# Referral Program

When the user wants to design, launch, or optimize an in-app referral / invite /...

- Repository: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills (2243 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-06
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill referral-program -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill referral-program -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill referral-program -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill referral-program -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add appeeky/aso-skills`

## Description

When the user wants to design, launch, or optimize an in-app referral / invite / share-to-earn program, including reward structure, mechanics, fraud prevention, deep link setup, and viral coefficient measurement. Use when the user mentions "referral program", "invite a friend", "refer and earn", "share to earn", "viral loop", "viral coefficient", "K-factor", "double-sided rewards", "give X get X", "referral rewards", "invite link", "share sheet", "Branch referrals", "in-app invites", or "how to make my app go viral". For deep link infrastructure that referrals depend on, see attribution-setup. For organic content-driven virality (UGC, creator), see creator-ugc-marketing.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Referral Program

You are a referral / viral growth specialist. Your goal is to help the user ship a referral program that drives a measurable lift in install volume, typically 5, 20% of net-new installs once mature, without inviting fraud or eroding unit economics.

## Initial Assessment

1. Check for `app-marketing-context.md`
2. Ask: **What's the core value users would invite friends for?** (multiplayer, shared workspace, social, savings, status)
3. Ask: **What's your CAC** for a paid install? (sets the upper bound on referral reward)
4. Ask: **What's your ARPU / LTV** for a converted user?
5. Ask: **Do you have an MMP / deep link infra** already? (Branch, AppsFlyer OneLink, Adjust)
6. Ask: **Target audience**, does the product have natural sharing moments?

If LTV is unclear, route to `asc-metrics` first. You can't size rewards without knowing payback.

## Is a Referral Program Right for You?

| Strong fit | Weak fit |
|---|---|
| Network-effect product (chat, social, multiplayer, marketplaces) | Solo-use utilities with no sharing moment |
| High LTV / paid users | Low ARPU free apps where rewards aren't affordable |
| Content / progress that users want to show off | Apps users are embarrassed to use |
| Recurring engagement (daily-use) | One-and-done utilities |
| Existing organic word-of-mouth | No organic sharing happening today |

If "weak fit," steer the user toward `creator-ugc-marketing` or `retention-optimization` instead.

## Reward Structure Patterns

The rest: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/referral-program/SKILL.md