Sprinkles Are For Leaders

READ THIS if you want to live! Oops, if you wanna see how I break the referral mold

Jun 25, 2025

Today I’m taking one giant step for Substackistan and sharing the wealth with everyone in my audience. I’m breaking the boring old referral mold - the built in monetized referral rewards program - by offering something so unconventional, you’ll wish you’d thought of it first. And best of all, anyone can receive these rewards.

Once in a blue moon I write about small things I figure out on SubStack and how they support our creativity. After all, we’re all dreaming of optimizing our creative time, having our life’s work make a difference to someone, anyone, out there in the ether. By the end of this post I will reveal the details of my brand new referral program. Let the games begin!

I learned about referrals last fall and it’s really cool how these work, especially if you’re going to use unconventional (aka weird) rewards like I’m about to do. Did you know that many authors reward the readers who share their work, in the form of free ‘paid’ subscription months or other bling? Waitaminute! Did I just say you can get paid to read and share? Yes, yes I did. And SubStack’s referral program does NOT require you to have a paywall turned on! What the fun son?!

*This post too long to view in email. Use this link to view at your leisure on my website. This post will be pinned to the top.*

Bren's Buzz | Cori Bren | Substack

I’ve been receiving comp’d paid subscription months from some of the newsletters I read because any time I enjoy something I ‘like’ it, restack it, and share it. Those who have been around for a while understand how this practice grows community but it also helps grow others’ audiences and, in return, your potential rewards.

Did you know that hitting the ❤️ icon above or below, and sharing this post makes it easier for people to find Bren’s Buzz?

Share this with everyone you know, like a hawker selling tickets to a sideshow.

When someone reads what I share and subsequently subscribes to that author, I get credit for making the referral. I receive an email when my referral count reaches the threshold for each tier, unlocking a reward. Here is an example from this week.

This was sent to me when I earned my second reward. Notice the button to View Leaderboard. When I click it, I see the below image.

In the case of

Christopher Cook

at The Freedom Scale, I earned a second reward for referring 5 subscribers. At $5 a month for his month-to-month subscription, I’ve earned $15 in comp’d months for this tier. That’s a nice reward for a few seconds of work restacking or liking one of his posts or notes, from which someone ends up subscribing. Turns out kindness pays off.

Interestingly enough, some people appear as ‘Anonymous Reader’ like the person who is leading the pack on Chris’s leaderboard with 105 referrals! Wow!

On your first visit to said leaderboard, you have the option to change this to public, which shows your name. Why wouldn’t you grab the free advertising for yourself by including your name, if you’re also a publisher on substack?

The best thing I learned while researching referrals is that I too can start a referral program to reward others, even though I don’t have a paid subscription option yet. All I need is an interesting reward system that is desirable to my readers.

Without further ado, as the ringmaster of this circus, I give to you…

***Cori’s Carnies***

Three tiers of incredibly weird perks customized to each individual earner. It doesn’t get any more ambiguous than this program. Think circus sideshow. Think backyard gazing ball. Think carnival weirdness that’s unique EVERY TIME.

Tier 1 - Cammo

Get your favorite strange outdoorsy, naturey, freak on! When you send 5 subscribers my way, I’ll have a short chat with you and then notify you of the gamiest ‘prize’ imaginable.

Tier 2 - Carny

Think lights, music, screams, and nausea that drive you to the nearest cool, dark place to recover. After 10 subscribers, with some short Q&A, the freak show comes to you and it WILL be one of a kind.

Tier 3 - Cashmere

Soft, silky, luxurious strangeness that requires all kinds of special care is yours for the taking with 25 referred subscribers. Cashmere doesn’t come easy and neither will the oddly demented delight I select after these lucky winners have gazed deeply into my fun house mirror, spilling a secret or two. Don’t blink!

Here is my sample Tier 3 email, for 25 referrals. Challenge issued!

When I imagined what kind of rewards would be fun for readers, playfulness was my main goal. I hope this works out as I imagine. Otherwise, this circus will leave town and some other boring program will take its place. LOL.

Why not get started now…

Refer a friend