Referral Marketing Software Market Outlook (2022 to 2032)

The global Referral Marketing Software Market was valued at around USD 302 Million in 2021. With a projected CAGR of 13.3% for the next ten years, the market is likely to reach a valuation of nearly USD 1.2 Billion by the end of 2032.

Attributes Details
Global Referral Marketing Software Market Size (2021) USD 302 Million
Global Referral Marketing Software Size (2022) USD 348 Million
Global Projected Market Value (2032) USD 1.2 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2022 to 2032) 13.3% CAGR
United States Market Growth Rate (2022 to 2032) 13.1%
Key Companies Covered Impartner; Referral candy; Genius Referral; Viral Loops Ltd; Hello Referrals; Tapfiliate; Mention Me; Annex Cloud; Invitevox; InfluitivE; Rocket Referrals; Extole; Refersion; InviteReferrals; OmniStar; Referral SaaSquatch; Friendbuy; Buyapowa

Future Market Insights’ analysis reveals that a larger proportion of the market revenue was grossed through BFSI, with a CAGR of 15.2% from 2015 to 2021. Revenue through Large Enterprises is expected to be the highest among applications, with a forecasted CAGR of 12.8% in the coming decade.

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Why is demand for referral marketing software increasing?

According to research, people who are referred to a product by a friend are 4 times as likely to buy a product, with word of mouth influencing a 54% increase in marketing efficiency. Referral marketing is preferred because it helps companies build a customer base and an interconnected referral network. It is also cost-effective for marketing since money is spent only on actual new conversions. Further, B2B Referral Marketing Software showed better retention rates, at around 37%.

Companies are increasingly switching over to automated referral marketing processes over manual ones. Referral marketing software can help automate manual processes so that companies can focus on optimizing their referral programs and figuring out what is working best for them. This software also helps with integration with other systems, such as with referral marketing platforms on which they sell products, or even integration with other vendor's sites.

Dropbox, an online storage and file transfer service provider, ran a program that did not run on monetary rewards but was still massively successful, showing an initial growth of 3900% in 15 months, going from 100k to 4 Million users in 2008 to 2010 period. The program rewarded existing customers for every contact referred, with additional space. Those on the Basic Membership can earn 500 MB each time, up to 16 GB; while those on the Plus and Professional Memberships can earn up to 32 GB total, equated to 1 GB per contact.

Harry’s, a mail-order-based shaving brand, ran a hugely successful pre-launch referral-marketing program, gaining 100,000 emails in a single week. Approximately 77% of these emails were based on referrals alone, with each referrer on average converting three consumers. The 4-tiered system provided tangible rewards for products. A single consumer could refer anywhere from 5 to 50 friends to gain the rewards. Over 200 people reached the 50-people mark and gained the reward of a free year of shaving. The product page also involved a tracker so consumers could keep up with referrals and provide them proof that their referrals were actually being accounted for.

How is community-based referral marketing driving demand?

A popular form of referral marketing is community-based referral marketing. The company ties up with community centers and non-profit organizations. A charitable donation on a consumer’s behalf can prove to be a strong reward incentive to a consumer as it combines the referral process with the idea of a positive social contribution. Consumers will be more willing to be part of a referral process if they believe they are also providing some kind of contribution to society as a result of their actions.

TOMS, for example, ran a Buy One, Give One model that incentivized customers by telling them that a pair of shoes would be donated to children in need every time a customer bought a pair. Vena, a software management SaaS company, donates USD 2,000 to a charity of the customer’s choice for every converted lead.

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How have companies’ interest in social media engagement and the rise of niche influencers driven demand for referral marketing?

According to studies, 60% of buyers look at a company’s social media presence before buying its products. Further, it was found that 18% of people in the 25-34 year category would not provide referrals to a firm that is not on social media. Further, in the current environment of social media, word of mouth travels the most through social media.

