Overview
Referral Smart Links are unique, trackable URLs generated by Rivo that are tied to individual customer accounts. These intelligent links automatically track visitor behavior, enable seamless sharing across multiple platforms, and provide comprehensive analytics to help you understand your referral program's performance. Each link contains settings unique to your shop to provide a fully white-labeled experience.
✨ Referral campaigns are available on the Scale and Plus plans. See pricing →
How Smart Links Work
Each referral smart link contains a unique referral code that identifies the referring customer and tracks all visitor interactions. When someone clicks a referral link, the system automatically:
Records the visit with detailed analytics
Tracks the visitor's journey through your store
Attributes any resulting purchases to the referring customer
Applies appropriate rewards when referral conditions are met
The links work seamlessly across all devices and maintain tracking even if customers return to your store later.
Social Sharing Integration
Referral smart links include built-in social sharing capabilities that make it easy for customers to share with their networks:
Facebook: One-click sharing to Facebook timeline with customizable messages
WhatsApp: Direct sharing to WhatsApp contacts with personalized text
Twitter: Tweet referral links with custom messaging
SMS: Send referral links via text message to phone contacts
Email: Share via email with pre-filled subject lines and body text
Copy to Clipboard: Easy one-click copying for sharing anywhere
You can customize the default messages for each platform to match your brand voice and encourage engagement.
Post-Purchase Integration
Smart links automatically appear in your Shopify checkout experience through post-purchase extensions:
Thank You Page Integration: Referral links appear automatically on order confirmation pages
Hero Images: Customize the visual presentation with branded hero images
Preview Mode: Test the referral experience with specific customer emails before going live
Targeted Display: Show referral options only to eligible customers based on your campaign rules
This integration ensures customers see referral opportunities at the perfect moment - right after a successful purchase when satisfaction is highest.
Campaign Customization
Referral smart links can be customized extensively to match your brand and campaign goals:
Visual Branding: Upload custom background images and apply custom CSS styling
Display Options: Choose between inline display, popup overlays, or hidden integration
Targeting Rules: Set specific criteria for who can participate as advocates and who qualifies as referred friends
Overlay Settings: Configure post-order advocate overlays with custom timing and frequency
Landing Pages: Create custom landing page experiences for referred visitors
These customization options ensure your referral program feels like a natural extension of your brand experience.
Digital Wallet Integration
Referral smart links are automatically integrated into digital wallet passes:
QR Code Generation: Each loyalty card includes a QR code containing the customer's referral link
Google Wallet: Referral links are embedded directly in Google Wallet loyalty cards
Easy Sharing: Customers can share their referral link by simply showing their digital loyalty card
Offline Integration: QR codes work in both online and offline sharing scenarios
This integration makes referral sharing as simple as showing a loyalty card, bridging the gap between digital and physical customer interactions.
Referral Smart Links branding guide
Referral Smart links automatically use the custom domain that you have set in Shopify
If you change your custom domain, the referral code will stay the same for the customer
Every customer on your customer list has a referral code attached to it, regardless of creating an account, which they can access by entering their name and email on the page where your referral campaign is displayed
Referral codes (
example.com/?referral_code=4DdQ6WlI95l5ZJ5n) are unique, automatically generated codes that contain analytics, fraud detection, and customized experiences unique to each shopTo customize the branding of the experience in the URL and on the page, check our guides.
💡 Pro Tip: Display the referral URL in your customer's /account page using the customer object with metafields.
Advanced Fraud Prevention
Smart links include sophisticated fraud detection to protect your program integrity:
Email Similarity Detection: Prevents referrals between similar email addresses
IP Address Monitoring: Blocks referrals from the same IP addresses
Existing Customer Protection: Prevents existing customers from being referred
Advocate Exclusion: Automatically excludes ineligible advocates based on your rules
Order IP Tracking: Monitors for suspicious patterns in order placement
These measures work automatically in the background to maintain program integrity while ensuring legitimate referrals are processed smoothly.
✨ Referral Smart Links have robust fraud detection checks built in. Visit our fraud prevention toolkit to learn more
Analytics & Tracking
Referral smart links provide comprehensive tracking and analytics:
Visitor Tracking: Monitor who clicks referral links and their behavior on your site
Conversion Analytics: Track which referrals result in successful conversions
Campaign Performance: Measure the effectiveness of different referral campaigns
Status Monitoring: Track referral status from initial click through completion
Revenue Attribution: See exactly how much revenue each referral generates
This data helps you optimize your referral program and understand which customers are your most effective advocates.
Customizing redirect settings for referral links
Add granular customizations to ensure a smooth experience for the end user when using their unique URL.
Friend post discount redirect URL
Add a page slug where you want all your referral links to land after claiming the reward. This page will be visible to everyone when referral links are shared.
From the Referral Campaigns page, click Edit on the referral campaign or create a new campaign here
Click the Pages heading within the campaign editor
Scroll down to the Friend Reward Page section
Under Post Discount Redirect URL, set the path preferred
Click Save.
💡 Tip: Check the box 'Automatically apply discount for friend' to add the referred friend's discount code to their cart during the session.
Advocate post discount redirect URL
Set the URL that advocates will be redirected to when visiting the link to claim the reward.
From the Referral Campaigns page, click Edit on the referral campaign or create a new campaign here
Click the Pages heading within the campaign editor
Scroll down to the Advocate Reward Page section
Under Post Discount Redirect URL, set the path preferred
Click Save.
💡 Tip: Check the box 'Automatically apply discount for advocate' to add the advocate's discount code to their cart during the session.
Common questions
Can I add a custom domain to my Referral Smart Links?
If you have set up a custom domain in your Shopify admin, Rivo will use it for the links.
Can I customize the referral links?
Right now it's not possible to customize the referral links for your customers.
Can I disable a customer's referral link or exclude a customer?
Yes! Please follow this guide to exclude or disable a customer's referral link.
Can I add Smart links to my email campaigns?
Yes! Use one of our integrations to import the Rivo Referral URL property into your email campaigns.
Do social sharing buttons work on mobile devices?
Yes, all social sharing options are optimized for mobile devices and will open the appropriate apps when available.
Can I customize the messages for social sharing?
Yes, you can customize the default messages for Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, SMS, and email sharing to match your brand voice.
How do referral links work with digital wallet passes?
Referral links are automatically embedded as QR codes in digital loyalty cards, making sharing as easy as showing the card.
What happens if someone clicks a referral link multiple times?
The system tracks all visits but prevents duplicate rewards. Only the first qualifying purchase will trigger referral rewards.
Can I see detailed analytics for my referral links?
Yes, you get comprehensive analytics including visitor tracking, conversion rates, and revenue attribution for all referral activities.
How does fraud prevention work?
The system automatically monitors for suspicious patterns like similar email addresses, matching IP addresses, and other indicators of potential abuse.