Use Glow referral links when you want an existing customer to get credit for sending a new customer to your store.
A Glow referral link includes the customer's referral code in the URL, using kb_ref. For example:
Use the full referral link exactly as Glow gives it to the customer. If you are building a campaign in an email, SMS, ad, or social tool, make sure the final link still includes the referral code after any tracking links, redirects, or URL shorteners are added.
Before you start
Make sure your referral program is enabled in Rewards > Referral Program.
Use a real customer's referral link or referral code. Do not invent a code.
Decide whether each customer should share their own unique link, or whether you are intentionally sending traffic for one specific referring customer.
Test the final campaign link before sending it to customers.
Build a campaign link with a referral code
Start with the page you want referred shoppers to land on.
If the page does not already have a ? in the URL, add the referral code like this:
If the page already has tracking parameters, add the referral code with &:
The important part is that kb_ref and the customer's actual referral code reach your Shopify storefront.
Use a unique link for each customer
One referral code belongs to one Glow member. If you send the same referral code to everyone, referrals from that campaign can credit that one member.
For customer referral campaigns, use a merge field, customer property, or export that inserts each customer's own referral link. If your campaign tool cannot insert a unique link per customer, use the loyalty widget and ask customers to copy their own referral link instead.
Set the page customers share
If you want customer referral links to point to a specific landing page, go to Settings > Account Settings > Links.
In Share Link, enter the full URL you want customers to share, including http:// or https://.
Leave Share Link blank if you want to use Glow's default share destination.
After changing this setting, open the storefront as a test customer, copy the referral link, and confirm the copied link still includes the customer's referral code.
What happens when someone clicks a referral link
When a shopper lands on your storefront with kb_ref in the URL, Glow stores that referral code in the shopper's browser session.
Glow can then connect the new customer to the referring customer when the shopper creates or uses a Shopify customer account, or when the referral is carried into an eligible checkout/order flow.
Referral points or discount rewards are awarded based on your Rewards > Referral Program settings. If your program rewards first purchase instead of signup, the referral may be recorded before points are awarded.
Test a campaign referral link
Open Glow and choose an existing test member.
Copy that member's referral link or referral code.
Build the exact campaign URL you plan to send.
Open the URL in a clean browser session, or clear the previous test referral cookie first.
Create or use a different customer account from the referring customer.
Complete the referral action your program requires, such as signup or first purchase.
In Glow, check Analytics > Referral Stats and the customer's point activity.
If you are testing a first-purchase referral, use a customer with no previous order history so the test is clean.
Common issues
The referral code disappeared from the URL
Check your email builder, ad platform, link shortener, redirects, and landing page. Some tools strip query parameters unless you allow them.
Make sure the final storefront URL still includes kb_ref=CUSTOMER_CODE.
The campaign credited the wrong customer
Check whether every recipient received the same referral code. Each customer needs their own referral link if each customer should get credit for their own referrals.
The referral was recorded, but no points were awarded
Check Rewards > Referral Program. If referrals reward first purchase, flat repeating orders, or variable repeating orders, points may wait until a qualifying order is processed.
Also check that the existing-member and new-member point amounts are greater than 0.
Nothing appeared in Referral Stats
Make sure referrals are enabled, the referral code belongs to an existing Glow member, and the shopper is not the same customer as the referrer.
Also make sure the referred customer was not already connected to another referral and is not excluded from the loyalty program.
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