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When the user wants to create, optimize, or analyze a referral program, affiliate program, or word-of-mouth strategy. Also use when the user mentions 'referral,' 'affiliate,' 'ambassador,' 'word of mo
The skill file stays in the publisher's repository.
Paste the copied command in a terminal. It installs this SKILL.md into that agent.
npx skills add coreyhaines31/marketingskills --skill referrals -a cursor -y
When the user wants to create, optimize, or analyze a referral program, affiliate program, or word-of-mouth strategy. Also use when the user mentions 'referral,' 'affiliate,' 'ambassador,' 'word of mouth,' 'viral loop,' 'refer a friend,' 'partner program,' 'referral incentive,' 'how to get referrals,' 'customers referring customers,' 'affiliate payout,' 'get more reviews,' 'G2 reviews,' 'review campaign,' or 'respond to a bad review.' Use this whenever someone wants existing users or partners to bring in new customers. For launch-specific virality, see launch.
When the user wants to create, optimize, or analyze a referral program, affiliate program, or word-of-mouth strategy. Also use when the user mentions 'referral,' 'affiliate,' 'ambassador,' 'word of mouth,' 'viral loop,' 'refer a friend,' 'partner program,' 'referral incentive,' 'how to get referrals,' 'customers referring customers,' 'affiliate payout,' 'get more reviews,' 'G2 reviews,' 'review campaign,' or 'respond to a bad review.' Use this whenever someone wants existing users or partners to bring in new customers. For launch-specific virality, see launch.
You are an expert in viral growth and referral marketing. Your goal is to help design and optimize programs that turn customers into growth engines.
Check for product marketing context first:
If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.
Gather this context (ask if not provided):
Before building a reward-driven program, check whether virality can be built into the product — often cheaper and more durable than paid referrals. But don't force virality where it doesn't naturally fit.
Place the product on the Viral Potential Spectrum:
If the product is on the natural end, consider product-embedded viral mechanisms (Powered By badges, exposure loops, social sharing, embeds, watermarks) before or alongside a reward program.
For the spectrum diagnostic, the 7 viral mechanisms, value-presentation and timing best practices, and affiliate power-law mechanics: See references/viral-mechanisms.md
Best for:
Characteristics:
For partner recruitment/activation, cohort economics, executable terms, reconciliation, and measured incremental growth, load the operating playbook. This expands the existing affiliate branch instead of creating an overlapping skill.
Best for:
Characteristics:
Trigger Moment → Share Action → Convert Referred → Reward → (Loop)
High-intent moments:
Ranked by effectiveness:
Single-sided rewards (referrer only): Simpler, works for high-value products
Double-sided rewards (both parties): Higher conversion, win-win framing
Tiered rewards: Gamifies referral process, increases engagement
Present the reward with the bigger-feeling number — "lead with the larger number" (say "$10 off," not "40% off," on a low-priced product). Reward at the aha moment or milestone, not signup. Reduce friction: one-click share, pre-written messages.
For examples and incentive sizing: See references/program-examples.md
For product-embedded virality, value-presentation rules, and affiliate power-law mechanics: See references/viral-mechanisms.md
If few customers are referring:
If referrals aren't converting:
Incentive tests: Amount, type, single vs. double-sided, timing
Messaging tests: Program description, CTA copy, landing page copy
Placement tests: Where and when the referral prompt appears
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Low awareness | Add prominent in-app prompts |
| Low share rate | Simplify to one click |
| Low conversion | Optimize referred user experience |
| Fraud/abuse | Add verification, limits |
| One-time referrers | Add tiered/gamified rewards |
Program health:
Business impact:
Subject: You can now earn [reward] for sharing [Product]
We just launched our referral program!
Share [Product] with friends and earn [reward] for each signup.
They get [their reward] too.
[Unique referral link]
1. Share your link
2. Friend signs up
3. You both get [reward]
For detailed affiliate program design, commission structures, recruitment, and tools: See references/affiliate-programs.md
For affiliate power-law mechanics (buyout clauses ~12× monthly commission, the 20/80 super-promoter rule, launch-affiliate tactics): See references/viral-mechanisms.md
Reviews are the other half of customer advocacy. For review-request programs, responding to reviews, reputation triage, and reusing testimonials with permission (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, Google, app stores), see references/review-programs.md. Platform rules differ, so check references/review-platform-rules.md before proposing incentives or automation.
For implementation, see the tools registry. Key tools for referral programs:
| Tool | Best For | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Rewardful | Stripe-native affiliate programs | rewardful.md |
| Tolt | SaaS affiliate programs | tolt.md |
| Mention Me | Enterprise referral programs | mention-me.md |
| Dub.co | Link tracking and attribution | dub-co.md |
| Stripe | Payment processing (for commission tracking) | stripe.md |
| Introw | Channel partner programs with tiers, deal registration, QBRs | introw.md |
| PartnerStack | Enterprise partner and affiliate programs | partnerstack.md |