> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://partner-help.letsdothis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Referral Programs

> Turn participants into advocates by rewarding them for bringing friends. You set the reward structure and payout date; the platform handles the rest.

Referral programs let you reward participants for bringing friends to your events. After booking, participants receive a personal referral link to share. When a friend uses that link to sign up, both earn a reward. You control the reward structure, which events qualify, whether referred friends also get a discount, and when payouts are processed.

<Info>
  Referrals are only available on events where the highest ticket price is more
  than 10 in the event's currency. Events below this threshold don't show the
  referral prompt to participants.
</Info>

## Setting up a referral program

Go to **Marketing** → **Referrals** and click **Create referral program**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Program details">
    Give the program a **name** (internal) and optional **description**. If you have multiple brand themes set up on your account, pick one from the **Theme** dropdown — it controls how referral emails and landing pages are styled.

    Set the **status** to **Active** when you're ready for participants to start earning, or leave it as **Draft** while you configure it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a reward type">
    Select how referrers earn their reward:

    * **Rolling** — the referrer earns a fixed reward for every qualifying referral they make. One rule, repeated per referral.
    * **Milestone** — the referrer earns increasing rewards as they hit referral thresholds. You can add multiple rules to build a tiered ladder (e.g. 5 referrals earns \$25, 10 referrals earns \$60).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set reward rules">
    For each rule, enter the **reward amount**, **currency**, and **threshold** (the number of referrals needed to earn it).

    For milestone programs you can add more rules with **Add another rule** to build a payout ladder. Rolling programs use a single rule applied per referral.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Optionally offer a discount to referred friends">
    Toggle on **Enable discount** to give referred participants a discount when they check out. Choose either a **percentage** or a **flat rate** off their order.

    This is separate from the referrer's reward — it's an incentive for the new participant to complete their booking.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a payout date">
    Under **Refund**, pick a **refund date**. On this date, all earned rewards are processed in bulk and refunded directly to referrers' original payment methods — no action needed from you on the day.

    We recommend setting this to a date after your event has taken place. This ensures all eligible referrals are counted and gives time for any cancelled or refunded entries to be resolved before payouts run — a referral is only valid once the referred participant's booking is confirmed and settled.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restrict to specific events (optional)">
    By default the program applies to all your events. Use the event picker under **Availability** to include only specific event occurrences.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How referrals work for participants

<Steps>
  <Step title="Participant completes a booking">
    After checkout, the booking confirmation page shows a referral block
    inviting them to share their personal referral link.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Participant shares their link">
    They copy the link and share it however they like — message, social media,
    email. The link is tied to their account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Friend clicks the link and books">
    The friend lands on a referral page showing who referred them. If you've
    configured a friend discount, it's applied automatically at checkout.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Referrer earns a reward">
    Once the friend's booking is confirmed, the referrer's reward total is
    updated. They receive an email notification at each milestone or rolling
    interval they reach.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rewards are paid out on the refund date">
    On the date you set, all earned rewards are refunded to referrers in bulk.
    Each referrer receives a confirmation email when their funds are sent.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Emails participants receive

The platform sends three types of email to referrers automatically — you don't need to configure them.

| Email                      | When it's sent                                                                                                                                 |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Milestone reached**      | When a referrer hits a new milestone threshold (milestone programs only). Shows their updated reward total, the new tier, and the payout date. |
| **Referral reward earned** | When a referrer completes another qualifying interval (rolling programs only). Shows their accumulated reward total and the payout date.       |
| **Funds sent**             | After the bulk payout runs and their reward has been processed. Confirms the amount they received.                                             |

All emails are branded using the theme you selected for the program.

## Program statuses

| Status        | Meaning                                                                  |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Draft**     | Configured but not yet live. Participants don't see the referral prompt. |
| **Active**    | Live. Participants earn rewards for qualifying referrals.                |
| **Paused**    | Temporarily suspended. No new rewards are earned while paused.           |
| **Completed** | Payout has run and the program is closed.                                |
| **Cancelled** | Ended without payout.                                                    |

## When referrals don't appear

The referral block is not shown to a participant if:

* The highest ticket price for the event is 10 or less in the event's currency.
* The participant is editing an existing booking rather than making a new one.
* The booking was made with a reservation code.

In these situations no error is shown — the referral block is simply omitted from the confirmation page.