Referral system for subscription-based products

Abstract

Systems and methods for subscription-based product referrals are provided. In example embodiments, a user request to refer a subscription is received. A user selection of a social network connection having a social network relationship with the user on a social network service is received. A referral request is transmitted to a device of the social network connection. Acceptance of the referral request is determined. Based on determining acceptance of the referral request, a credit is provided to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a user device of a user, a user request to refer a subscription;   receiving a user selection of a social network connection having a social network relationship with the user on a social networking service;   transmitting a referral request to a device of the social network connection;   determining acceptance of the referral request; and   based on the determining acceptance of the referral request, processing a credit to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing a list of the social network connections for the user from the social networking service;   causing display of the list of the social network connections for the user on the user device of the user; and   receiving the user selection of the social network connection from the list of the social network connections.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing a performance metric for the user;   determining an incentive for the user based on the performance metric for the user; and   providing the incentive to the user.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 accessing incentive rule information specifying various candidate incentives; and   determining the incentive according to the incentive rule information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the performance metric comprises at least one of a number of referrals transmitted to others, a number of referrals accepted by others, or a percentage of referrals accepted by others. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the incentive is provided to the user according to an incentive limit that limits an amount of incentives distributed to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 calculating a quality score for the user according to the performance metric for the user; and   modifying an account setting of the user based on the quality score.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a processor, and a memory including instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   receive, from a user device of a user, a user request to refer a subscription;   receive a user selection of a social network connection having a social network relationship with the user on a social networking service;   transmit a referral request to a device of the social network connection;   determine acceptance of the referral request; and   based on the determining acceptance of the referral request, process a credit to the user.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 access a list of the social network connections for the user from the social networking service;   cause display of the list of the social network connections for the user on the user device of the user; and   receive the user selection of the social network connection from the list of the social network connections.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 access a performance metric for the user;   determine an incentive for the user based on the performance metric for the user; and   provide the incentive to the user.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 access incentive rule information specifying various candidate incentives; and   determine the incentive according to the incentive rule information.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the performance metric comprises at least one of a number of referrals transmitted to others, a number of referrals accepted by others, or a percentage of referrals accepted by others. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the incentive is provided to the user according to an incentive limit that limits an amount of incentives distributed to the user. 
     
     
         14 . A machine-readable medium having no transitory signals and storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a user device of a user, a user request to refer a subscription;   receiving a user selection of a social network connection having a social network relationship with the user on a social networking service;   transmitting a referral request to a device of the social network connection;   determining acceptance of the referral request; and   based on the determining acceptance of the referral request, processing a credit to the user.   
     
     
         15 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 accessing a list of the social network connections for the user from the social networking service;   causing display of the list of the social network connections for the user on the user device of the user; and   receiving the user selection of the social network connection from the list of the social network connections.   
     
     
         16 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 accessing a performance metric for the user;   determining an incentive for the user based on the performance metric for the user; and   providing the incentive to the user.   
     
     
         17 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 accessing incentive rule information specifying various candidate incentives; and   determining the incentive according to the incentive rule information.   
     
     
         18 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the performance metric comprises at least one of a number of referrals transmitted to others, a number of referrals accepted by others, or a percentage of referrals accepted by others. 
     
     
         19 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the incentive is provided to the user according to an incentive limit that limits an amount of incentives distributed to the user. 
     
     
         20 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 calculating a quality score for the user according to the performance metric for the user; and   modifying an account setting of the user based on the quality score.