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Where to find this: Shopify admin → Apps → Yuko Loyalty → Referral → Program

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Introduction

The Program tab is where you configure the whole referral program: rewards for both sides, where referral links land, which sharing channels customers see, and how Yuko blocks fraudulent referrals.

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What problem this solves

Running referrals usually means combining a referral app, a discount tool and a tracking setup. The Program tab covers all three. Yuko creates the Shopify discount codes, tracks referral links with a UTM campaign, and checks every claim against your fraud rules.

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When to use

  • When you launch the referral program.
  • When you change reward values or sharing channels.
  • When you want to tighten fraud controls.

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Overview

The Program tab has these sections:

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Before you start

Yuko is installed on your Shopify store. See Install Yuko on Shopify.
The Yuko App embed is turned on in your theme, so the Friend Welcome Popup can open. See Theme App Embed.
You’ve decided what each side gets. See Reward Types.

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Setup guide

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1. Turn on the program

1

Open the Program tab

In your Shopify admin, go to Apps → Yuko Loyalty → Referral → Program.
2

Enable the program

In Referrals Program Status, switch the toggle on. The card shows “This program is currently enabled”. If you later switch it off, Yuko asks you to confirm in a Disable Referrals Program dialog.

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2. Set up the rewards

1

Choose the referrer reward

In Referral Rewards, click Add Reward on the Referrer Reward card (or Change Reward to replace the current one). Pick a reward type and fill in the configuration page. See Reward Types.
2

Choose the friend reward

Do the same on the Friend Reward card.
On a new install, Yuko seeds both rewards as an Amount Discount of 10 in your store currency: “Referral reward” (coupon prefix YRA) for the referrer and “Welcome reward” (coupon prefix YRF) for the friend. Change them to suit your store.

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3. Set the landing URL

1

Enter a path

In Referrals Landing URL, fill in Referrals Landing URL Path, for example /collections/best-sellers or /pages/welcome. If you leave it blank, referral links open your homepage.

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4. Choose the sharing channels

1

Tick the channels

In Social Sharing Settings, tick the channels customers can share through: Twitter, Facebook, Email and Whatsapp.
2

Write the pre-filled messages

Each ticked channel shows its message fields:
  • Twitter: Message to tweet
  • Email: Email Subject and Email Body
  • Whatsapp: Message to Whatsapp
Use [shop_name] for your store name and [referral_link] for the customer’s referral link. The Email Subject supports [shop_name] only.
Facebook doesn’t let third-party apps pre-fill share messages, so there’s no message field for Facebook. Customers write their own message when they share.

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5. Configure fraud prevention

1

Block Self-Referrals

Stops customers from using their own referral link. It’s on by default. Yuko blocks the claim when the friend’s email matches the referrer’s, or when the friend resolves to the same Shopify customer as the referrer.
2

IP Address Match

Blocks the claim when the friend and the referrer share the same IP address. This toggle is available on select plans.

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6. Configure auto enrollment

1

Enroll on first point earned

Turn this on to enroll a customer in the referral program automatically the first time they earn loyalty points. Enrolled customers get a referral code and link without having to request one.
Customers who aren’t enrolled can still join by clicking Get referral link in a referral widget.

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7. Set the UTM campaign

1

Enter the UTM Campaign

In UTM Tracking, set UTM Campaign. This is the utm_campaign value added to every referral link. If you leave it empty, Yuko uses yuko_referral_program.
Only the campaign value is configurable. A referral link looks like this:

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8. Save

Click Save in the save bar.

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How it works

  1. A customer becomes a referrer, either automatically (if Enroll on first point earned is on) or by clicking Get referral link in a referral widget. Yuko gives them a unique referral code and link.
  2. The referrer shares the link through a widget or one of the enabled channels.
  3. A friend opens the link. The Friend Welcome Popup asks for their details (at least an email).
  4. Yuko checks the claim:
    • The referral code is valid and the referrer isn’t blocked.
    • Block Self-Referrals and IP Address Match rules pass (when turned on).
    • The friend has no previous orders and hasn’t already received a friend reward.
  5. If the claim passes, Yuko creates the friend’s discount code and shows it in the popup.
  6. When the friend places a paid order using that code, Yuko issues the referrer reward and counts the referral as successful.

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Limitations

  • The referrer is rewarded only for a paid order that uses the friend’s referral discount code.
  • Friends must be new customers. A friend with an existing order can’t claim a friend reward.
  • Each customer can receive only one friend reward.
  • Referral links rely on the yuko_referral URL parameter, so the friend must open the full link.

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Examples

  • Referrer gets 500 points (Earn Points); friend gets $10 off (Amount Discount), with Block Self-Referrals and IP Address Match on.
  • Referrer gets $20 Store Credit; friend gets 15% off (Percentage Off), with the landing URL set to /collections/best-sellers.

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Best practices

Test the whole flow before you promote it. Share a link, open it in a private window, claim the friend reward, place an order with the code, and check that the referrer is rewarded.
Keep Block Self-Referrals on. It’s the main guard against customers rewarding themselves.
Promote referrals in your post-purchase moments. The Post-Purchase Widget and your order emails reach customers when they’re most engaged.

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FAQs

When the friend places a paid order that uses the friend’s referral discount code. Orders without that code don’t count as referral orders.
Not while Block Self-Referrals is on. Yuko blocks claims where the friend’s email or Shopify customer matches the referrer. Turn on IP Address Match too if you want to block claims from the referrer’s IP address.

Program Setup

Rewards, landing URL, sharing, fraud prevention and UTM tracking.

Reward Types

Pick the right reward for the referrer and the friend.

Referral Widgets

Post-Purchase Widget, Referral Landing Page and Friend Welcome Popup.

Referral Emails

The emails sent to referrers and friends.

Book a Free Setup Call

Talk to our team for personalised setup help.Time: 30 minutes

Contact Support

Visit our support hub for help articles, live chat and ticket submission.

Browse the Guides

Documentation across loyalty, referrals, memberships and more.

Install Yuko

Add Yuko to your Shopify store from the Shopify App Store.