Shivani
Are you looking for effective ways to boost your customer acquisition efforts? Look no further than referral marketing. Referrals have been proven to generate some of the highest conversion rates among all marketing channels. According to Harvard Business Review, referred customers generate 16% more profit than non-referred customers.
Deloitte found that referred customers have a 37% higher retention rate. Additionally, Wharton discovered that the lifetime value of a referred customer is 16% higher than a customer who wasn’t referred.
So how can you tap into the power of referrals? One of the most effective methods is through referral emails. In this article, we’ll explore the best practices for writing referral emails and provide you with a collection of 10 referral email templates for different scenarios and occasions. Let’s dive in!
What is a Referral Email?
A referral email is a type of marketing email that a company sends to its customers to promote its referral program. It serves as an opportunity to inform your customers and potential customers about the deal you’re offering and incentivize them to refer your business to their friends and family.
Referral emails typically follow a formula that guarantees immediate success. They contain elements such as an enticing subject line, a mention of the referral program incentives, information about any terms or conditions, a clear call-to-action, personalization, attention to design, and ease of sharing.
By including these critical elements, you can increase the probability of success for your referral email campaigns. Boost your referral email campaigns with an email verifier, ensuring precise delivery and maximizing engagement for increased referrals.
7 Best Practices for Writing Referral Emails
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for writing referral emails, there are some best practices that you can follow to optimize their effectiveness. Let’s go through each one of these critical elements:
1. Write an enticing subject line
The subject line is the first thing people see when they open their inbox. It’s essential to make it short, clear, and contain powerful words to grab the reader’s attention. Consider A/B testing different subject lines to see which one performs better.
2. Mention the referral program incentives
While some people may be happy to spread the word for free, offering incentives makes the sharing experience more enticing. Always include the rewards you’re offering in the email. Whether it’s a one-sided or two-sided referral program or a gamified referral program, let people know what they can win by referring to your brand.
3. Communicate to readers about any terms or conditions
Referral programs often come with specific conditions that customers must meet. It’s crucial to communicate who is eligible to be a referral, the expiration date of rewards, the method of receiving rewards, and any other relevant terms and conditions. Transparency and clarity in this area will help build trust with your customers.
4. Add a clear call-to-action
A strong call-to-action (CTA) motivates people to take action. When creating your CTAs, ensure they stand out by using the right balance of colour and white space. Place the CTA above the fold so that it’s visible as soon as the customer opens the email. Make it easy for them to know what action to take next.
5. Personalize the email
Personalization is key to engaging customers. Addressing customers by their names and speaking to them in a friendly and relatable manner can significantly increase the chances of them taking action. Make your customers feel valued and appreciated in your referral emails.
6. Pay attention to design
Design plays a crucial role in the success of your referral email. Use your brand logo, colours, typography, and graphics to create an email that is visually appealing and consistent with your brand identity. A well-designed email is just as important as a catchy subject line.
7. Make it easy for people to refer
A good referral email should make it easy for customers to share your brand with others. Including a unique referral link that customers can easily copy in the email is essential. Additionally, consider adding social media buttons so that customers can share the link directly on social media platforms.
An AI email writer can speed up the email writing process. It will automatically create persuasive and customized referral emails, saving you a lot of time and effort.
3 Things to Consider Before Sending Referral Emails
Before clicking “send” on your referral emails, there are a few important factors to consider. Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do you have a good number of active customers?
To create a successful referral program, you must have a substantial list of subscribers. Whether they are existing customers or potential customers, having a healthy base of active customers is crucial. Ensure that you have enough people to reach out to and that they have a positive perception of your brand.
2. Do you have the capacity to handle new clients?
Acquiring new customers is exciting, but it’s essential to consider whether your business can handle an influx of new clients. Make sure you have enough customer support manpower and resources to effectively onboard and serve new customers while maintaining exceptional service levels for existing customers. Consider using resource management software to automate tasks such as scheduling, and workload distribution, and keep track of your budget.
3. How will you track referrals?
Tracking referrals is crucial for evaluating the success of your referral program. While tracking referrals manually in spreadsheets may be suitable for a small volume of emails, it’s recommended to invest in referral program software for larger-scale campaigns.
