referral-program-design

Design ecommerce referral programs with reward structures, eligibility, fraud controls, and trigger placement.

Updated Aug 27, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/ohsonerdy/openclaw-frontier-stack --skill referral-program-design
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: referral-program-design
Source: https://github.com/ohsonerdy/openclaw-frontier-stack/tree/main/skills/referral-program-design
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ohsonerdy/openclaw-frontier-stack --skill referral-program-design

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

It prevents referral programs from becoming discount-driven customer cannibalization by designing rewards, eligibility, fraud controls, and measurement so referrals remain incremental.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Referral baseline + unit-economics framing: Uses channel attribution, cohort LTV (referred vs non-referred), repeat-rate inputs, and existing referral-flow performance to set an evidence-backed starting point.
  • Program structure design: Chooses double-sided vs one-sided reward math, defines reward shape (cash vs credit vs product vs percentage), and sets eligibility windows (order count, time, product usage, and optional NPS gates).
  • Fraud-resistant governance: Plans for self-referral, address stuffing, credit stacking/refund clawback, code leakage, and internal abuse, then recommends ongoing quarterly audits and recalibration.
  • Operational trigger placement: Recommends when to ask (post-second-order, post-validation window day 7–21, and CS-resolved-positive events) and avoids asking too early.
  • Expected outcomes guidance: Estimates participation, expected viral coefficient bands (typical DTC K range), and how to prioritize conversion of referrals over participation and referrals-per-referrer.

Quick Start

Ask the AI to design a double-sided referral program with fraud controls and recommended trigger placements for your store, using your last-12-month referral attribution, referred vs non-referred cohort LTV, and repeat-rate data.

Frequently Asked Questions about referral-program-design

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I design a referral program that drives incremental acquisition instead of discount cannibalization?▼

To drive incremental acquisition, design referral programs using reward structure, eligibility windows, and fraud-resistance controls. This prevents referred customers from substituting organic sales, keeping referral revenue net-additive.

What is the best way to structure double-sided vs one-sided referral reward math for ecommerce growth?▼

The best structure depends on your cohort LTV and repeat-rate data. Double-sided rewards balance acquisition cost against activation, while one-sided math fits tighter margins, shaping rewards as cash, credit, product, or percentage discounts.

How do I prevent self-referral and address stuffing fraud in a give-X-get-Y referral flow?▼

Prevent self-referral and address stuffing fraud by implementing fraud-resistant governance. This includes credit stacking limits, refund clawbacks, code leakage monitoring, and quarterly audits to recalibrate eligibility gates.

When is the optimal trigger placement to ask customers for referrals in an ecommerce store?▼

Optimal referral trigger placement occurs post-second-order or during the post-validation window on days 7-21. Asking after CS-resolved positive events maximizes incremental participation without disrupting early customer journeys.

Do I need baseline channel attribution and cohort LTV data before launching a referral program?▼

Yes, you need baseline channel attribution, cohort LTV, and repeat-rate data. These metrics establish an evidence-backed starting point to measure incremental acquisition and calculate the expected viral coefficient.

What viral coefficient range should I expect from a DTC ecommerce referral program?▼

Expected viral coefficient bands depend on your DTC store's baseline referral-flow revenue and participation rates. By prioritizing referral conversion over referrals-per-referrer, you can estimate realistic K-factor growth targets.