Referral marketing software for the win: Our top 20 picks

We’re living in an era of customer engagement, where every delighted client can become your best marketer. For businesses today, referral marketing is revolutionizing growth. In fact, 64% of marketing executives believe that word-of-mouth referrals are the most effective form of marketing.

This strategy transforms satisfied customers into brand champions who actively refer new business. When customers have a recommendation from a friend, they are 4x more likely to make a purchase. Thanks to smart referral marketing software tools, it’s now easy to implement referral programs that drive results.

In this blog post, we’ve listed out 20 best referral marketing software tools to level up your referral game. Let’s dive in.

What is referral marketing?

Referral marketing is a strategy that encourages existing customers to refer new ones to your business. It’s an organic way that leverages the power of word-of-mouth — the most credible form of advertising — to grow your customer base.

Benefits of doing referral marketing

A whopping 83% of individuals trust referrals or recommendations from friends and family more than any other marketing channel. When it comes to B2B companies, the conversion rate for referrals stands at 11%, surpassing the average across all industries. Here’re a few compelling reasons why referral marketing holds potential as a growth strategy:

• Building trust: Referrals originate from trusted sources instilling confidence in new customers about your business.
• Cost-effectiveness: Referral marketing reduces the dependence on advertising by leveraging the network you have already established.
• Impressive conversion rates: People who are referred to your business are more likely to make purchases compared to those acquired through marketing methods.

Why use referral marketing software

Referral software tools help you tap into referrals without taxing your schedule. They take care of the busy work – sending invites, tracking new recruits, managing rewards – so you and your customers can focus on what matters. For you, it’s growing your business. For them, it’s enjoying rewards for spreading the word about an experience they love. Thus, referral software makes the entire process easy and mutually beneficial.

How to choose the best referral marketing software

Choosing the right software can feel overwhelming, but it’s incredibly important. When looking for the best referral marketing software, there’re a few key qualities to keep in mind:

• Seamless integration: The software should easily work with your existing tools, like your CRM or email platform.
• User-friendly: The software should be intuitive and straightforward for both your team and customers to use.
• Valuable analytics: The software should provide data on how your referral program is performing.

Best practices for implementing referral programs

Rolling out a referral program is a big step. Get it right and it can seriously pay off. Let’s take a look at a few expert tips to set your program up for success:

• Set clear goals: First, be crystal clear on your goals. More sales? More signups? Increased awareness? Define what winning looks like so you can focus your efforts.
• Choose appropriate incentives: Find rewards that make customers genuinely excited to participate. Creative perks like discounts, gift cards, and early access to new products, can work wonders.
• Simplify the process: Keep sharing simple. Make it effortless for people to spread the word with handy pre-written messages, automated invite features, seamless social sharing, etc.
• Promote your program: Promotion is key. Spread the news far and wide – email, social, and in-store displays – so customers remember this valuable perk awaits them.

Top 20 referral marketing software tools you must know about

Looking for the best referral marketing software tools for your business? Look no further. Here’s a list of 20 top-rated referral marketing software tools:

1. Birdeye
2. ReferralCandy
3. Mention Me
4. Ambassador
5. Post Affiliate Pro
6. Yotpo
7. Genius Referrals
8. Friendbuy
9. Extole
10. TapMango
11. Referral Rock
12. GrowSurf
13. Revetize
14. InviteReferrals
15. Hello Referrals
16. ReferralHero
17. Influitive
18. SaaSquatch
19. ReferralMagic
20. Refersion

Now, let’s take a deep dive into each of these referral marketing platforms:

1. Birdeye

Birdeye gives businesses everything they need to harness customer feedback and transform it into marketing fuel. The unified dashboard lets you oversee reviews from all platforms in one place, making it a breeze to chat with customers and fix problems.

Birdeye’s automated referral program makes it simple to encourage and reward word-of-mouth marketing, while integrations with CRM systems ensure a seamless customer journey. In addition, analytics offer actionable insights, making Birdeye a comprehensive tool for online reputation management and referral marketing. The key benefits include: 

• Centralized review management
• Multi-channel communication with customers
• Automated referral campaigns
• Integration with numerous CRM systems
• Comprehensive reporting and analytics

2. ReferralCandy

Tailored for e-commerce businesses, ReferralCandy automates the referral process for online stores by smoothly integrating with all the major platforms. You can customize rewards so incentives really excite your customers. Its fraud detection helps keep the program legit, while the analytics give you the down low on what’s working so you can fine-tune your approach. Here’re the key benefits:

