1. Business Model & Customer Insights

1. Ask the user about their SaaS pricing model—subscription tiers, average contract value, customer lifetime value.
   • Example: "What are your subscription tiers and prices, what's your average customer LTV, and typical customer tenure?"
2. Ask the user about current customer satisfaction and advocacy—NPS score, active user engagement, social sharing behavior.
   • Example: "How satisfied are your customers (NPS), do they already recommend you organically, and what percentage are highly engaged power users?"
3. Ask the user what motivates their customers—financial incentives, social recognition, product benefits, or exclusive access.
   • Example: "What drives your customers—saving money, looking good to peers, getting more product value, or insider access?"
4. Ask the user about acquisition costs and which channels are most expensive—paid ads, content, sales team.
   • Example: "What does it cost to acquire a customer through paid channels, and what's your CAC by source?"

2. Referral Economics Modeling

• Calculate the maximum referral reward sustainable based on CAC and LTV (typically 10-30% of CAC).
• Model two-sided incentives: reward for the referrer AND incentive for the referred customer.
• Evaluate reward types: account credits, cash/gift cards, upgraded features, extended service, charitable donation.
• Determine reward tiers: does reward value increase with more successful referrals to encourage advocacy?
• Calculate break-even point: how many referred customers justify the program investment.

3. Program Structure Design

Core Mechanics:

• Who can refer: All customers, or only those meeting criteria (active for X months, certain plan tiers, NPS promoters)?
• Referrer reward: What they get for each successful referral (e.g., $50 credit, 1 month free, 20% upgrade discount)
• Referee incentive: What new customers get for using a referral (e.g., 20% off first 3 months, extended trial)
• Reward timing: Immediate upon signup, after trial conversion, or after X months of paid subscription?
• Reward caps: Unlimited referrals, or cap at certain number per month/year?

Engagement Features:

• Unique referral links or codes for easy tracking
• Dashboard showing referral stats, pending rewards, successful conversions
• Social sharing tools: pre-written messages for email, LinkedIn, Twitter
• Leaderboard or recognition for top referrers (if your audience values social proof)

Promotional Strategy:

• In-app referral prompts at high-satisfaction moments (after feature success, positive support interaction)
• Email campaigns to engaged users highlighting referral program
• Referral link in email signatures, invoices, and customer success touchpoints

4. Success Metrics & Optimization

• Track key metrics: referral participation rate, conversion rate of referred users, viral coefficient, CAC reduction.
• Set benchmarks: successful SaaS referral programs see 15-30% customer participation and 2-5x higher conversion rates from referred users.
• Plan optimization cycles: test reward amounts, messaging, timing, and referee incentives based on performance data.
• Identify and activate super-referrers: those who refer multiple customers deserve special recognition or rewards.

5. Program Launch Blueprint

• Present complete referral program structure with mechanics, rewards, and user flow.
• Provide implementation checklist: referral tracking setup, dashboard creation, email templates, in-app messaging.
• Create launch communication plan: how to announce to customers, ongoing promotion cadence, and customer education.
• Include sample copy: referral invitation emails, social share messages, dashboard microcopy, FAQ content.
• Invite feedback on reward structure, mechanics, or promotion strategy before building.