Email marketing can play a huge role in a successful referral program. As a sender and receiver of many (too many) emails, I think we can all agree that a simple referral from a friend can land a lot softer, and convince a lot faster, than a traditional marketing message from a brand.

Think about the last time a word-of-mouth referral program influenced one of your purchasing decisions. Maybe a friend shared their love of a subscription service like StitchFix, a co-worker sent you a referral code for free Uber credits, or a neighbor recommended their favorite contractor. Or maybe it was as simple as a friendly suggestion on where to go to dinner. Regardless, you probably acted on the referral, in part, because it came from someone you trusted.

Zaps. The word itself ignites a spark, especially if it's referencing a way to simplify your marketing workload. If you're a busy marketer looking for a way to optimize your referral marketing workflow, keep reading for how to automate tasks so you can focus your time and energy on what matters most.

Having worked with thousands of clients all over the globe as well as powering thousands of B2C referral programs and millions of new sales, we've heard almost every question possible from brand marketers. We understand the intricacies of running a referral program, and are always happy to lend a helping hand to marketers that want to leverage this customer acquisition channel.

Whether your referral program just launched or is currently running, there are always ways to drive engagement with your ambassadors. With this in mind, we reached out to our Success Coaches to learn best practices for managing a client referral program, no matter what referral software you use. From brands that are developing their first campaigns to seasoned vets that are optimizing a well-oiled referral machine, we asked the pros to share their secrets when it comes to successfully ...

Effective referral programs are more influential than you may think. In fact, 82% of Americans seek recommendations from friends and family when considering a purchase. Additionally, 67% say they’re at least a little more likely to purchase a product after a friend or family member shared it via social media or email - for example, through a referral program.