Referral template · Inspired by Harry’s
The Milestone Referral
The Milestone Referral is a tiered referral program template: participants unlock better and better rewards as they reach milestones by inviting their friends, the way Harry’s rewarded its launch list.
- Best for
- Ambassador and ongoing programs
- Who gets rewarded
- The referrer, at each milestone
- A referral counts when
- A friend signs up, or buys
- Plan
- Plus and up
Your rewards
3 friends joined
2 more to unlock exclusive content
- 10% off coupon1 friendUnlocked
- Brand T-shirt3 friendsUnlocked
- 5Exclusive content5 friends2 to go
- 10Official ambassador10 friends7 to go
Unlocked: Brand T-shirt
Campaigns run on the Milestone Referral
How does the Milestone Referral work?
Every friend moves your customer closer to the next reward, so there is always a reason to share once more.
- 1
Customers get referral links
Everyone gets a link automatically, or opts in through a form.
- 2
They refer friends
A referral counts when the friend becomes a customer, subscriber or lead.
- 3
More referrals, better rewards
Each milestone unlocks its reward, and an email tells them what they won.
Who is the Milestone Referral for?
Subscriptions
Members refer members, and a referral counts when the friend subscribes. Better rewards at every step, up to cash for the first to 30.
Run by
Ecommerce brands
Customers send friends a discount and earn more as their friends buy, from free products to a 30-day challenge.
Run by
Launches and waitlists
A prelaunch list where every milestone unlocks the next reward, from early access to lifetime discounts.
Run by
Newsletters and communities
Readers unlock a bonus issue, stickers, a mug or a tee as they bring more readers.
Run by
What rewards can you offer with the Milestone Referral?
Pick each reward and how many referrals it takes. Start small, and save the best for the last milestone.
| Milestone | Example reward | Delivered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 friend | 10% off coupon | Code by email |
| 3 friends | Brand T-shirt | Sent by you, or through Sendoso |
| 5 friends | Exclusive content | Access by email |
| 10 friends | Official ambassador title | Announced by your team |
Example rewards from our own guides. Each milestone sends its own email, and you see who unlocked every reward. Automatic rewarding through Stripe or Tremendous is on the Growing plan and up.
Results with the Milestone Referral
Customer story · Milestone Referral
Growth Tribe went from idea to an online growth marketing summit in one month, with an ambassador program.A third of all registrations came from referrals
Customer story · Milestone Referral
JoeyWears built the email list for its Kickstarter launch with a milestone referral prelaunch.Every sign‑up brought 1.4 sign‑ups
Customer story · Milestone Referral
Prentus, a career platform, launched with a waiting list that unlocked rewards as people referred friends.20% referral rate
Customer story · Tempting Giveaway
Mustard built a new audience for Camp Bestival Shropshire with a referral giveaway before the ticket pre-sale.30% more sign‑ups from referrals
Customer story · Newsletter Referral
the DONUT, a daily news newsletter, was one of the first to run the Newsletter Referral, rewarding its readers.From zero to tens of thousands of subscribers
Customer story · Startup Prelaunchultimate.money, a DeFi wallet, opened its private beta with a referral waitlist people climbed by inviting friends.200,000 people in the first four weeks
What’s included in the Milestone Referral?
No code, or your own form through the SDK or API. Zapier, webhooks and the API connect anything not listed.
All integrationsWidgets
- Form
- Milestones
- Referral count
- Progress tracking
Pages
- Hosted Viral Loops Page
Emails
- An email for each milestone
Works with
MailchimpEmail
KlaviyoEmail
HubSpotCRM
SendosoGifts
TremendousRewards
Zapier500+ more apps
FAQ
Milestone Referral FAQ
How does a milestone work?
Participants invite a set number of friends to reach the first milestone and win its reward, then invite more to reach the next, up to the final reward.
What rewards work best?
Anything your audience values: a coupon at the first milestone, a T-shirt or stickers at the next, exclusive content, event tickets, or a title like official ambassador.
When does a friend count?
When they sign up, or when they convert, like a purchase or a paid plan. You choose.
How do participants know they won?
Each milestone has its own email, sent the moment it is reached. The milestone widget also shows where they are and what comes next.
Which plan includes it?
The Milestone Referral is on the Plus plan and up. Automatic rewarding is on Growing and up.
Start with the Milestone Referral.
Plans start at $35 a month, billed annually. Try it free for 14 days, or talk to our team.