What is a structured incentive for customers to refer others?

A structured incentive for customers to refer others is known as a referral program. This is a strategic approach utilized by businesses to encourage satisfied customers to share their positive experiences with friends, family, or colleagues. Referral programs typically offer incentives, such as discounts, rewards, or exclusive offers, to both the existing customer and the new customer they refer, thereby creating a win-win situation that motivates participation.

Referral programs are particularly effective in leveraging existing customer relationships to build trust and credibility, as recommendations from friends or family are often more persuasive than traditional advertising. By organizing this type of incentive, startups can significantly expand their customer base through organic growth, which can be more sustainable and cost-effective compared to other marketing strategies.

In contrast, other options like a sales funnel and outbound sales focus more on the process of converting leads into customers rather than incentivizing referrals. Lead qualification pertains to determining the potential of prospects to become customers and does not directly relate to encouraging existing customers to bring in new ones. Thus, the referral program stands out as the clear choice for structuring incentives for customer referrals.