Industry · D2C

Rewards that grow as fans bring friends.

Start with the Startup Prelaunch before a launch, or the Milestone Referral for a reward at every step. Each friend who signs up moves the customer toward a reward you choose, such as a discount, free product or early access.

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Used by D2C brands

How do D2C brands run referrals?

A discount for both sides, a pre-launch list, free chairs for friends who buy and a challenge with milestones, each from a real D2C brand.

Discount for both sidesHalo HeadbandSweat-blocking sports headbands, Canada
The friend gets 10% off and the customer 20% on that friend's first purchase, with bonus tiers at 1, 3 and 10 referrals.
TemplateViral Loops for Shopify
Pre-launch referralsBrand of supplement drink mixes
A pre-launch referral page. People earn towards product for every friend they refer before the launch.
TemplateThe Universal Referral
Free product for friends who buyCLIQUltra-compact portable outdoor chairs
Owners send friends 20% off, and every 2 friends who buy earn a free chair: one at 2, two at 4 and three at 6.
TemplateThe Milestone Referral
Challenge with milestonesWeighted jump ropes and a workout app
People invite friends to its free 30-day Summer Jump Rope Challenge, with 5 milestones to reach.
TemplateThe Milestone Referral

“The interesting thing about Viral Loops was that it actually saved us money. … it turned each sign up into 1.4 sign-ups, which cuts the CPL.”

Jake MelletCo-founder, JustWears (then JoeyWears)

Case study

What counts as a referral for D2C brands?

You decide where a referral counts. This is the usual route, with the tools that report each step.

All integrations

A customer shares their link
From your site, a hosted page, or the Klaviyo and Mailchimp emails you already send.
A friend joins in
Your launch list, a challenge or a giveaway, on your own site or a page Viral Loops hosts.
It counts when they sign up
Each friend who joins through the link moves the customer toward the next reward. To count a first order instead, Shopify brands use the Viral Loops Shopify app.
They earn the reward
Free product, early access or a discount at each milestone, or merchandise and gift cards through Sendoso.

Works with

ShopifyStore
KlaviyoEmail
MailchimpEmail
BrevoEmail
MetaAds
Google AnalyticsAnalytics
WebflowWebsite
WordPressWebsite
SendosoGifts
TremendousRewards
Zapier500+ more apps
Webhooks & APIDevelopers

Which template should D2C brands start with?

All templates

How did it go for JoeyWears (now JustWears)?

Customer storyJoeyWears built the email list for its Kickstarter launch with a milestone referral prelaunch.Every sign‑up brought 1.4 sign‑ups

FAQ

D2C FAQ

Can we build a list before a launch?

Yes. Everyone who joins gets a place in line and a personal link, and every friend who joins through it moves them closer to the top. The Startup Prelaunch template is on every plan.

Can rewards grow as a customer brings more friends?

Yes, with milestones. Set how many friends each reward takes, from a discount to free product, and each milestone sends its own email the moment it is reached. The Milestone Referral template is on Plus and up.

Can a first order count instead of a sign-up?

Yes, on Shopify. The Viral Loops Shopify app counts the friend's first order through the link and creates the discount codes in your store.

Will the program look like our brand?

Yes. Viral Loops AI reads your colors, fonts and tone of voice from your website, and you can edit the widgets, pages and emails before you launch. Removing the Viral Loops branding is on Growing and Power.

Can our Klaviyo emails carry the referral link?

Yes. New participants go to your Klaviyo list with their referral code and share link, so your own flows can include it. Klaviyo connects on every plan.