Overview
The Share Experience is the part of your referral program where Advocates share your offer with Friends. It is a simple interface designed to make sharing quick and easy.
When it Appears
It shows up when someone enters the referral flow, such as:
Clicking a CTA on your website
Scanning a QR code on a mailer
Receiving a promo email
Automatically popping after an order confirmation
It typically appears as a pop-up overlay, but you can also use a standalone microsite or embed the share widget on your site.
Key Metrics
Top promotion sources: Which CTAs drive the most shares
Promotion click-throughs: Total clicks from referral promotions
Share rate: Percentage of people who share after seeing the offer
Share channels: Distribution of email, SMS, social, etc.
Click-through rate (CTR): Clicks divided by shares
Share-to-click conversion: How often shares lead to link clicks
Best Practices
Highlight the reward: Make it clear what both Advocates and Friends receive
Offer multiple channels: Email, SMS, social, QR code, etc. Different people prefer different ways to share.
Keep it focused: Minimize distractions and make "Share" the main action
Match your brand: Use your fonts, colors, and logo for a seamless experience
Editable Elements in Extole
Extole default creatives support the following customization options. If you would like to request other customizations, reach out to your CSM.
Headline and subhead text
Share channels (SMS, QR, WhatsApp, etc.)
Brand styling (logo, colors, fonts)
Page format (hosted or embedded)
Check out Using Extole’s Campaign Editor to get started.
Things Not to Miss
Add a short How it works section highlighting the main rules of your referral program
If you support email sharing, draft a default Advocate share message
Include an opt-in checkbox if you want to collect Advocate emails for future marketing
Testing and Optimization
The Share Experience is a powerful area for A/B testing, where small changes can significantly improve Share Rate. You can experiment with:
Headlines: Reward-focused vs. community-focused messaging
CTA Language: “Share now” vs. “Invite friends”
Reward Framing: Highlighting the Advocate’s reward vs. the Friend’s reward vs. both
Layout: Channel ordering (e.g. email first) or emphasizing the Copy Link button
Imagery: Lifestyle image or product image
Button Style: Color, size, or use of icons on share buttons
Dynamic Reward Messaging: “You’ve earned $10—keep sharing to earn more” vs. static copy
Ongoing testing helps uncover what resonates with your audience and enables you to continually optimize for both the volume and quality of referral traffic. Check out more ideas for optimizing your program here.