Newsletter template · Inspired by Morning Brew
The Newsletter Referral
The Newsletter Referral is a newsletter referral program template: every subscriber gets a personal link inside your newsletter and unlocks better rewards at each milestone, like Morning Brew’s program.
- Best for
- Newsletters that grow through readers
- Who gets rewarded
- The subscriber, at each milestone
- A referral counts when
- A friend subscribes
- Plan
- All plans
Your rewards
3 friends joined
2 more to unlock online event
- Reader shout-out1 friendUnlocked
- Exclusive content3 friendsUnlocked
- 5Online event5 friends2 to go
- 10Merch pack10 friends7 to go
Unlocked: Exclusive content
Campaigns run on the Newsletter Referral
How does the Newsletter Referral work?
The link lives in your newsletter, so every issue asks for one more referral.
- 1
Subscribers get a link
Every subscriber gets a personal referral link inside your newsletter.
- 2
They refer friends
They send it to friends by email, X, Facebook or WhatsApp and ask them to subscribe.
- 3
They get rewarded
With every milestone, they unlock a better reward.
Who is the Newsletter Referral for?
News and media newsletters
Readers pass it on, like a baton: rewards from coffee cards to merch for the ones who bring the most.
Run by
- The Know
Professional publications
Members share the newsletter with peers and unlock a sticker pack, then a campfire mug.
Run by
Podcasts
Listeners who refer friends unlock unreleased episodes, early access to the next season and a jacket.
Run by
Research and webinars
Subscribers who refer colleagues unlock a mug, a training discount and a free consultation.
Run by
What rewards can you offer with the Newsletter Referral?
Newsletter rewards cost little: access, recognition and, for the top readers, merch.
| Milestone | Example reward | Delivered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 friend | Reader shout-out | In your next issue |
| 3 friends | Exclusive content | A link by email |
| 5 friends | Invite to an online event | By email |
| 10 friends | Merch pack | Sent by you |
Example rewards from our newsletter guide. Readers see their link and rewards on a sharing page, and you see which channels they share through.
Results with the Newsletter Referral
Customer story · Newsletter Referralthe 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 · 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 · 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 · Milestone Referral
Prentus, a career platform, launched with a waiting list that unlocked rewards as people referred friends.20% referral rate
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 Newsletter Referral?
Connects to your email platform with copy and paste, in about 15 minutes. Zapier, webhooks and the API connect anything not listed.
All integrationsWidgets
- Email widget for your newsletter
- Form
- Milestones
- Invitee form
Pages
- Sharing page
- Hosted subscriber page
Works with
MailchimpEmail
KlaviyoEmail
ActiveCampaignEmail
HubSpotCRM
Zapier500+ more apps
FAQ
Newsletter Referral FAQ
Which email platforms does it work with?
Any platform with merge tags that lets you add HTML blocks, including Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, HubSpot, AWeber, Ghost and Substack. Zapier connects the rest.
How do existing subscribers get their link?
Connect your email platform and every subscriber gets a personal sharing link, which the email widget shows in each issue.
What rewards should a newsletter offer?
Exclusive content or online events, shout-outs, a private community, or merchandise for your top referrers.
Can I see where referrals come from?
Yes. See referred subscribers, shares, and the channels readers share through, so you know what works.
Which plan includes it?
Every plan, from Start-up up.
Start with the Newsletter Referral.
Plans start at $35 a month, billed annually. Try it free for 14 days, or talk to our team.