• Easy integration with e-commerce platforms
• Customizable rewards for referrers
• Automated fraud detection
• In-depth tracking and analytics
• User-friendly interface for marketers and customers

3. Mention Me

Mention Me offers a variety of referral schemes. Its strengths lie in its A/B testing capabilities, allowing customers to make data-driven decisions. It also offers segmentation tools that provide personalized customer experiences. Mention Me’s key features include:

• Tailored referral schemes
• A/B testing for campaign optimization
• Segmentation and targeting
• Multi-language support for global reach
• Detailed reporting dashboard

4. Ambassador

Ambassador is a versatile platform that manages referral, affiliate, and influencer marketing programs all in one place. It offers customizable campaigns, real-time tracking, and powerful analytics, helping businesses to identify key influencers and track ROI. Ambassador’s major benefits include:

• Robust affiliate management features
• Flexible reward structures
• Scalable for businesses of all sizes
• Customizable to match brand aesthetics
• Omnichannel referral tracking

5. Post Affiliate Pro

Post Affiliate Pro is designed for businesses running affiliate programs. The tool offers precise tracking, a range of promotional materials, and customizable commission structures. Its dashboard simplifies affiliate management, while the fraud protection feature ensures the integrity of referrals. Here’re a few key benefits:

• Real-time tracking and reporting
• Customizable commission structures
• Wide range of promotional materials for affiliates
• Advanced fraud protection features
• User-friendly affiliate interface

6. Yotpo

Yotpo leverages customer reviews to boost referral efforts. It offers features like visual marketing tools and loyalty program integration to enhance the customer experience. Yotpo’s major features include:

• Generates and leverages customer reviews
• Visual marketing features for social proof
• Loyalty program integration
• Smart algorithm for targeting
• Comprehensive analytics suite

7. Genius Referrals

Genius Referrals lets you craft referral programs to match your business and keep tabs on referrals spreading far and wide. It integrates with various payment gateways to easily get rewards into the hands of your brand ambassadors. The key features of the platform are:

• Customizable referral programs
• Multi-tiered referral tracking
• Integration with payment gateways for rewards
• Detailed reporting on referral activities
• Responsive customer support

8. Friendbuy

Friendbuy specializes in offering solutions that are based on widgets. It provides templates and A/B testing options to enhance the user experience. With its automation features for email referrals, the tool simplifies the entire referral process. The key benefits of the platform include:

• Widget-based referral program implementation
• Customizable templates for brand consistency
• A/B testing for landing pages and widgets
• Email automation for referral invites
• Robust analytics and reporting tools

9. Extole

Extole offers customizable programs, emphasizing managing incentives and rewards. Its comprehensive solution for marketing includes performance tracking features and API access, allowing for better integration. Extole’s major features include:

• High-quality referral experiences
• Customizable referral marketing programs
• Incentive and reward management
• Detailed performance tracking
• API access for deeper integration

10. TapMango

TapMango provides a loyalty and referral program designed for in-store interactions, which makes it ideal for brick-and-mortar businesses. With its email and SMS marketing tools, TapMango enables communication with customers while also offering the ability to segment customers for personalized promotions.

• Comprehensive loyalty and referral program
• Tablet interface for in-store interactions
• Customizable rewards and promotions
• Email and SMS marketing tools
• Customer segmentation capabilities

11. Referral Rock

Referral Rock integrates seamlessly with a range of marketing tools and CRM systems. Its member portal simplifies referral tracking for program participants, while its customizable campaign features ensure adaptability to diverse marketing strategies.

• Integration with marketing tools and CRM
• Member portal for tracking referrals
• Customizable campaign creation
• Automated reward distribution
• Detailed reporting on program performance

12. GrowSurf

GrowSurf is a referral tool tailored for startups and tech companies, featuring automated referral tracking and viral loops. The platform is easy to deploy, and it offers customizable referral incentives.

• Campaigns for startups and tech companies
• Automated referral tracking and attribution
• Viral loops and leaderboards
• Customizable referral incentives
• Easy website integration

13. Revetize

Revetize is tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, emphasizing customer engagement through various channels. It streamlines the process of managing referrals, loyalty programs, and customer feedback, all in one platform.

• Combines referrals, loyalty, and reviews
• Targeted SMS and email marketing features
• Effective tools for online reputation management
• Easy integration with existing business systems
• User-friendly interface

14. InviteReferrals

InviteReferrals offers a wide range of features, including in-depth customer insights and the ability to customize campaigns. Its social sharing functionality allows referral programs to reach an audience while providing analytics to monitor performance.

