11 Best Referral Email Templates [2024]

Updated: February 22nd, 2024

Referral emails are a powerful tool that you have at your disposal. If you do it right, it can be one of the most effective marketing tools on your list. A referral email is a type of email you send to happy customers, which encourages them to refer their friends to your business.

There are many different ways to source customer referrals, but a referral email tends to be one of the easiest methods – especially when you have pre-written and pre-formatted referral email templates ready to go.

Here are 11 free Referral Email templates to use in 2024 that will save you time and help you with your email marketing efforts.

What To Include In Your Referral Email

When it comes down to crafting your email, there are a few key elements to include:

  1. State the reason for the email.
  2. Show appreciation.
  3. Be clear and specific as to what they need to do next.
  4. Include the referral code.
  5. Be clear and specific as to what they need to do next.

After a positive review or social media comment

title={product name} review on {social media site} Hello [Customer name],

We saw your recent [review/social media comment], and wanted to reach out to show our gratitude.

We’re so glad [mention the need you met based on the feedback they gave].

Thank you for sharing how much you love us with the world!

Since you were so willing to share us with others, we were wondering if you have specific friends in mind who might benefit from [products/services].

If you do, please refer them using our referral program: [insert link to referral program page].

Whenever a friend you refer [purchases/joins/subscribes], we’ll send you [reward] to show our appreciation.

Thank you again,

[Your name]

Source

Asking for a referral from a partner, vendor, or affiliate

title=Referral request Hello [Name],

Hope all is well with you. I’m writing to you with a proposal that may benefit the both of us.

First off, I’d like to inform you that our clients have a [Satisfaction score] satisfaction score with our services/product. Since you are in the [Your industry] space and our offerings make the best match, I’d like to request something from you.

Do you know anyone among your clients or network who would benefit from [Your business name]? An ideal client would be [Describe your target audience]. One thing that really helps us stand out is [USP]. I’d be happy if you can refer us to them and would love to do the same for you in my network.

Alternatively, if anyone comes to mind you can also share their contact details with me.

Also, once your referee completes their first transaction with us, you earn a [Reward] as an incentive for bringing them to us.

Regards,

[Your name]

Source

Asking a New Customer for Referrals

title=Refer a Friend and Earn! Hi [customer name],

Thank you for using our [product/service]. We hope your experience was amazing and one that is worth sharing with your friends, family, and colleagues.

You can invite your friends to try [your product/service] by sharing the link below.

We offer [incentive] for every referred customer.

[Insert call-to-action button]

Source

After a loyal customer makes a repeat purchase

title=Your repeat purchase is appreciated! Hello [Customer name],

Thanks so much for continuing to trust [brand] to [describe the need you’ve met for the customer]. It’s loyal customers like you who keep us going, and we appreciate your continued business!

I was wondering if you know anyone else who is looking to [meet a need or achieve goals that your brand can accomplish], and who would benefit from [product/service]

If so, could you refer them to us using our referral program?

You can access the program by clicking on this link: [insert a link to referral program page].

Once a friend you refer becomes a new customer, we’ll give you [reward], as thanks for bringing them to us.

Thank you again,

[Your name]

Source

Asking for a referral from a mass audience

title=Referral for {product name} Hello [Referrer name],

Thank you for continuing to trust us and we are grateful for your loyalty. It’s been a pleasure serving you and we would love to extend our service to someone you think will benefit from [Your business name].

Do you have anyone in your network who may benefit from or could be interested in [Product/Service]? If so, I’d like to personally invite you to refer us to them.

As a part of our [Program name] program, you get a [Describe what their reward is] when every referral makes their first transaction using your link.

Here’s your link to share with your network: [Personalized and trackable link]

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. We’re always here to help.

Regards,

[Your name]

Source

The Informational Referral Email

title=Just a heads up on this. Hi [customer name],

We are super excited to announce the launching of our referral rewards program for all current customers.

If you want to become part of our referral program, all you have to do is [description of how the program works].

You will get [reward for the referrer] and your friend will receive [reward of the friend].

We look forward to having you join our referral program.

Please visit our referral program page if you have any concerns or questions.

[Insert call-to-action button]

Source

General template for personally inviting loyal customers

title=Wanted to invite loyal customer like you Hi [Name],

Thank you for continuing to trust us for [specific need your business has met]. It’s a pleasure to serve you! You’re one of our best customers, and we’re grateful for your loyalty.

I was wondering if you might know any [friends/ colleagues/ peers] who are also looking to [meet needs/ achieve goals that you can meet] and who would benefit from [brand].

