect your product and your time.
Must-have controls:
- Hold period enabled
- Manual approval when needed
- Ability to disable abusive affiliates
Referrals should feel boring to maintain. That means the system works.:
Final formula
A referral program that works always has:
- Simple offer
- Embedded dashboard
- Attractive commission
- Small number of strong partners
- Continuous optimization
When done right, referrals become a growth asset, not an experiment.