Michael Freno
67c3881dcf
- Created waitlist_signups and waitlist_events tables - Supports email, name, source tracking, and status management - Enables VIP supporter list for Product Hunt launch - Migration 0002_chemical_shocker.sql generated - Fixed brand color in product-hunt-assets-brief.md (#518ac8)
360 lines
9.9 KiB
Markdown
360 lines
9.9 KiB
Markdown
# Scripter Referral Program
|
||
|
||
**Issue:** FRE-582
|
||
**Priority:** Medium
|
||
**Owner:** CMO
|
||
**Status:** Draft
|
||
**Launch:** Post-launch (Week 3+)
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Program Overview
|
||
|
||
**Program Name:** "Write Together"
|
||
**Tagline:** Invite your writing partners. Everyone wins.
|
||
**Goal:** Drive 30% of new signups through referrals by Month 3
|
||
**Budget:** $5,000/mo (credits + cash rewards)
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Referral Mechanics
|
||
|
||
### How It Works
|
||
|
||
1. **User gets unique referral link**
|
||
`scripter.app/ref/username` or `scripter.app/r/abc123`
|
||
|
||
2. **Share link** via email, social, or direct message
|
||
|
||
3. **Friend signs up** using the link
|
||
|
||
4. **Both get rewarded** when friend reaches activation milestone
|
||
|
||
### Reward Structure
|
||
|
||
#### Tier 1: Free Users
|
||
| Action | Referrer Gets | Referee Gets |
|
||
|--------|---------------|--------------|
|
||
| Friend signs up | — | Free (always free) |
|
||
| Friend writes 5 pages | 1 month Pro | 1 month Pro |
|
||
| Friend upgrades to Pro | 2 months Pro | — |
|
||
|
||
#### Tier 2: Pro Users
|
||
| Action | Referrer Gets | Referee Gets |
|
||
|--------|---------------|--------------|
|
||
| Friend signs up | — | 14-day Pro trial |
|
||
| Friend writes 5 pages | $10 credit | $10 credit |
|
||
| Friend upgrades to Pro | $25 cash or 3 months free | 1 month free |
|
||
|
||
#### Tier 3: Premium Users
|
||
| Action | Referrer Gets | Referee Gets |
|
||
|--------|---------------|--------------|
|
||
| Friend signs up | — | 14-day Premium trial |
|
||
| Friend writes 5 pages | $15 credit | $15 credit |
|
||
| Friend upgrades to Premium | $40 cash or 4 months free | 1 month free |
|
||
|
||
### Milestone Bonuses
|
||
|
||
| Referrals | Bonus |
|
||
|-----------|-------|
|
||
| 5 successful referrals | $100 bonus + "Super Connector" badge |
|
||
| 10 successful referrals | $250 bonus + lifetime Pro |
|
||
| 25 successful referrals | $750 bonus + lifetime Premium |
|
||
| 50 successful referrals | $2,000 bonus + "Legend" status |
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Viral Loops
|
||
|
||
### Loop 1: Collaboration Invite
|
||
**Trigger:** User invites collaborator to script
|
||
**Flow:**
|
||
1. User clicks "Share" on script
|
||
2. Enters collaborator email
|
||
3. Collaborator receives email: "[User] invited you to collaborate on 'Untitled Script'"
|
||
4. Collaborator clicks link → signup/login → gains access
|
||
5. If new user: referrer gets credit
|
||
|
||
**Goal:** Every script = potential new user
|
||
|
||
### Loop 2: Watermarked Exports
|
||
**Trigger:** Free user exports PDF
|
||
**Flow:**
|
||
1. User exports screenplay as PDF
|
||
2. PDF includes footer: "Written with Scripter — Write Faster at scripter.app"
|
||
3. Recipient (producer, director, actor) sees branding
|
||
4. Curious recipient visits site → signup
|
||
|
||
**Goal:** Every exported script = marketing asset
|
||
|
||
### Loop 3: Public Script Links
|
||
**Trigger:** User shares public read-only link
|
||
**Flow:**
|
||
1. User generates public link for script
|
||
2. Shares with network
|
||
3. Recipients see "Read this script on Scripter" branding
