Marketers often spend a lot of time crafting the right message. But in Referral Marketing, when you deliver that message can be just as important as what it says. The right timing can turn a simple prompt into a powerful recommendation.
At Soreto, we analysed referral activity across our network of retail brands as part of our latest Referral Insights Whitepaper. Among the various trends we uncovered, one stood out more than any other.
The most successful time for referral engagement is Sunday and Monday evenings between 7 and 8 PM.
The Golden Hour for Sharing
This finding isn’t just a curiosity- it makes perfect sense.
On Sunday evenings, people are easing out of the weekend. It’s a time of reflection, light planning and digital downtime. Whether they’re browsing on the sofa or scrolling through their saved items, customers are mentally preparing for the week ahead. That mindset often includes shopping, checking emails and chatting with friends.
By Monday evening, the rhythm of the workweek has started. After a busy day, many people settle into familiar habits- including social scrolling, casual browsing and replying to messages. This is a moment of calm. A pause where customers feel most receptive to low-effort engagement.
These natural routines offer brands a valuable opportunity to connect. Not with pushy promotions, but with something more meaningful- a chance to share something they already love.
Why Timing Drives Referral Success
Referral Marketing works best when it feels human. A referral isn’t a transaction- it’s a personal endorsement. It needs to land at the right moment to feel natural, thoughtful and welcome.
By aligning referral touchpoints with natural customer behaviour, we create journeys that feel seamless and effective.
Here’s how we apply these insights:
1. On-Site Visibility
We work with brands to ensure referral prompts are placed in the right places on their websites- and that they’re visible when traffic is high. Home page carousel banners, sticky headers, and embedded footers can all carry referral messaging that feels native and non-disruptive, especially during evening browsing sessions.
2. Post-Purchase Lightbox
One of the most powerful placements in the Soreto ecosystem is our lightbox, which appears immediately after a customer completes a purchase. This is a key moment: the purchase journey is complete, emotions are high, and satisfaction is fresh. Customers are more likely to recommend a brand when they’re feeling good about their experience. The lightbox captures that moment perfectly, offering a simple, well-timed prompt to share with friends.
3. Smart Use of RAF Pages
Our standalone Refer a Friend (RAF) Pages are designed to be shared. Brands can link to them from newsletters, social bios, or solus CRM sends- especially during the high-performing Sunday and Monday evening window. This helps extend referral visibility beyond the website, tapping into customers’ natural routines across different channels.
Referral Isn’t Just About Where. It’s About When.
Many brands focus on placement- where to show the referral offer- but forget to consider when the customer will actually engage. When a referral is presented at the wrong time, even the best incentive or most beautiful creative won’t be enough.
Timing is what transforms an ask into an action. It’s what turns a static CTA into a genuine recommendation.
When referrals are presented at the right moment- after purchase, during calm evening browsing, or within an inbox at a habitual time- they feel relevant. They feel helpful. And most importantly, they drive better results.
How Soreto Makes Timing Actionable
At Soreto, our platform doesn’t just deliver referral infrastructure. It delivers referral strategy.
We help brands:
- Surface referral prompts when satisfaction is highest
- Align referral sends with real customer behaviour
- Place referral opportunities where customers are already active
- Continuously optimise based on performance data and timing patterns
This means every referral journey is supported by smart placement and thoughtful timing — not just guesswork.
Final Thought: Don’t Just Focus on What. Focus on When.
The success of a referral programme doesn’t rest solely on the reward or the design. Timing is just as important. Whether it’s a post-purchase lightbox, a homepage banner during peak hours, or a scheduled CRM send, aligning with your customers’ daily habits makes your referral strategy more effective.
At Soreto, we help brands build referral journeys that work with customer behaviour, not against it.
Ready to unlock better timing, better placement, and better results?
Book a demo here to see how Soreto can help you build smarter referral journeys that convert.
