By default only customers with an account get a referral link. With guest referrals, anyone can get one by entering their name and email. Use it if many of your customers check out as guests.
Turn on guest referrals
- Go to WooCommerce → Refer a Friend → Settings → General Settings.
- Turn on Enable referral links for guests.
- Click Save.
- Optionally, change the text guests see above the form in Display Settings → Single Product → Text to show when user is not logged in.
Where guests get their link
| Place | What guests see |
|---|---|
| Product page Refer a Friend tab | A form with Your Email, Your Name and a Generate button. |
[WOO_GENS_RAF_ADVANCE] and [WOO_GENS_RAF_FULL] shortcodes |
The same form. |
| Order received page, after a guest checkout | Their link, created from the order’s email, if Show on Thank You page is on. |
After the guest clicks Generate, they see their link and code, and can share them right away. The same browser shows their link again on later visits.
How guest codes work
- A guest gets a normal
ref…code, saved with their email and name. - If they enter the email of an existing account, they get that account’s code instead. Rewards then go to the account.
- If they enter the same email again later, they get the same code.
- If Hide referral link for users without any orders is on, only emails with an order get a link. Others see No orders text.
How guest advocates are rewarded
- The reward coupon is emailed to the address they entered, and only that address can use it.
- They can’t see their coupons in My Account, because they don’t have an account. Make sure the coupon emails are on. See Emails overview.
- Generate Coupon on every X Order and Give specific advocates a different reward don’t work for guests.
Anyone can generate a guest link with any email address. Keep the fraud checks on, so the same person can’t refer themselves with a second email. See How fraud protection works.
Check it worked
In a private window, open a product page and click the Refer a Friend tab. Enter a test email and name, and click Generate. A link with ?raf=ref… should appear.