Subscriber Referral Program
Share FFFTL.
Earn real rewards.
Know a Fort Lauderdale family who'd love a weekly roundup of local events, hidden gems, and things to do with kids? Share FFFTL — and get thanked for it.
🌴
Goal: 130 new subscribers in the first month
How it works
Three simple steps. Substack handles all the tracking automatically.
1
Get your link
Every subscriber gets a unique referral link in every newsletter. Find it at the bottom of any issue.
2
Share it
Text it to a neighbor. Post it in a neighborhood Facebook group. Forward the newsletter. Any way works.
3
Unlock rewards
When people subscribe through your link, your referral count goes up and rewards unlock automatically.
Reward tiers
Low-key, high-value. No cash incentives needed — just good stuff from the community.
🏅
Tier 1 — Insider
FFFTL Insider Badge
Earn the digital "FFFTL Insider" badge — a recognition you're part of the founding community. Plus, get an exclusive monthly local tip that doesn't make it into the newsletter.
3
referrals
📖
Tier 2 — Local Guide
FFFTL Date Night Guide PDF
Receive the curated "FFFTL Date Night Guide" — a handpicked PDF of Fort Lauderdale restaurants, experiences, and hidden spots perfect for a night out. Useful year-round.
10
referrals
⭐
Tier 3 — Community Champion
Newsletter Shout-Out + Early Access
Get a featured shout-out in the FFFTL newsletter (seen by 1,300+ families) and early access to events coverage before it goes out — you'll know about what's happening before everyone else does.
25
referrals
Program Setup Checklist
Steps to activate the referral program on Substack
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Referral CTA added to newsletter template ✅ Done — referral footer now appears in every exported draft automatically
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Referral program landing page created ✅ Done — this page at
/referral.html -
Enable Substack's built-in referral program Go to Substack → Settings → Referrals → Enable. Substack referral docs →
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Configure Tier 1 reward (3 referrals) In Substack Referrals settings, set milestone 1 = 3 referrals. Copy: "FFFTL Insider Badge + exclusive monthly local tip"
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Configure Tier 2 reward (10 referrals) Set milestone 2 = 10 referrals. Copy: 'Curated "FFFTL Date Night Guide" PDF'
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Configure Tier 3 reward (25 referrals) Set milestone 3 = 25 referrals. Copy: "Featured newsletter shout-out + early access to events coverage"
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Create "FFFTL Date Night Guide" PDF Tier 2 reward — curate 10–15 Fort Lauderdale date spots. Simple design in Canva works great.
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Add referral section to next newsletter issue The footer CTA is auto-included in every draft export. Just make sure it's pasted into Substack with the referral link active.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about how the program works.
Where do I find my referral link?
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Your unique referral link appears at the bottom of every FFFTL newsletter issue. Once the program is live, look for the "Share this newsletter →" button or link. Each subscriber gets their own unique URL that Substack tracks automatically.
Does the person I refer need to stay subscribed?
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Yes — Substack counts active subscribers referred through your link. If someone unsubscribes, it may reduce your count. But most people who sign up because a friend recommended it tend to stick around.
When do I receive my reward?
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Substack sends you an automated notification when you hit a milestone. For Tier 1 and 3 rewards, you'll be contacted directly by the FFFTL team within a few days of the milestone. For the Tier 2 PDF, it'll be emailed to you automatically.
Can I refer someone who already subscribes?
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No — referrals only count for new subscribers. If someone already subscribes, their sign-up won't count toward your total. Share with people who haven't discovered FFFTL yet!
Is there a cash prize or paid referral fee?
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No cash incentives — this is a community program. The rewards are intentionally local and useful: insider tips, a practical guide, and recognition within the FFFTL community. That's what makes it feel genuine rather than spammy.