Referral program software can automate the process, track referrals, and provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Consider these factors to ensure that you are fully prepared to implement a successful referral program and make the most out of your referral emails.
10 Referral Email Templates to Boost Your Customer Acquisition Efforts
Now that we’ve covered the best practices for writing referral emails let’s explore 10 proven referral email templates that you can use to boost your customer acquisition efforts. These templates cover various scenarios and occasions, allowing you to customize them to fit your brand’s tone and specific objectives.
1. The Informational Referral Email
This template serves to inform your existing customers in bulk about your referral program. It provides the details of your referral program without sounding too pushy. Customize it with your brand’s tone and specifics.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our referral rewards program for all current customers. If you want to become part of our referral program, all you have to do is [description of how the program works].
You will get [reward for the referrer], and your friend will receive [reward for the friend].
We look forward to having you join our referral program. Please visit our referral program page if you have any concerns or questions.
[Insert call-to-action button]
2. Asking a New Customer for Referrals
The best time to ask a new customer for a referral is during the onboarding process. This template helps you make the ask after a positive interaction with your brand.
Thank you for using our [product/service]. We hope your experience was amazing and one that is worth sharing with your friends, family, and colleagues.
You can invite your friends to try [your product/service] by sharing the link below. We offer [incentive] for every referred customer.
[Insert call-to-action button].
3. Asking a Loyal Customer for a Referral
Loyal customers are more likely to be willing to share the good word about your brand. Use this template to gently ask for a referral from a satisfied and loyal customer.
We are happy to hear you are satisfied with our [service/product]. As one of our most valuable customers, we wanted to ask if you have any friends or colleagues who would benefit from our [product/service]. We would be forever grateful if you took the time to share the good word.
We offer [incentive] for every referred [customer/client].
[Insert call-to-action button] .
4. Last-Call Referral Email
Create a sense of urgency with this template by informing customers that the great deal you’re offering will end soon. Encourage customers to act quickly to avoid missing out on the opportunity.
[Insert call-to-action button]
5. The Fun Referral Email to Attract Attention
Add a dose of humour and quirkiness to your referral email with this template. Capture attention and leave a lasting impression on your customers.
[Insert call-to-action button]
6. After a Customer Leaves a Positive Review
Take advantage of positive reviews by asking customers to share the good word about your brand. Use this template to thank customers for their kind words and request a referral.
We are so grateful for your kind words. Thanks for sharing your review with the community and us. We were wondering if you have any friends or colleagues who would benefit from our [product/service]. We would be forever grateful if you took the time to share the good word. Every time your friend [joins/subscribes/purchases], we will send you [reward] to show our appreciation.
[Insert call-to-action button]
7. The Being a Good Friend Referral Email
Leverage the fact that people are motivated to get an incentive for making a referral and to help their friend get an incentive too. Use this template to appeal to your customers’ altruistic side.
Do you enjoy our [brand/product/service]? Why not share the good word with your friends? If you know a friend who can benefit, why not share the good word about your positive experience? For every friend you refer, you’ll earn [incentive]. But that’s not all – your friend will also get [incentive]! Start sharing today!
[Insert call-to-action button]
8. The Reciprocal Reward Email Template
Highlight the fact that both the referrer and the referred get an equal reward with this template. Encourage customers to be good friends and refer your brand to their friends.
Refer a friend who could use [benefit from your product or service], and you’ll both receive [equal reward] when your friend makes a purchase.
[Insert call-to-action button]
9. The “It’s So Simple” Referral Email
Appeal to people’s short attention spans and desire for simplicity with this template. Describe the process of referring friends step-by-step, making it sound as simple as possible.
You invite a friend. Copy the invite link and share it with up to [number of people]. You get [reward]. Your friend gets [reward]. And that’s it!
[Insert call-to-action button]
10. The “Get a Freebie” Email Template
People love free things, so use this template to offer a freebie in exchange for referrals. Make sure the product is something that your customers would be interested in getting.
[Insert call-to-action button]
Conclusion
Referral email templates can be a powerful tool in your customer acquisition strategy. By following the best practices for writing referral emails and using these templates as a starting point, you can effectively promote your referral program and incentivize your customers to refer your business to their friends and family.
