To create a referral program among clients of your white label reseller on Papo (https://papo.global/), you use the CRM to register each referral as a contact, the Kanban to move it through qualification stages, and native automations to send reminders and non-financial reward notifications — all in each client's isolated environment, with your brand, without exposing Papo to the end client.
In the white label reseller model, each client operates in a panel with their own name, logo, colors, and domain. This allows the referral program to be configured per client, without mixing databases, conversations, or history. Papo provides the technology and infrastructure; you define the non-financial reward (such as early access to features, priority support, or a partner badge) and handle the relationship.
Summary of the referral program with CRM, Kanban, and automations
| Stage | What you use in Papo | What it does | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capture referral | Contacts and Kanban | Create the contact for the referred company, linked to the client who referred, and a card in the referral funnel | Referral registered with clear origin |
| Qualify | Kanban funnel | Move the card through stages like "Referral received", "In contact", "Negotiation", and "Closed" | View of each referral's progress |
| Remind and engage | Automations and macros | Trigger automatic thank-you messages to the referrer and reminders for the team to follow up on the referral | White label client feels valued and the team doesn't miss deadlines |
| Reward (non-financial) | Automations and macros | When the referral is closed, run a macro that communicates the non-financial reward (e.g., early access, priority support) | Client receives the benefit without involving money |
| Maintain history | Contacts and filters | Filter contacts by date and type, use tags to organize referrals and granted rewards | Database ready for new campaigns and public recognition |
How the referral program with non-financial rewards works
The first step is commercial: you define which non-financial reward will be offered per qualified referral. It could be a "Partner Client" badge, access to exclusive beta groups, free consulting hours, priority support, or any other benefit that doesn't involve cash payment. Papo doesn't define these rules; as a white label reseller, you control the prices and conditions for your clients.
Operationally, the CRM and Kanban become the source of truth for the program. When you receive a referral, you register the referred company as a contact, with name, email, or phone. The contact is linked to a card in that white label client's Kanban funnel, so the referral has a clear follow-up stage. As the negotiation progresses, you move the card, making it visible to the team and, if desired, to the client who referred.
Papo allows you to filter contacts by date and type. This helps identify, for example, clients who referred business in the last 30 days, clients who haven't referred in a while, or just the referred leads. With the segmented database, you create specific communications to engage referrers.
Step-by-step to set up the program
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Define the non-financial reward. Choose the benefit that will be granted when a referral is closed. It could be, for example, early access to new modules, priority support for 30 days, or a spotlight on your reseller's website. The decision is yours, and the CRM will keep a record of the condition.
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Create a referral funnel for each client. In the Kanban module, you can create independent funnels per white label account. Use stages with names suitable for the program, such as "Referral received", "First contact", "Proposal sent", and "Referral closed". This way, each client has their own referral program pipeline without mixing with other clients.
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Register each referral. Create a card linked to the referred company's contact and place it in the first stage of the funnel. Link it to the client who referred via tags or the contact's history, so you keep the referral's origin.
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Move the card as the negotiation progresses. At each completed stage, update the card in Kanban. When the referral closes, mark the card as won. This records that the referral should generate the non-financial reward.
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Automate reminders and communications. Create macros with the program's messages — for example, a thank-you to the referrer as soon as the referral is registered, and a warning to the team if the card stays idle for many days. Configure native automations to run these macros when the card reaches a certain stage. You can also use native Kanban webhooks to connect the funnel to other tools in your operation.
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Grant the reward and track the history. With the card closed and the reward macro sent, you deliver the benefit (e.g., activate priority access). The CRM keeps the contact, the card, and the interactions, allowing you to later check which clients participated in the program and which rewards have already been granted.
Who this model makes sense for
- Marketing agencies that resell Papo to clients and want to increase retention with non-financial rewards for referrals.
- Software houses that offer the white label platform and want to encourage their clients to bring new business without paying commissions.
- Consultancies that deliver the tool along with the methodology, using the referral program as part of the value proposition.
- Franchises and networks that centralize reseller management but allow each unit to refer partners without mixing databases.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a different referral program for each white label client?
Yes. Each reseller client operates in an isolated environment, and you can create exclusive funnels, contacts, and automations for each one, with personalized rewards.
What type of non-financial reward can I offer?
You define it: early access to new features, priority support, partner badge, exclusive training, free consulting hours, or any other benefit that doesn't involve money. Papo only provides the structure to communicate and record the grant.
How to automate reminders so the team doesn't forget to follow up?
You can set up automations to trigger a reminder macro when a card reaches a specific stage or stays in it for a set time. You can also schedule periodic reviews directly in Kanban to ensure no referral is left idle.
How does the referring client know the referral was completed?
The automation sends a message (via macro) as soon as the card is moved to the "Closed" stage, communicating the achievement of the non-financial reward. The history is recorded in the client's contact.
Do I need to pay a commission?
No. The program is based exclusively on non-financial rewards, defined by you. Papo doesn't manage payments or commissions; you just use the platform to track and communicate.
Can I use the same funnel for all clients?
You can replicate the funnel structure, but each client will have their own isolated funnel, with independent cards and contacts. This ensures that one client's referrals don't mix with another's.
Read also
- How to set up a loyalty program for your white label reseller clients
- How to use Kanban to track onboarding and adoption for each white label client
Build your recurring revenue with your brand and encourage referrals without commission costs.