How Referrals Work & Tracking

Complete guide to referral flow, rewards, and partner program

💡 New to Referrals? Start with: What is the Referral Program?

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🔄 The Referral Flow

Here's exactly what happens when you share your referral link:

Step 1: You Share Your Link

Share your unique link: https://api.market?ref=YOURCODE

Where to share:

• Social media (Twitter, LinkedIn)

• Blog posts and tutorials

• Email newsletters

• Developer communities

• Direct messages

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Step 2: Someone Clicks Your Link

When they click:

• ✅ Click is tracked and attributed to you

• ✅ A session cookie is set (valid for 7 days)

• ✅ They can browse and explore the platform

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Step 3: They Sign Up

When they create an account:

• ✅ They're linked to your referral code

• ✅ $2.50 credit is added to their wallet automatically

• ✅ Status changes to: SIGNED_UP

⚠️ Credit Validity: The $2.50 signup bonus is valid for 30 days. If not used, it expires.

Step 4: They Make a Purchase

When they subscribe to a paid API plan:

• ✅ Status changes to: CONVERTED

• ✅ Commission is calculated based on their spend

• ✅ Commission becomes eligible after 30 days

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Step 5: You Earn Commission

After the 30-day eligibility period:

• ✅ Commission is paid to your wallet (Basic) or referral balance (Partner)

• ✅ Transaction appears in your Ledger

💰 Referral Rewards & Credits

For Referred Users: $2.50 Signup Bonus

Detail	Value
Amount	$2.50 USD
Added When	Upon signup via referral link
Validity	30 days from signup
Usage	Any paid API subscription

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For Referrers: Commission Structure

Track	Commission Rate	Minimum Purchase
Basic	5% of purchase amount	$1.00
Partner	10% of purchase amount	$1.00

Commission Eligibility:

• Commissions become eligible 30 days after the purchase

• Only successful purchases (200 OK responses) count

• Refunded purchases don't generate commission

Example:

Your referral purchases a $50/month API plan
- Basic Track: $50 × 5% = $2.50 commission
- Partner Track: $50 × 10% = $5.00 commission

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📈 Tracking Your Referrals

Referral Stats Card

Key Metrics:

Metric	Description
Total Referrals	Users who signed up using your link
Conversions	Referrals who made a qualifying purchase
Total Earnings	Total commission earned to date
Conversion Rate	Percentage of signups that converted
Total Clicks	Number of times your link was clicked
Pending Referrals	Signed up but haven't purchased yet

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Referred Users Table

Track each referred user's status:

Status	Meaning
Not Signed Up	Clicked link but didn't create account
Signed Up	Created account, hasn't purchased
Made a Spend	Made a qualifying purchase (you earned commission!)

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Referral Ledger

View all your commission transactions:

Columns:

• Date - When commission was earned

• User Email - Referred user's email

• Commission Earned - Your commission amount

• Status - PENDING, ELIGIBLE, PAID

Features:

• Export to CSV for your records

• Filter and track earnings over time

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🚀 Partner Program

Upgrade to Partner for higher commissions and cash payouts.

How to Upgrade

1. Go to Referrals dashboard

2. Click "Upgrade to Partner" button

3. Review and accept the Partner Agreement

4. Sign with your digital signature

Connect Stripe for Payouts

After upgrading, connect Stripe to receive cash payouts:

1. Click "Connect Stripe" in the Payouts section

2. Complete Stripe onboarding (enter bank details)

3. Wait for account verification

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Request Payout

Once Stripe is connected and you have sufficient balance:

Payout Requirements:

• ✅ Stripe account connected and verified

• ✅ Minimum balance: $25.00

• ✅ Account ready for payouts (no missing requirements)

Payout Timeline:

• Processing time: 2-7 business days

• Email confirmation sent when processed

• Stripe fees may apply

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Partner Benefits Summary

Feature	Basic	Partner
Commission Rate	5%	10%
Earnings Location	Wallet Credits	Referral Balance
Cash Withdrawals	❌ No	✅ Yes (via Stripe)
Minimum Payout	N/A	$25.00
Stripe Connect	N/A	Required for payouts

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❓ FAQ

Q: How long is my referral link valid? A: Your link is permanent. The tracking session lasts 7 days after someone clicks.

Q: Can I refer myself? A: No, self-referrals are not allowed.

Q: When do I receive commissions? A: Commissions become eligible 30 days after the referred user's purchase, then processed based on your track type.

Q: What if my referral gets a refund? A: Refunded purchases don't generate commissions. If commission was already paid, it may be reversed.

Q: Can I switch back from Partner to Basic? A: Yes, click "Convert to Basic" on your dashboard. You'll need zero balance and no pending commissions.

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💡 Tips for Success

✅ Be authentic - Share with people who genuinely need APIs ✅ Target developers - They're your best audience ✅ Explain the bonus - Highlight the $2.50 signup credit ✅ Use social media - Built-in Twitter/LinkedIn sharing ✅ Create content - Tutorials, reviews, comparisons ✅ Monitor stats - Track what's working

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📖 Related Documentation

• What is the Referral Program? - Getting started

• How to use Wallet? - Wallet credits

• How do I add Payment details? - Stripe setup

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