|
||
4. CTA: "Start writing your own script — free"
|
||
|
||
**Goal:** Script sharing = discovery channel
|
||
|
||
### Loop 4: Social Sharing
|
||
**Trigger:** User hits milestone (10 pages, finished draft, etc.)
|
||
**Flow:**
|
||
1. In-app celebration: "You wrote 10 pages! 🎉"
|
||
2. Option to share: "I just wrote 10 pages on @Scripter — Write Faster!"
|
||
3. Pre-populated tweet with image
|
||
4. Followers click → landing page → signup
|
||
|
||
**Goal:** Writing achievements = social proof
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Technical Implementation
|
||
|
||
### Tracking Requirements
|
||
|
||
```javascript
|
||
// Referral link structure
|
||
scripter.app/ref/{userId}?utm_source=referral&utm_medium={channel}
|
||
|
||
// Track events
|
||
- referral_link_generated
|
||
- referral_link_shared (channel: email, twitter, facebook, link)
|
||
- referral_signup (referralId, newUserId)
|
||
- referral_activation (referralId, milestone: 5_pages, upgrade)
|
||
- referral_reward_issued (referralId, rewardType, value)
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
### Dashboard Features
|
||
|
||
**User View:**
|
||
- Current referral count
|
||
- Pending referrals (signed up, not activated)
|
||
- Successful referrals (activated)
|
||
- Total earnings (credits + cash)
|
||
- Referral link with copy button
|
||
- Share buttons (email, Twitter, Facebook)
|
||
- Referral history timeline
|
||
|
||
**Admin View:**
|
||
- Total referrals (all-time, this month)
|
||
- Conversion funnel (link → signup → activation)
|
||
- Top referrers leaderboard
|
||
- Fraud detection (self-referrals, abuse)
|
||
- Payout queue (cash rewards)
|
||
- ROI analysis (referral LTV vs cost)
|
||
|
||
### Fraud Prevention
|
||
|
||
| Risk | Mitigation |
|
||
|------|------------|
|
||
| Self-referrals | Block same IP, same device, same payment method |
|
||
| Fake accounts | Require email verification, activity threshold |
|
||
| Bot signups | CAPTCHA on signup, rate limiting |
|
||
| Credit card cycling | Track payment methods, limit per card |
|
||
| Abuse reports | Manual review for >10 referrals/month |
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Payout Mechanics
|
||
|
||
### Credits
|
||
- Applied automatically to next billing cycle
|
||
- Visible in account dashboard
|
||
- Expire after 12 months (encourages use)
|
||
- Non-transferable, non-refundable
|
||
|
||
### Cash Rewards
|
||
- Minimum payout: $25
|
||
- Payment method: PayPal, Stripe, or account credit
|
||
- Processing time: 30 days (fraud window)
|
||
- 1099 required for >$600/year (US users)
|
||
|
||
### Lifetime Plans
|
||
- Granted after 10+ successful referrals
|
||
- "Lifetime" = life of product or 5 years, whichever is longer
|
||
- Transferable once (gift to friend)
|
||
- Does not include enterprise features
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Promotion Strategy
|
||
|
||
### Launch Tactics
|
||
|
||
#### 1. Founding Members Boost (First 1,000 Users)
|
||
- 2x rewards for first 1,000 users
|
||
- "Founding Member" badge on profile
|
||
- Exclusive access to referral leaderboard
|
||
|
||
#### 2. Launch Contest (Month 1)
|
||
- Top referrer wins: $1,000 + lifetime Premium
|
||
- Top 10 win: 1 year Pro
|
||
- All participants: exclusive swag
|
||
|
||
#### 3. Email Campaign
|
||
- Announcement email to all users
|
||
- "Your referral link is ready" with instant share CTA
|
||
- Weekly leaderboard updates during contest
|
||
|
||
#### 4. In-App Promotion
|
||
- Banner on dashboard: "Invite friends, get Pro free"
|
||
- Modal after writing milestone: "Share your success!"
