# 18 Referral Program Global

Use when customers should bring other customers, one-way versus two-way incentives...

- Repository: https://github.com/minhnv0807/ai-business-skills (641 stars)
- Category: Marketing
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add minhnv0807/ai-business-skills --skill 18-referral-program-global -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add minhnv0807/ai-business-skills --skill 18-referral-program-global -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add minhnv0807/ai-business-skills --skill 18-referral-program-global -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add minhnv0807/ai-business-skills --skill 18-referral-program-global -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add minhnv0807/ai-business-skills`

## Description

Use when customers should bring other customers, one-way versus two-way incentives, reward structure and economics, trigger moments, referral messaging, tracking and attribution, fraud controls, and anti-spam compliance by region: TCPA for US, GDPR for EU, PDPA for SEA, LGPD for LATAM. Trigger on 'referral program', 'refer a friend', 'word of mouth', 'viral loop', 'how do I get customers to bring friends', 'affiliate rewards'. Also use when the user has happy customers and no system to use them. Not for, running your own community space, see `28-community-building-global`; posting inside third-party communities, see `38-community-seeding-global`; email flow mechanics, see `14-email-marketing-global`.

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

# Referral Program (Global)

> Word of mouth is the highest-LTV acquisition channel in every region. But the LEGAL framework around how you contact referred prospects differs HUGELY: TCPA (US, SMS), GDPR (EU, all channels), PDPA (SEA), LGPD (LATAM). Pick the right region variant or get fined.

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## For newbies

### Who is this skill for?

| Audience | Concrete example |
|----------|------------------|
| DTC brand wanting cheaper acquisition | Already at USD 30 CAC; want USD 10 CAC via referral |
| SaaS adding viral loop | Existing PMF; want negative CAC growth |
| Service business (coaching, agency) | High-LTV; want client referrals |
| Subscription brand | High retention; turn customers into ambassadors |
| E-commerce wanting AOV growth | Refer a friend = both get discount |

### Who is this NOT for?

- **Vietnam-only referral** -> Use `18-referral-program` (VN skill), Zalo / Messenger optimized
- **B2B enterprise sales** -> ABM / partnership programs are different motion (not covered here)
- **Brand ambassador / affiliate** -> Use `27-personal-brand-monetize-global` for influencer-affiliate (when available)

### 30-second pre-read

This skill produces ONE referral program design with 6 components: model selection (1-way / 2-way / multi-tier), incentive math (% of LTV), tracking infrastructure, anti-fraud measures, launch sequence, and KPIs (K-factor, viral coefficient). Pick 1 of 4 region variants, the variant tunes the LEGAL rules for contacting referred prospects (especially via SMS/email).

### 3 common errors

1. **SMS-based referral in US without TCPA consent** -> Up to USD 1,500 per text fines + class actions
2. **Email-blast referred contacts in EU** -> GDPR violation; referral programs touching EU prospects need explicit consent from the prospect, NOT just the referrer
3. **Cash incentives that violate FTC endorsement rules** -> "Refer a friend, get USD 100" requires disclosed material connection if referrer posts publicly

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The rest: https://github.com/minhnv0807/ai-business-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/en/18-referral-program-global/SKILL.md