Curious on how THS members best generate rewards for referral of new members.
Over the last few years, through our standard referral code, we’ve received several THS reward bonus (2-3 months per referral) for acquiring new customers for THS. Varied sources. We’ve given scribbled scraps paper to interest people on dog walks, PP cleaners, PP workmen, all sorts. This year we decided to print some business cards - gotta laugh at sheer notion - for housesitting. Selected mini sized ones from moo com - with small physical size ideal for our travel lifestyle. Used THS Member logo posted on THS Forum (thanks @Mark_B). Artwork below, with masked personal info (name, dedicated alias email and referral code).
Would love to hear of guidance and tactics from THS members that have successfully accrued many rewards benefits.
What a timely post! I’d just bookmarked several of the threads on referral codes and set aside time before my next sit to design some business cards as well.
I keep getting asked by POs’ neighbors, friends, & families if I’d be willing to sit for them sometime, & need a fuss-free way for them to find me on THS & for them to sign up with the discount code, even if it takes them a few days/weeks to get around to checking out the website & signing up.
My plan is to include both a bitly link to my profile, as well as the QR code for the referral link. Will be interested to hear what’s working well for others.
@MerryPuppins, you’re absolutely right in that there are two objectives … referral for future housesit opportunities, and new member signup rewards. Sometimes we’ve been asked by current THS pet parents, say while out walking a dog, for our profile details. bitly url to THS profile seems a great idea for this usage. QR code is interesting and probably artwork not difficult to incorporate. we didn’t think of either . though still hearty jump from scribbled paper doodles.
As referred to in some previous threads, it could backfire if a sitter actively use their time to recruit people closely connected to the household for a sit. It seems many refrain from doing so, or if asked refer neighbors etc. to get a referral from the pet parent directly.
I know I wouldn’t be too happy if a sitter of mine was recruiting among people connected to my building. It isn’t even about THS-months, as I’m quite able to pay for the memberships I want to have, but because it can impact my relations to my neighbors etc in other ways.
Ofc in a situation like the current, if I wasn’t happy with THS, I certainly wouldn’t like a sitter recruiting to a concept I couldn’t support anymore.
Perhaps I’m not understanding correctly, but what would the problem be with some neighbours joining THS and potentially booking the sitter that had previously sat for you?
@Garfield Because of your previous post with those thoughts, I actually just told someone they could get the code from their neighbor (my POs) & it would provide a discount, then told the POs I’d done so.
To be clear, I never solicit the neighbors…they keep coming & asking me. On this last sit they even made a special trip over (with cookies!), to ask if I’d sit for them.
Personally I thought i was doing a good deed by telling them about THS when they asked how much I charge. Didn’t want to imagine how everyone would feel when they found out I’d done it for free for the people I was sitting for at the time.
I think giving them the card but telling them they can also get a code from their neighbors (& that the code gives 2 free months to the referrer) is fair, if they asked first. My primary motivation is to get them to me via the site; the free months are just a nice bonus. I don’t mind if my POs happen to end up getting them. I’d hope my POs feel the same.
Over the years we’ve recruited hundreds of new members to THS through our blog, printed cards and casual conversations. We used to leave cards on supermarket and community noticeboards in the US, UK and Australia, and we kept a small stack with us so that when someone asks “How do you travel so much?” or “Who looked after your pets?”, we can give a 30‑second explanation and hand them a card with our referral link and QR code. Those cards work well in places where pet people already are – vet clinics, groomers, dog parks, pet supply stores, libraries, cafes with bulletin boards, community centres, free doggie‑bag stations, and even church or club noticeboards – anywhere that allows community flyers. The only downside is that when you promote THS this actively, you do become an informal brand ambassador. So when there are unpopular changes – for example, the 5 applications limit, the membership price rises or new fees are introduced the people you’ve referred will often message you first to ask what’s going on or whether it’s still worth using THS. That can turn into a surprising amount of emotional labour, because you end up fielding their frustrations even though you had no say in those decisions or you are just surprised as them when those changes occur.
Because the interaction where a sitter actively try to recruit my neighbors etc. will impact my relations with them. As I said in my previous post it is not about the membership, necessarily, but the interference with relations that could impact future relations for me as a resident. Whether a sitter try to recruit someone and make a negative impact that spill over on me as the resident or if they recruit to something that put me in an awkward position - for instance recruiting to something and I later will have to tell my neighbor that I’m not happy with the membership anymore and wouldn’t recommend it.
But I wouldn’t either think a sitter «selling» to my neighbors, regardless of what it was, would be a sitter that is a good match for me.
Or it could simply be chatting up a neighbor that somehow was involved in a conflict which could drag me into it, that could be a nosy neighbor wanting to get over my doorstep and take advantage of the sitter - lots of scenarios.
Depends on how it’s presented. If the sitter introduces themselves and during a friendly chatter they mention that they are a member of a pet sitting service and it’s a great way to get low cost pet care, it can be a win/win for both sides. They can give then the referral code and leave it at that without being pushy.They could also share their contact info for a future sit rather than going through the platform.
I saved thousands because someone recommended THS to me, and I greatly appreciate it. I can’t imagine anyone blaming referring party for subsequent fee increases especially since they can be avoided by canceling prior to the next renewal.
I shared that some of us would mind. I am aware that some don’t. It is just not a given that everybody would be happy to have sitters that recruit in the neighborhood, or otherwise create consequences for the future relations between neighbors by stirring up stuff - quite possibly unaware, by all means. Re. the first posts about business cards, codes and how to «generate rewards», which comes across as active recruitment and creating «opportunities» rather than simply answering a question.
Which could be useful to know for members that haven’t thought of the other side of the matter.
As an eye doctor I attended countless seminars about presenting available glasses and contact lens options to patients that weren’t “covered by the insurance”.
There’s inherent reluctance for many to engage in what seems to be soliciting an unwanted product or service.
Until the “seller” perceives it as a value to the consumer rather than somehow being pushy or taking advantage by selling something a person doesn’t want.
It’s all about presentation and determining if there is need.
As I was, a hosts neighbors may be thankful and appreciative rather than put off by a sitter handing out cards.
I had cards printed several years ago with the THS logo and my email address suggesting they email with any questions and for a referral code.
Having actively recruited quite a few members in the past I won’t be doing so from now on.
Many years ago THS sent me a stack of business cards in the post with my refferal code on the back and we did use them (along with a THS baseball cap and a ‘supersitter’ certificate). We had to bin what remained of the cards as for some bizarre reason THS changed our referral code without letting us know, and the one on the cards no longer worked. We only found out when we had someone come back to us to tell us the discount didn’t work and we raised a case this support services. Took ages to sort out and I always wondered how many people we’d given an invalid code to.
I’ve become so disillusioned with the changes made by THS that I am longer recommending them or sharing my referral code. My core value of integrity means I can’t recommend something I now have little respect for. With a heavy heart I won’t be renewing my membership after 10 years of being with THS
I wish I’m done that years ago and built up as many free years as you have! Because now, when I could really do with plenty of free months to avoid fee paying after our July renewal, I no longer feel like referring anyone! Even though I have no plans to quit THS while there is not yet a really viable competitor, its hard to enthusiastically endorce a company that has treated us this way..
If you keep supporting them by renewing your membership they’ll just carry on doing what they’re doing. Time to build up the market share of some competitors and give them something to think about.
@garfield, completely understand. also appreciate that cultural norms vary materially in different parts of the world.
we generally provide these mini cards on request, as a substitute for scraps of paper. though if we’re in a location that we deem highly attractive then we may distribute more enthusiastically
. though still hearty jump from scribbled paper doodles.
