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Available ways to connect an e-commerce store
You can connect Referral Factory to e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix and other online stores using Zapier, Make, API or webhooks. If your store processes payments through Stripe, you can also use our native Stripe integration to qualify Leads automatically when they make a purchase.
The best connection method depends on your platform and how you want your referral program to work.
- Zapier — a no-code option for platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce.
- Make — another no-code option for connecting purchase and customer events to Referral Factory.
- API or webhooks — useful when you need a custom integration or more control over your workflow.
- Stripe — connect Stripe directly to track qualifying purchases and, if needed, use Stripe promo codes.
Referral capture and attribution
Each Referrer gets a unique referral link that identifies the people they refer.
When a Lead clicks that link and submits their details through your Referral Factory campaign, we create the Lead and attribute them to the correct Referrer.
You can then redirect the Lead to your online store. The attribution remains stored in Referral Factory, so you can still see who referred the Lead even though the purchase happens on your store.
Customer and Referrer sync
You can automatically add customers from your e-commerce platform to Referral Factory as Referrers.
For example, a Zapier workflow could run: New Shopify customer → Add Referrer to Referral Factory → Generate unique referral link.
The generated referral link can then be saved to another system or sent to the customer. If your customers are stored in Stripe, you can also sync existing Stripe customers into a campaign as Referrers through the native Stripe integration.
Purchase and Qualification tracking
When a Lead makes a purchase, you can use that event to change their Referral Factory status from Pending to Qualified automatically.
With Zapier or Make, the workflow could run: Lead makes a purchase → purchase triggers the automation → Referral Factory finds the Lead → Lead is marked Qualified.
Depending on your setup, the Lead can be identified by their email address, referral code or coupon code.
If you use Stripe, you can configure a minimum spend and time period for qualification. When the customer meets those conditions, we qualify the Lead automatically.
Reward triggers
Qualification can also trigger your referral rewards. A common journey is: Customer refers a friend → friend becomes a Lead → friend makes a purchase → Lead becomes Qualified → Referrer earns their reward.
You can also create a double-sided referral program where the Lead receives a discount or coupon and the Referrer earns a separate reward after the qualifying purchase.
When a Lead becomes Qualified, we evaluate the campaign’s active reward rules. The reward can appear as Due for review, or be issued automatically when Auto Issue is enabled.
Choose the right connection method
Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix and similar platforms connect through Zapier, Make, API or webhooks rather than a direct store integration.
Use Zapier or Make for a no-code connection. Use Stripe when Stripe already handles your payments and the purchase should qualify the Lead. Use API or webhooks for custom workflows or when you need more control over the data exchanged.
Developer requirements
You generally do not need a developer for Zapier or Make. A developer may be needed for API or webhook workflows, especially when your website or checkout must store referral information and send it back after a purchase.
For API and webhook integrations, you will typically need your Campaign ID and API Key. Before building, decide whether email address, referral code or coupon code will connect the purchase to the correct Lead.
Test the complete journey
Always test the referral and purchase journey before launching it to customers. If you use Stripe, connect Stripe Test Mode first so you can test without processing a real transaction.
If the Lead does not qualify, confirm that the purchase automation ran and that the email address, referral code or coupon code matches the Lead stored in Referral Factory.
Step 1
Create a test Referrer and copy their unique referral link.
Step 2
Open the link and join as a new Lead.
Step 3
Confirm that the Lead is attributed to the correct Referrer.
Step 4
Continue to your online store and complete a test purchase.
Step 5
Confirm that Zapier, Make, your webhook, API call or Stripe receives the purchase event.
Step 6
Check that the correct Lead changes from Pending to Qualified.
Step 7
If rewards are configured, confirm that the correct reward is triggered.