How to launch a referral program through automated SMS

The best leads come from your last happy customer. People trust people, as simple as that. A simple referral can do more than any ad ever will. However, most movers don’t ask for them, or they do it too late. We will show you how to launch a referral program through automated SMS so every great move has a shot at bringing in the next one. Set it up once with MoversTech CRM, and let it run while you focus on the next job.

Actionable advice on launching a referral program through automated SMS

Want referrals that actually come in without you chasing them? Here’s exactly how to launch a referral program through automated SMS in simple and practical steps:

1. Define your offer
2. Build the SMS template
3. Set the automation trigger in MoversTech
4. Track referrals inside the CRM
5. Promote crew participation
6. Measure success

Define your offer

If you want people to refer their friends, give them a reason and make it simple. The best referral programs use a clean, no-fuss offer like: “Refer a friend and get $50 off your next move.” Or, if you prefer, a gift card works just as well.

But here’s the important part: set clear terms. The reward should only apply once the friend books and completes their move. That way, you’re only giving discounts on real business, not just leads. When you launch a referral program through automated SMS, you don’t want confusion. Keep the message short, the reward easy to understand, and the terms transparent. That’s what gets people to act and makes sure your team can track it without headaches.

Build the SMS template

Now it’s time to write the message your customers will actually receive. This part matters a lot. It needs to be friendly, quick to read, and easy to act on. Start with something casual and warm: “Thanks for choosing [Your Company]! Know someone planning a move?”

Then, drop in a unique referral code or link. This helps you track who referred whom and gives your customer something to share right away. To give the message some urgency, add a time limit. Something like: “Offer valid for 60 days.”

When you launch a referral program through automated SMS, the message has to work on its own. There’s no sales rep following up. So make it clear, direct, and impossible to miss. Keep it short, make it easy, and let the automation do the rest.

Set the automation trigger in MoversTech

The beauty of automation is that it happens without you thinking about it. Once you’ve written the SMS, all you need to do is tell MoversTech when to send it. Here’s a simple setup:

• Event: Job marked as “Completed & Paid”
• Delay: 24 hours (your customer is still feeling good about the move)
• Action: Send your referral SMS

This delay is important. Sending it right after the job ends might feel rushed. Waiting a day gives your message better timing—it feels thoughtful, not pushy. When you launch a referral program through automated SMS, automating the send is what makes it work long-term. No one on your team has to remember it. And with MoversTech’s time-saving CRM features, you can set this up once and move on.

Track referrals inside the CRM

Once the messages go out, you need a way to keep track of who referred whom and who’s earned a reward. MoversTech makes that part easy, too. Add a custom field in your CRM for the Referral Code. When a new customer books a move with that code, it links back to the person who referred them. From there, a dashboard widget can show how many jobs came from referrals and how much credit you owe.

Want to keep your books clean? Set an automatic task for your finance team to apply the discount or send the gift card. That way, nothing slips through the cracks. When you launch a referral program through automated SMS, this kind of tracking is what keeps it running smoothly. It’s also one of the big benefits of automated follow-ups in moving: fewer manual tasks, more consistent results.

Promote crew participation

Your movers are the last people customers see, and that’s a great moment to mention the referral offer. During the final walkthrough, have your crew say something like: “You’ll get a thank-you text tomorrow. If you know someone who’s moving, pass it on!” It’s simple, friendly, and helps the customer expect the message.

To boost motivation on both sides, offer your crew a bonus for every successful referral they help bring in. Even small incentives can go a long way. In fact, studies show that performance can improve by up to 44 percent when rewards are part of the process. It’s a smart way to turn great service into consistent growth.

Measure success

Once your referral program is up and running, track what’s working and what’s not. Look at:

• How many referral texts were sent
• How many turned into booked moves
• How much revenue did those jobs bring in

If you’re not seeing the results you want, try adjusting the incentive. Even small changes, like offering a higher reward or shortening the expiration, can increase engagement. You can also use your CRM to spot patterns and see which sources perform best. That’s how you get better over time. To improve even more, consider ways to capture leads from various sources and feed them into the same automated system. Because when you launch a referral program through automated SMS, you want every part working together to drive warm leads consistently.

Let your great service do the marketing for you

Every move you complete is a chance to earn the next one. If you make it easy for customers to spread the word, that is. When you launch a referral program through automated SMS, you are not just asking for referrals. You’re creating a system that does it for you on time, with no extra effort. Let your great service do what it’s meant to do: bring in more business. Want help getting started? Book your free MoversTech demo today and see how easy it is to make referrals part of your daily flow.