Referral leaderboard
A referral leaderboard is a public ranking on a waitlist page showing which signups have invited the most others, used to gamify viral growth by making top referrers visible to themselves and the rest of the list.
What goes on it
A leaderboard ranks signups by how many people they have successfully referred. It usually shows a top-N list (with names, initials, or handles) and often each visitor's own rank, so everyone can see where they stand and what it takes to move up.
Why it matters
Visibility is the incentive. When people can see their position and the people ahead of them, referring becomes a game with a scoreboard — which is what turns a flat email list into a viral loop. It pairs naturally with milestone rewards and queue position.
Related terms
- Milestone rewards — Milestone rewards are unlockable benefits a signup earns when they hit specific referral thresholds, for example "invite...
- Queue position — Queue position is the number assigned to a signup on a waitlist indicating their order in line; it is typically shown on...
For how to set one up, see the waitlist referral program guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Should every waitlist show a leaderboard?
- Not necessarily. Leaderboards work best when referrals are central to your growth and you expect enough signups for a ranking to feel meaningful. For a small or low-referral list, a visible queue position and rewards can drive the same behavior without an empty-looking board.
- What goes in a referral leaderboard?
- Typically a ranked list of top referrers by successful-referral count, shown with names, initials, or handles, plus each visitor's own rank. Some show the rewards unlocked at each tier to make the incentive explicit.
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