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Handyman.com · 2019 to 2026

$1 for every verified homeowner

Handyman.com paid members a dollar for every homeowner they referred who verified their account. Almost everyone in the program arrived through a referral.

Screenshot of handyman.com
Handyman.com
people joined the program
1,494people joined the program
came through a member's referral
96%came through a member's referral
running, from October 2019
6+ yearsrunning, from October 2019

The offer

$1 for every verified homeowner you refer.

How it worked

  1. 1

    One rule in one sentence: refer a homeowner, earn $1 when they verify.

  2. 2

    The reward waited for verification, so it paid for real homeowners, not empty sign-ups.

  3. 3

    A simple widget invited members to "Refer new members today" with a single button.

What the numbers show

  • 1,441 of 1,494 participants were referred by someone, the highest share of any program in our network.
  • A small cash reward was easy to understand and cheap to pay, because it only paid on verified people.
  • Homeowners know other homeowners, so the audience already had people to tell.

Integration points

Every place a referral platform plugs in, in the order a referral happens. Each one shows where it appears, how to add it and what you can edit, with a live example. To run a program like Handyman.com's, start with the highlighted points.

7 of 10 used

  1. 1Referral widgetUsed by Handyman.comThe panel or pop-up on your site or app where a customer is asked to refer.
    In Handyman.com's programA "Refer new members today" widget with a single button.

    Where it shows

    On your site or app: a floating button, a pop-up after a key moment, or a panel inside a page such as the account or thank-you page.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Create the campaign and its rewards in your referral platform.
    2. 2.Copy the widget install code from the campaign.
    3. 3.Paste it before the closing body tag on the pages where it should appear, or add it through your tag manager.
    4. 4.Choose how it displays: floating button, pop-up or inline panel.

    What you can edit

    • Headline and description
    • Button text and colour
    • Logo and brand colours
    • Display style and position on the page
    • Which pages show it
    • When a pop-up opens: on load, after a delay or after an action

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Event to track: widget_view

  2. 3Share buttonsUsed by Handyman.comOne-tap sharing to email, messaging and social, plus copy link.
    In Handyman.com's programMembers shared their link directly; the program counted 79 shares.

    Where it shows

    Next to the referral link: in the widget, on thank-you screens and in emails.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Pick the channels your customers actually use.
    2. 2.Write a ready-made message for each channel.
    3. 3.Keep copy link as a fallback for everything else.

    What you can edit

    • Which channels show, and their order
    • The pre-filled message for each channel
    • Title and image used in social previews

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's share buttons from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: share

  3. 4Invite emailsNot part of this programEmails sent to friends on the customer's behalf, or the referral link in your own emails.

    Where it shows

    In the friend's inbox, and as a referral block inside your own emails.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Let customers type friends' emails in the widget.
    2. 2.Set the sender name and reply-to address.
    3. 3.Add a referral block with the customer's link to your regular emails.

    What you can edit

    • Subject line and message
    • Sender name and reply-to
    • Reminder email and when it's sent
    • The referral block in your newsletters

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's invite emails from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: invite_sent

  4. 5Referral landing pageUsed by Handyman.comWhere the friend arrives. It names who sent them and what they get.
    In Handyman.com's programReferred homeowners arrived on Handyman.com's sign-up page.

    Where it shows

    The page a friend arrives on after clicking a referral link.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Use an existing page or create one just for referred friends.
    2. 2.Say who sent them and what they get, at the top.
    3. 3.Give one clear call to action above the fold.

    What you can edit

    • Headline and reward wording
    • Showing the referrer's name
    • Page design and images
    • Call to action and terms

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's referral landing page from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: referral_click

  5. 6Sign-up trackingUsed by Handyman.comRecords that the referred friend created an account or joined the list.
    In Handyman.com's programEach homeowner's sign-up was tied to the member who referred them.

    Where it shows

    Behind the scenes, on your sign-up, join or waiting-list form.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Add the tracking code to the page shown after sign-up, or send a sign-up event from your server.
    2. 2.Include the new customer's email or ID so the referral is matched.
    3. 3.Test it end to end with a real referral link.

    What you can edit

    • Which forms count as a sign-up
    • What details are sent
    • Whether a sign-up alone earns a reward

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's sign-up tracking from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: signup

  6. 7Conversion trackingUsed by Handyman.comRecords the moment that counts: first purchase, booking, install or paid plan.
    In Handyman.com's programThe referral only counted once the homeowner verified their account.

    Where it shows

    Behind the scenes, on your order confirmation, booking or upgrade step.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Decide what makes a referred friend a real customer.
    2. 2.Send a conversion event with the order ID and value, from the confirmation page or your server.
    3. 3.Use the order ID so the same order is never counted twice.

    What you can edit

    • The action that qualifies
    • Minimum order value
    • A holding period before rewards unlock, to cover refunds

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's conversion tracking from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: conversion

  7. 8Reward unlock and noticeUsed by Handyman.comGives the reward and tells both people, by email or in the product.
    In Handyman.com's program$1 credited to the member for every verified homeowner.

    Where it shows

    In the customer's account or balance, in an email notice and as a message in the product.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Choose the reward for each side: discount, credit, cash, product or perk.
    2. 2.Connect how it's delivered: coupon codes, account credit, gift cards or shipped items.
    3. 3.Write the notice that tells both people they've earned it.

    What you can edit

    • Reward type and amount for each side
    • When it unlocks
    • Limits per customer
    • The notice wording and channel

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's reward unlock and notice from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: reward_issued

  8. 9Progress trackerNot part of this programShows each customer how many friends joined and what the next reward is.

    Where it shows

    In the widget, on the account page and in your regular emails.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Turn on referral counts for each customer.
    2. 2.Show the next milestone and what it unlocks.
    3. 3.Repeat it in your emails so progress stays in view.

    What you can edit

    • Milestones and their rewards
    • What counts: invites, sign-ups or customers
    • Wording and design of the tracker

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's progress tracker from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: progress_view

  9. 10LeaderboardNot part of this programRanks top referrers publicly or among customers, for programs built on status.

    Where it shows

    On a public campaign page or inside your product.

    How to add it

    1. 1.Decide whether it's public or for customers only.
    2. 2.Choose what ranks people, such as customers referred.
    3. 3.Set the period and the prize for the top spots.

    What you can edit

    • What people are ranked by
    • Period: monthly, seasonal or all time
    • How names show: full, first name or hidden
    • Prizes and who's excluded, such as staff

    Live example

    handyman.com ↗

    Handyman.com's leaderboard from its “Social Instant Reward to Refer New Homeowners” campaign will appear here.

    Event to track: leaderboard_view

The lesson for your business

A small reward per verified customer, explained in one sentence, can drive almost all of a program's growth. Pay on the result you actually want.

Run a program like this on Referrals.comGet help applying it

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Figures are Referrals.com campaign records for handyman.com as of October 2026, excluding internal test accounts. Handyman.com is part of the VNOC network, like Referrals Group.