The phenomenon of Social proof, or informational social influence, is an idea that has been pushing companies toward investing in referral marketing. It refers to the idea that people take cues from how to behave by emulating the behavior of others they see. Therefore, people who notice brands in a story online will also tend to buy a product and post a story, which is then visible to all their friends and followers, creating a highly influential and rewarding process for brands. The benefits of extending referral marketing to social media are numerous. For one, sharing and promotion become easier. Secondly, customers can easily vet out a brand just based on comment sections and other engagements with the posts.

Businesses are looking at harnessing the wave of influencer popularity, especially amongst Micro and Nano influencers with niche audiences, who have relatively smaller followings but work very well for referral programs since they have better engagement and personal connections with their following. Influencers whose social media presence is closely associated with the product offer something which traditional advertising cannot do.

Unlike traditional forms of advertisement, using niche influencers can allow brands to benefit from the fact that niche influencers are renowned for being knowledgeable about the product concerned and the audience they have cultivated is highly likely to be people who fall into the target market. Under these programs, brands can pursue varied methods of referral marketing such as through a referral code specifically made for the influencer, or through incentives for the audience, an influencer has driven to the brand.

Region-wise Insights

How will Europe Continue being a leading contributor to Global Referral Marketing Software Demand?

With a Referral Marketing Software market share of 25.2%, the market value of Europe is projected to reach a valuation of USD 304.9 Million by 2032. According to a survey of over 32,000 consumers in Europe and the USA, 66% of repliers said they asked those around them before making purchasing decisions.

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Country-wise Insights

How the USA will continue to be the Nucleus of Global Referral Marketing Software Demand?

The USA accounted for over 30% of the global Referral Marketing Software Market in 2021, with a forecasted market size of USD 431.8 Million by 2032. According to research, an average American citizen mentions brands over 60 times weekly, with 90% of these name drops being online. Referral marketing software in the USA is projected to garner an absolute dollar opportunity of USD 305.2 Million between 2022 and 2032.

Category-wise Insights

Which industry is the key contributor to demand?

Large industries are the key contributors to demand, having experienced a CAGR of 15%, with a forecasted CAGR of 12.8% for the next decade. These enterprises can afford to provide attractive rewards and require automation for any kind of referral marketing due to the massive volumes of customers that will be passing through the process.

Google, for example, has a referral program for its G Suite program, targeting mainly business professionals. The program is widely used in businesses. There is a monetary reward for referrals, through which businesses can earn USD 30 for every person referred, capped at a maximum of USD 3,000.

However, small businesses also stand to benefit from referral marketing. They benefit from decreased customer acquisition costs, increased brand awareness, higher ROI, and improvements in retention rates. In order for this marketing to be efficient and scalable, the use of automation through referral marketing software becomes essential, which has been boosting demand.

Which End-Users make up the majority of revenue for referral marketing software?

BFSIs are the top end-users for referral marketing software, having witnessed a CAGR of 15.2% with a forecasted CAGR of 13% for the upcoming decade. Fintech apps are being developed and released on a regular basis, which means the demand for financial services is at an all-time high compared to those competing for the business. This method also keeps clients interested in the company.

What are the comparative advantages of Cloud-Based and On-premise Referral Marketing Software?

Both cloud-based and on-premise software have comparative advantages. Demand for cloud-based Referral Marketing Software has increased over the years due to its flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

On-premise forms of software, on the other hand, are observed as more secure as they offer enterprises a degree of control, both in terms of security and possible breaches or malfunctions. The costs however are significantly higher in the case of on-premise software, for the maintenance and management as well as for the setup itself.

Competitive Landscape

Referral Marketing Software companies are focused on increasing their presence and reach. The key companies operating include Impartner, Referral Candy, Genius Referral, Viral Loops Ltd, Hello Referrals, Tapfiliate, Mention Me, Annex Cloud, Invitevox, InfluitivE, Rocket Referrals, Extole, Refersion, InviteReferrals, OmniStar, Referral SaaSquatch, Friendbuy, and Buyapowa.