• Multi-channel referral program execution
• Comprehensive customer insights
• Customizable referral marketing campaigns
• Social sharing capabilities
• Detailed analytics and reporting

15. Hello Referrals

Hello Referrals simplifies referral tracking and management, with task reminders and networking capabilities among users. Its performance measurement tools and direct communication features via email make it an efficient choice for businesses.

• Simple referral tracking and management
• Task reminders for follow-ups
• Network building among users
• Reporting tools for performance measurement
• Integration with email for direct communication

16. ReferralHero

Known for creating viral campaigns, ReferralHero offers customizable referral widgets and social media integration. Its analytics provide insights into customer behavior, and the platform’s email marketing features enhance customer engagement.

• Campaigns designed for maximum virality
• Customizable referral widgets and pages
• Social media integration for broader reach
• Detailed analytics on customer behavior
• Email marketing features for engagement

17. Influitive

Influitive is designed to build advocate communities, incorporating fun game-like features to engage users. It offers customizable rewards and integrates with marketing automation tools to create a seamless advocacy experience.

• Advocate community building
• Challenges and gamification for engagement
• Customizable rewards and recognition
• Integration with marketing automation tools
• Robust reporting on advocate activity

18. SaaSquatch

SaaSquatch streamlines referral programs for SaaS and subscription-based companies. Its automated reward system simplifies management, while the platform’s A/B testing ensures you’re getting the best results from your campaigns.

• Designed for subscription-based businesses
• Automated reward management
• Security features like fraud detection
• Personalized customer experiences
• A/B testing for optimal results

19. ReferralMagic

ReferralMagic is a straightforward and effective referral marketing solution, particularly suited for startups and digital businesses. Its design allows for easy implementation of referral programs directly into websites and apps.

• Seamless integration with websites and apps
• Customizable referral campaigns
• Comprehensive tracking of referrals and conversions
• White-label options for brand consistency
• Ideal for startups and established businesses

20. Refersion

Refersion simplifies affiliate marketing for online stores. It makes tracking easy and lets you set your own commission rates. The tool works well with e-commerce sites, linking referral activity to sales numbers. It also has an affiliate portal where partners can see their performance live.

• Affiliate and influencer tracking
• E-commerce integration
• Custom commission structures
• Real-time click and conversion tracking
• Affiliate portal for self-management

Emerging trends in referral marketing

The world of referral marketing is constantly changing, adapting to new technologies and shifts in consumer behavior. Here are a few trends that you should keep an eye on:

1. Influence of social media

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are becoming referral hubs as users rely on recommendations from influencers and their connections.

2. Mobile optimization

With the increasing use of smartphones, referral programs are now prioritizing mobile accessibility to ensure convenience in accessing and sharing.

3. Personalization

Advanced data analytics enable more personalized referral offers, leading to higher conversion rates.

4. Gamification

Adding game-like elements to referral programs boosts engagement and encourages active participation.

5. Integration with loyalty programs

Combining referral programs with loyalty points or rewards fosters a sense of community and encourages ongoing engagement.

Referral marketing success stories

Here’s a couple of real-world examples of the power of referral marketing software:

The Dropbox story

Dropbox rolled out the “refer a friend” program, rewarding users with extra storage space for every new user they brought on board. Thanks to this clever strategy, the company saw its user base explode from 150,000 to a whopping 33.7 million registered users by 2017.

IDFC got it right

IDFC Bank in India tackled the competitive banking sector without spending much on ads. They chose to use referral marketing to get more customers to open savings accounts. By asking current customers to refer friends, the bank saw a 120% jump in engagement. Plus, they cut the cost of getting new customers by 90%.

FAQs about Referral Marketing Software Tools

Referral marketing holds a strong position in the world of business. By leveraging the power of recommendations, companies can break free from the constraints of marketing and cultivate natural growth to establish a strong foothold in the market.

How Birdeye can help

Birdeye stands out as a solution that goes beyond referrals. It acts as an all-in-one platform that assists businesses in managing reviews, engaging in meaningful customer interactions, and building a robust digital presence through online listings. All of these are essential components of a successful referral marketing strategy. With its comprehensive toolkit, Birdeye can help businesses:

• Automate operations: Save time by automating the collection and management of referrals and feedback.
• Enhance visibility: Improve your online presence through better reviews and customer stories.
• Drive engagement: Use insights from customer interactions to make your referral program more compelling.
• Boost revenue: Convert happy customers into referral sources and track the revenue growth from these efforts.
• Stay competitive: Use Birdeye’s analytics to stay ahead of the curve and continuously improve your referral strategy.

Ready to get more referrals with Birdeye? Click on the banner below to discover how it can help your business grow.