# Turn happy customers into people who send you work

> Customers get a personal link or code to share. You see who referred whom, and reward both the customer and the friend they brought in. Can be added to any plan; standard on Pro.

- Source: https://nerdsharks.com/features/referral-programme
- Publisher: Nerdsharks (Exeter, Devon, UK)
- Updated: 2026-09-27

Most local businesses already live on word of mouth, but it is hard to know who is recommending you and harder still to thank them. A referral programme gives each customer a personal link or code to pass on. When a friend uses it to book or buy, your site records who referred whom, and both people can be rewarded with whatever you choose, such as money off their next visit or a gift voucher. You can see which customers send the most work your way. Rewards are only given once the new customer has actually booked or paid, which you control. A referral programme can be added to any plan, priced on your call, and comes as standard on Pro.

## How it works

1. **Each customer gets a link or code** - After a booking or purchase, customers can find their personal referral link or code in their account or in their confirmation email, ready to share.
2. **Friends use it to book or buy** - When someone follows the link or enters the code, your site remembers who sent them, even if they come back later to book.
3. **You see who referred whom** - Your admin area lists each referral, who made it and whether the new customer has booked or paid, so there is no guesswork.
4. **Both sides are rewarded** - Once the new customer qualifies under your rules, both people get their reward by email, as a discount code or voucher to use on your site.

## Why it matters

- **Word of mouth you can see** - Recommendations stop being invisible. You know which customers are sending friends your way and how much work it brings in.
- **A proper thank-you** - Rewarding customers who recommend you encourages them to keep doing it, and it feels good to be thanked by a local business.
- **New customers who trust you already** - People who come through a friend’s recommendation usually arrive ready to book, because someone they know has vouched for you.

## Questions

### Which plan includes a referral programme?

Any plan. A referral programme can be added to Monthly or Own It, priced on your call, and comes as standard on Pro. We confirm the price before any work starts.

### What rewards can I offer?

Usually money off a future booking, a free extra or a gift voucher to use on your site. You set the reward and when it is earned, such as after the new customer’s first paid visit.

### Can people cheat the system?

Rewards are only given once the new customer has actually booked or paid, and you can check each referral before it is approved. That stops most attempts to game it.

### Do I need customer accounts for this?

It works best with customer accounts, so people can find their link easily, but referral codes can also be sent in confirmation emails without an account.