Some of the recent developments in Referral Marketing Software are as follows:

  • In January 2022, Radancy announced plans to acquire Austria’s Firstbird. FirstBird is a provider of SaaS-based employee referral programs.
  • In May 2022, Actofit acquired Adkitty, an affiliate-marketing startup. The acquisition comes at the cost of USD 1 Million as a cash and product mix. Actofit plans to use the acquisition to launch CoachPro, a platform for fitness instructors.
  • In January 2022, MentionMe, a customer referral marketing startup raised US D 25 Million in Series B funding following the US D7 Million they had raised in Series A funding.
  • In August 2019, Impartner acquired Amplifinitya, a provider of partner management software.

Similarly, recent developments related to companies manufacturing Referral Marketing Software have been tracked by the team at Future Market Insights, which is available in the full report.

Key Segments Covered in Referral Marketing Software Industry Survey

By Deployment:

  • Cloud-Based
  • Web-based

By Enterprise Size:

  • Large Enterprises
  • Small and Medium Enterprises

By Industry:

  • BFSI
  • Retail
  • E-commerce
  • Education
  • Hospitality
  • Others

By Region:

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the global Referral Marketing Software Market currently worth?

The global Referral Marketing Software market was valued at USD 302 Million in 2021.

What is the Referral Marketing Software Market Forecast through 2032?

The Referral Marketing Software industry is set to witness a growth rate of 13.3% over the forecast period and be valued at USD 1.2 Billion by 2032.

At what rate did demand for Referral Marketing Software increase over the past 7 years?

The Referral Marketing Software Market expanded by 15.4% from 2015 through 2021.

Who are the key players In Referral Marketing Software market?

Impartner, Referral Candy, Genius Referral, Viral Loops Ltd, Hello Referrals, Tapfiliate, Mention Me, Annex Cloud, Invitevox, InfluitivE, Rocket Referrals, Extole, Refersion, InviteReferrals, OmniStar, Referral SaaSquatch, Friendbuy, and Buyapowa are some of the key players.

Who are the top 5 countries driving the highest sales of Referral Marketing Software?

The USA, UK, China, Japan, and South Korea are expected to be the key drivers of sales.

What is the USA market outlook for Referral Marketing Software?

The market in the USA accounts for over 30% of the global market.

Table of Content
	1. Executive Summary | Referral Marketing Software Market
	2. Market Overview
	3. Market Risks and Trends Assessment
	4. Market Background
	5. Key Success Factors
	6. Global Market Demand Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast, 2022 to 2032
	7. Global Market Value Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast, 2022 to 2032
	8. Global Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032, By Deployment
		8.1. Cloud
		8.2. On-premises
	9. Global Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032, By Enterprise Size
		9.1. Application
		9.2. SMEs
	10. Global Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032, By End-use
		10.1. BFSI
		10.2. Retail
		10.3. E-commerce
		10.4. Education
		10.5. Hospitality
		10.6. Other
	11. Global Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032, By Region
		11.1. North America
		11.2. Latin America
		11.3. Europe
		11.4. Asia Pacific
		11.5. Middle East and Africa
	12. North America Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032
	13. Latin America Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032
	14. Europe Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032
	15. Asia Pacific Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032
	16. Middle East and Africa Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032
	17. Key Countries Market Analysis 2015 to 2021 and Forecast 2022 to 2032
	18. Market Structure Analysis
	19. Competition Analysis
		19.1. Request Rock Inc.
		19.2. Impartner
		19.3. Referral candy
		19.4. Genius Referral
		19.5. Viral Loops Ltd
		19.6. Hello Referrals
		19.7. Tapfiliate
		19.8. Mention Me
		19.9. Annex Cloud
		19.10. Invitevox
		19.11. InfluitivE
		19.12. Rocket Referrals
		19.13. Extole
		19.14. Refersion
		19.15. InviteReferrals
		19.16. OmniStar
		19.17. Referral SaaSquatch
		19.18. Friendbuy
		19.19. Buyapowa
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