How to make changes to your referral program
Let’s say you want to increase your existing GrowSurf referral reward from $50 to $100 as part of a temporary promotional campaign. This guide serves as an end-to-end checklist covering the updates you may need to make across your GrowSurf program and related implementation areas.
Marketing checklist
🚀 = Use reward metadata to save time on these steps
- Update your rewards (in Program Editor > 1. Rewards)
- 🚀 Update Share > Social Share messages (in Program Editor > 2. Design)
- 🚀 If your referral portal uses the sliding GrowSurf window, update the window Header Content (in Program Editor > 2. Design)
- Update the Referral Portal text, if applicable (in Program Editor > 2. Design)
- Update the Referral Portal FAQs and Terms, if applicable (in Program Editor > 2. Design)
- 🚀 Update your email messaging to ensure all outdated reward references are replaced (in Program Editor > 3. Emails)
- If you are using a reward automation integration (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, or Tango Card), update any reward values (e.g., $50) to reflect the new reward amounts (in Program Editor > 4. Options)
Review Your Referral Portal
- If using the GrowSurf-hosted referral portal (e.g., https://grow.surf/p9josq), visit the page to confirm that all messaging and reward references have been updated
- If applicable, double-check that your custom referral portal domain is still functioning properly (e.g., https://refer.yoursite.com)
Coordinate With Your Development Team
Work with your development team to complete the following updates:
- Ensure your website and/or web app displays the updated referral messaging in headers, footers, banners, or other promotional areas
- If connected to an email service provider like Mailchimp, update any referral-related email copy and images
- If using your own website or web app as a referral portal, verify that all updates appear correctly throughout the experience
- If referral program messaging appears elsewhere on your website or web app, provide your developer with the updated messaging and assets
Coordinate With Your Customer Success Team
- Inform your customer success team about the new referral promotion and updated reward values
- Establish or update any customer communication protocols related to the promotion
Update Your Marketing Plan
- Determine the official launch date for the promotion or reward changes
- Schedule email announcements and social media campaigns
- Include referral link promotions in upcoming marketing emails and campaigns
Development checklist
Provide this checklist to your development team or developer.
🚀 = Use reward metadata to save time on these steps
- 🚀 If you are using Webhooks or Zapier to automate rewards, update any reward values or related logic as needed (provided by marketing). View how to set up dynamic rewards.
- Ensure your website and/or web app displays the updated header/footer messaging provided by marketing
- If connected to an ESP like Mailchimp, update referral-related email messaging and/or images in your email templates
- If using your own website or web app as a referral portal, verify that all text and page elements reflect the updated messaging
- If your website or web app contains referral program promotions (e.g., header/footer links or banners), update them with the latest messaging provided by marketing
- Test the referral flow to ensure referral tracking and referral triggers are still functioning correctly
- Verify that rewards unlock properly and that referral emails are being sent successfully
Customer success checklist
Provide this checklist to your customer success lead or manager.
- If rewards were updated, inform your team about the upcoming changes and when they will take effect
- Update or create canned responses for referral-related customer questions
- Implement a formal referral request process for support and customer success teams during positive customer interactions and support tickets