|
||
- Permanent referral section in settings
|
||
|
||
### Ongoing Promotion
|
||
|
||
| Channel | Frequency | Content |
|
||
|---------|-----------|---------|
|
||
| Email | Monthly | Referral tips, leaderboard, contest reminders |
|
||
| In-app | Always | Referral CTA in settings, post-milestone |
|
||
| Social | Weekly | Success stories, top referrer spotlights |
|
||
| Blog | Quarterly | "How I got 50 referrals" case studies |
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Success Metrics
|
||
|
||
### 90-Day Goals
|
||
|
||
| Metric | Target |
|
||
|--------|--------|
|
||
| Users with referral link | 50% of active users |
|
||
| Referral signups | 30% of all signups |
|
||
| Referral conversions | 20% of paid upgrades |
|
||
| Viral coefficient (k-factor) | 0.5+ |
|
||
| Cost per referral signup | <$5 |
|
||
| Referral LTV | 2x organic LTV |
|
||
|
||
### KPIs to Track
|
||
|
||
```
|
||
Referral Rate = Referral Signups / Total Signups
|
||
Referral Conversion = Referral Paid / Referral Signups
|
||
Viral Coefficient = Invites per User × Conversion Rate
|
||
Referral ROI = Referral Revenue / Referral Program Cost
|
||
Time to First Referral = Avg days from signup to first referral
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Budget
|
||
|
||
### Monthly Costs (at scale)
|
||
|
||
| Item | Cost |
|
||
|------|------|
|
||
| Pro credits (500 referrals × $8) | $4,000 |
|
||
| Cash rewards (50 payouts × $40) | $2,000 |
|
||
| Lifetime plan grants (5 × $100 value) | $500 |
|
||
| Contest prizes (amortized) | $500 |
|
||
| **Total** | **$7,000/mo** |
|
||
|
||
### Conservative Launch (Month 1-2)
|
||
|
||
| Item | Cost |
|
||
|------|------|
|
||
| Pro credits (100 referrals × $8) | $800 |
|
||
| Cash rewards (10 payouts × $40) | $400 |
|
||
| Contest prizes | $1,000 |
|
||
| **Total** | **$2,200/mo** |
|
||
|
||
### ROI Calculation
|
||
|
||
```
|
||
Assumptions:
|
||
- 500 referral signups/month
|
||
- 20% convert to paid (100 users)
|
||
- Avg revenue: $10/mo per user
|
||
- Monthly revenue: $1,000
|
||
- LTV (12 months): $12,000
|
||
- Program cost: $7,000/mo
|
||
- ROI: 71% (positive at scale)
|
||
```
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Competitive Analysis
|
||
|
||
### Dropbox: "Give 500MB, Get 500MB"
|
||
- Result: 35% of signups from referrals
|
||
- Key: Simple, instant, valuable
|
||
- Lesson: Make reward immediate and clear
|
||
|
||
### Airbnb: "$25 for you, $25 for them"
|
||
- Result: 2x bookings in some markets
|
||
- Key: Cash value, two-sided reward
|
||
- Lesson: Cash > credits for some users
|
||
|
||
### Robinhood: "Get a free stock"
|
||
- Result: Massive viral growth
|
||
- Key: Gamified (random stock value)
|
||
- Lesson: Add surprise/delight element
|
||
|
||
### Calendly: "1 month free"
|
||
- Result: 15% of upgrades
|
||
- Key: Simple, product-native reward
|
||
- Lesson: Match reward to product value
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Implementation Timeline
|
||
|
||
### Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1-2)
|
||
- [ ] Build referral link generation
|
||
- [ ] Create tracking infrastructure
|
||
- [ ] Design referral dashboard
|
||
- [ ] Set up fraud detection
|
||
- [ ] Write email templates
|
||
|
||
### Phase 2: Launch (Week 3)
|
||
- [ ] Soft launch to 100 beta users
|
||
- [ ] Test full flow (link → signup → reward)
|
||
- [ ] Fix bugs, optimize UX
|
||
- [ ] Prepare launch announcement
|
||
|
||
### Phase 3: Scale (Week 4+)
|
||
- [ ] Full launch to all users
|
||
- [ ] Start launch contest
|
||
- [ ] Monitor fraud, adjust thresholds
|
||
- [ ] Weekly optimization based on data
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Risks & Mitigation
|
||
|
||
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|
||
|------|------------|--------|------------|
|
||
| Low participation | Medium | High | Gamify, add contest, improve promotion |
|
||
| Fraud/abuse | Medium | Medium | Strong detection, manual review |
|
||
| Negative ROI | Low | High | Cap rewards, optimize conversion |
|
||
| Spam complaints | Medium | Medium | Limit emails, easy unsubscribe |
|
||
| Complex UX | Low | Medium | Simplify flow, clear instructions |
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Next Actions
|
||
|
||
1. **Finalize reward structure** - Confirm economics with finance
|
||
2. **Design referral dashboard** - Mockups for user and admin views
|
||
3. **Build tracking infrastructure** - Event tracking, attribution
|
||
4. **Create email templates** - Referral invites, rewards notifications
|
||
5. **Set up fraud detection** - Rules, monitoring, manual review process
|
||
6. **Plan launch contest** - Prizes, rules, promotion calendar
|
||
7. **Write help docs** - "How referrals work" FAQ
|
||
8. **Coordinate with CTO** - Technical requirements, timeline
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
**Related Issues:**
|
||
- FRE-577: Marketing website (referral landing page)
|
||
- FRE-580: Email marketing (referral email templates)
|
||
- FRE-581: Launch campaign (referral contest)
|
||
- FRE-585: Analytics dashboard (referral metrics)
|
||
|
||
**Dependencies:**
|
||
- User account system (CTO)
|
||
- Payment/credits system (CTO)
|
||
- Email infrastructure (Ops)
|
||
- Analytics tracking (CTO)
|