5 Ways to Promote Your Referral Program So People Actually Use It

You've built the referral program. Commission rates are set. Gift cards are ready to go. There's just one problem: nobody's using it.

This is the most common gap in referral marketing. The system works, but promotion falls flat. People don't share referral links by default. They need to be reminded, nudged, and given easy opportunities to do it.

Here are five strategies that actually work.

1. Mention It at Checkout (Every Single Time)

The end of an appointment is when your client is happiest. They just got a great haircut, a relaxing massage, or a perfect manicure. This is the moment with the highest referral intent.

Train your staff to say something like:

"By the way, we have a referral program. If you refer a friend, they get a $15 gift card and you earn $20 when they come in. Want me to text you your link?"

That's it. No hard sell. Just information at the right moment.

Why it works: People are most likely to refer immediately after a positive experience. Give them the tool (their referral link) while the experience is fresh.

2. Add Your Referral Link to Square Receipts

Every Square receipt is a touchpoint. Add your referral portal URL or a short message about your referral program to your receipt footer.

Something like:

"Love your visit? Earn gift cards by referring friends: acme.viralref.com/portal"

You can customize receipt footers in your Square Dashboard under Account & Settings > Receipts.

Why it works: Receipts reach 100% of paying customers. Even if they don't act immediately, the seed is planted.

3. Put the Referral Link in Your Instagram Bio

For service businesses, Instagram is the primary social channel. Your bio link is prime real estate.

Instead of linking to your booking page alone, use a link-in-bio tool or just replace it with your referral portal link. Better yet, create an Instagram Story highlighting the program:

• Show the gift card amount
• Explain that both the referrer and their friend get rewarded
• Add a "Link in bio" call to action

Why it works: Instagram is where people already share recommendations ("I love your hair, who's your stylist?"). Making the referral link accessible there captures that intent.

4. Send a Post-Appointment Text or Email

Timing matters. Send an automated message 1-2 hours after each appointment:

"Thanks for visiting today! Did you know you can earn gift cards by referring friends? Here's your referral link: [link]. They'll get $15 off their first visit, and you'll earn $20."

Keep it short, personal, and focused on the benefit.

Why it works: This catches people when they're still thinking about their visit. A text message has a 98% open rate (compared to ~20% for email), making SMS the stronger channel for this.

5. Run a Limited-Time Bounty Challenge

A bounty (or challenge) adds urgency. Instead of a passive "refer a friend" message, create a specific, time-bound campaign:

"February Referral Challenge: Refer 3 friends this month and earn a bonus $50 gift card on top of your regular rewards."

Announce it on social media, in-store, and via text. The deadline creates urgency. The bonus creates motivation.

Why it works: Urgency and bonus rewards spike participation. People who might never share their link under normal circumstances will share it when there's a deadline and extra incentive.

The Common Thread

All five strategies share one principle: make the referral link visible at the moment of highest intent.

That moment is different for each channel:

• At checkout: Right after a great experience
• On receipts: At the point of payment
• On Instagram: When someone asks "who does your hair?"
• In follow-up texts: While the experience is fresh
• During a challenge: When urgency and rewards align

Your referral program is only as good as its promotion. The technology handles tracking, attribution, and rewards. Your job is to make sure people know the link exists and have an easy reason to share it.

Getting Started

If you haven't launched your referral program yet, you can be up and running in under 5 minutes:

1. Connect your Square account
2. Create a program with your reward structure
3. Add your first affiliates or enable the viral loop
4. Start promoting with the strategies above

The best time to launch was last month. The second best time is today.