Member Referral Programme
Set up and manage your referral programme to incentivise existing members to bring in new customers through word-of-mouth marketing.
Overview
Word-of-mouth referrals are one of the most effective ways to grow your gym. Members who join through referrals typically have higher retention rates and lifetime value. Our referral system makes it easy to reward both referrers and new members.
Referrer Benefits
Reward existing members for successful referrals
New Member Perks
Welcome offers for referred new signups
Growth Tracking
Monitor referral performance and ROI
How It Works
Member Shares
Unique referral link or code
Friend Signs Up
Using the referral link
Both Get Rewarded
After qualifying action
Setting Up Your Programme
Access Referral Settings
Go to Marketing → Referral Programme in your dashboard. Toggle the programme on to activate referrals.
Configure Referrer Rewards
Choose what existing members receive for successful referrals:
- Credit: Add credit to their account (e.g., £10)
- Free month: Extend membership for free
- Discount: Percentage off next payment
- Free classes: Complimentary class passes
- Gift: Physical merchandise or products
Set New Member Benefits
Configure what referred new members receive:
- Joining discount: % or fixed amount off first payment
- Free trial: Extended trial period
- Welcome pack: Free products or merch
- Waived fees: No joining fee
Define Qualifying Actions
Set when rewards are triggered:
- On signup: Immediately when friend joins
- First payment: After first successful payment
- Retention period: After X days/weeks of membership
- First visit: When they check in for the first time
Set Limits
- Max referrals: Limit how many people each member can refer
- Time limit: How long referral links are valid
- Max rewards: Cap total rewards per referrer
Requiring a qualifying action like "first payment" or "30-day retention" prevents abuse and ensures you're rewarding genuine referrals.
Referral Sharing Methods
Unique Referral Links
Each member gets a unique URL they can share via:
- Social media (one-click share buttons)
- WhatsApp / SMS
- Copy & paste anywhere
Referral Codes
Personal codes that friends enter at signup:
- Auto-generated or custom codes
- Easy to remember (e.g., JOHN2024)
- Works for in-person referrals
- Trackable in your dashboard
Member Experience
For Referring Members:
1. Find referral link in their member app/portal under "Refer a Friend"
2. Share via their preferred method (social, message, email)
3. Track referral status in their account
4. Receive notification when reward is credited
5. View referral history and total rewards earned
For New Members:
1. Click referral link or enter code during signup
2. See their welcome discount/benefit applied
3. Complete signup with benefit clearly shown
4. Both parties notified of successful referral
Promoting Your Programme
Email Campaigns
Send targeted emails to engaged members:
- New programme announcement
- Monthly referral reminders
- Success stories from top referrers
- Limited-time bonus rewards
Additional Promotion Ideas:
- • Display in member app dashboard prominently
- • Posters in gym with QR codes
- • Mention at check-in for engaged members
- • Social media posts showcasing rewards
- • Staff training to mention referrals
- • Referral leaderboard with prizes
The best time to ask for referrals is when members are most satisfied - after a great class, achieving a goal, or completing their first month successfully.
Tracking & Analytics
Key Metrics
• Total referrals: All-time successful referrals
• Conversion rate: Link clicks to signups
• Top referrers: Your best advocates
• Average value: Revenue per referred member
• Retention: How long referred members stay
Reports Available
• Monthly referral summary
• Referrer leaderboard
• Referral source breakdown
• Reward costs vs revenue generated
• Export to CSV for detailed analysis
Tiered Referral Rewards
Motivate members to refer more by increasing rewards at higher tiers.
Tiered rewards create excitement and friendly competition. Consider adding a public leaderboard to gamify the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if someone tries to refer themselves?
The system automatically detects and prevents self-referrals by checking email addresses, payment methods, and device fingerprints.
Can I run limited-time referral bonuses?
Yes! Create special campaigns with enhanced rewards for specific periods (e.g., "Double rewards in January"). These overlay your standard programme.
How are rewards delivered?
Credit is automatically added to member accounts. Free months extend their billing date. Physical rewards need manual fulfillment (you'll receive a notification).
Can I exclude certain memberships from the programme?
Yes, you can configure which membership types are eligible for referral rewards. For example, exclude trial memberships or heavily discounted corporate plans.