If so, I wanted to personally invite you to share our brand with them via our referral program.

Whenever you refer a friend through our program, and they make their first purchase, we’ll give you [reward] to thank you for helping our business grow.

Thanks in advance,

[Your name]

Source

Asking for a referral from your networking groups, friends, and family

title= Asking for referrals Hello [Recipient Name],

Hope all is well with you. I’m writing to you with a proposal that may benefit both of us. As you may know, our [Product/service] helps [The problem your business solves and your industry].

I wanted to know if there is anyone in your network that might benefit from [Product/service]? One thing that really helps us stand out is [USP]. Could you please refer us to them and initiate a formal connection between us?

Alternatively, if anyone comes to mind you can also share their contact details with me. An ideal client would be [Your target audience].

Once your referee completes their first transaction with us, you earn an [Reward] as an incentive.

I’d greatly appreciate it. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

[Your name]

Source

25 Referral Email Subject Lines You Can Use

Here's a list of 25 popular email subject lines you can use for your [[ BUSINESS IDEA ]]

  • Do you have a minute?
  • You’ll never guess what I found!
  • Are we having fun yet?
  • Do you want to get more likes?
  • I found the best place for [insert product]!
  • Check this out
  • It’s the season for giving!
  • Refer a friend and get $5 off your next purchase
  • Share with 10 friends, earn $100 in rewards points
  • Refer a friend and we’ll send you something special
  • We’ll take care of everything!
  • Refer your friends to our program for the chance to win an iPad
  • Make money by referring friends today!
  • You deserve this!
  • Hey, check this out!
  • Refer a friend and get rewarded
  • You’re going to love this!
  • Get rewarded for your referrals!
  • Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
  • Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make money!
  • I have an idea that will help you earn more
  • Refer someone today and you’ll be eligible for rewards
  • We’re giving away 2 iPads this week – refer 10 people today for your chance to win one!
  • Check out this link!
  • How are things going?

Looking for more Referral email subject lines? Check out our full article here

Tips For Writing A Successful Email

A well-written email can be a powerful communication tool. If you want to get your point across and have it read, write an email that is clear, concise and compelling.

Here are 6 tips to help you write better emails:

1. Keep it short.

People are busy, and they aren't going to read anything more than a few paragraphs long in their inboxes. If you have something important to say, be concise.

2. Be friendly and personable. The best emails show that their sender cares about the recipient: address them by name, make jokes and be friendly, compliment them on something they've done recently—demonstrate that you know them well enough to give them a personal touch.

3. Use bullet points or numbered lists where appropriate.

If you're making a list of suggestions or talking about multiple things, it's much easier on the reader if you use bullet points or numbers rather than listing every point out separately in paragraphs.

(Obviously this doesn't apply if you're using an email for something else entirely—such as a newsletter or informational message.)

4. Proofread your message carefully before sending it out.

Even though you may think you're a pro at typing emails, there are still some mistakes that you could be making. It's important to avoid these errors so that your message is clear and correct.

If you skimmed over the email, there is a good chance that you missed an error in the very sentence that you just changed.

Pro tip: Read your entire message out loud before hitting send. You are more likely to catch mistakes this way!

5. Be sure to include the recipient's name in the email.

This seems like an obvious tip, but it's easy to forget that we're not sending mass emails to a group of people but individual messages to each person on the list.

Your best bet is to craft your message carefully, and make it personal by using the recipient's name. It shows that you're paying attention and it also makes the email feel more personable.

6. Be clear about what you want

Be specific and don't beat around the bush. Think about what you're asking for clearly before you write anything down.

In the first line of your email, state clearly what you want and how the recipient can help.

FAQ

Below we detail the most common questions as it relates to Refarral for email.

Why do I need a referral program?

Referral programs can be a powerful way to drive sales for your business. When a customer refers a friend or family member, they are essentially acting as a brand ambassador, which can be more effective than traditional marketing efforts.

How do I mention a referral in an email?

  • Include the individual by name and describe your connection with them as well.
  • Explain how you know the person. Give a brief account of how you know the person, and explain how they came to be familiar with your work qualifications and skills.
  • Describe why they are recommending you.

What are the different types of referrals?

  • Word-of-Mouth Referrals
  • Email Referrals
  • Online Reviews
  • Social Recommendations and Sharing

Conclusion

If you want your email campaign to perform well, it all starts with your subject line.

Think about the emails you receive in your inbox and what makes you click vs what gets buried - odds are, the same habits go for your customer.

We hope you enjoyed our guide + list of 11 Best Referral Email Templates 2024.

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