Word of mouth, turned into a repeatable system. Photo: Pexels
Every business owner knows that word of mouth is the most powerful marketing there is. Very few know how to make it happen on purpose.
The Viral Referral Method is a book written to close that gap. Its promise is bold but simple: turn the leads you already get into a source of new leads, without new offers, new funnels or a bigger ad budget. It comes from the entrepreneur who founded UpViral, so it is built on years of real referral campaigns rather than theory.
In this review, you will learn what the book covers, the three-step method at its heart, the bonuses, who it is really written for, how it compares with the Growth Hacking Blueprint, and whether it deserves a spot on your digital bookshelf.
The Viral Referral Method is the deeper, more complete guide to referral growth. It is ideal for established business owners, coaches and marketers who already have a proven offer and want more leads from the same traffic. If you want the full strategy, not just a single tactic, this is the book to read. Beginners without an offer yet should start elsewhere.
What Is the Viral Referral Method?
The Viral Referral Method is a 195-page digital book that teaches business owners how to grow their email list and sales through referrals. Instead of finding more traffic, it shows you how to give every new lead a reason to bring in friends, so your existing marketing produces more results.
According to its sales page, the book covers how to:
- Get more referrals by giving people a reason to talk about your business
- Build a large email list without creating new offers or funnels
- Create buzz through word of mouth on social platforms
- Turn new leads into sales with an email follow-up sequence
- Run evergreen campaigns that keep delivering results
- Apply a proven system across different industries
If you are new to the concept, our guide to viral referral marketing is a helpful primer before you start.
About the Author
Wilco de Kreij is a Dutch entrepreneur who, according to the book's sales page, started selling products online at 16 and has generated more than $30 million in online sales. He founded UpViral, the referral marketing platform we have reviewed throughout this series, as well as other marketing software businesses.
That background gives the book its biggest strength: it is written by someone who has watched thousands of referral campaigns run, not by someone theorising about them. It also explains why the book's bonuses include access to UpViral. For our independent take on the software, read our UpViral review.
Inside the Book: Three Parts
The book's 19 chapters are organised into three categories, moving from understanding to action to ideas.
The principles behind referral marketing: why people share, what makes an incentive work and how referral loops grow a list.
How to put the method into practice: lead generators, thank-you page incentives, sharing and email follow-up.
Real-world examples and ideas you can adapt for your own industry and campaigns.
Nineteen chapters, from foundations to real-world inspiration. Photo: Pexels
The Three-Step Method
At the heart of the book is a simple three-step system.
Use something people want, such as a lead magnet, a webinar or a contest, to capture email addresses.
Right after sign-up, reward new leads for sharing the page with friends.
New leads spread the page through social media, messaging apps and email, and every friend who joins can share again.
Why this matters: the method adds a growth loop to the funnel you already have. You keep your offer, your traffic and your lead magnet, and simply make every sign-up work harder.
Why the Method Works
The book builds its case on a simple truth: people trust recommendations from friends far more than advertising. Its sales page points to research from sources such as the Journal of Marketing and Nielsen on the power of referrals and trusted recommendations.
The method puts that trust to work. A friend's recommendation brings in people who are often warmer, better matched and more likely to engage than cold traffic. And because each new person can share again, growth compounds. You can see the maths behind this in our guide to growing an email list without ads.
Every conversation between friends is a chance to grow. Photo: Pexels
The Bonuses
The book's sales page lists several bonuses alongside the ebook:
- 30-day access to UpViral to put the method into practice
- 50+ in-depth case studies of referral campaigns
- A private marketing community
- A viral impact calculator to estimate referral growth
- A launch checklist
- A 7-day fast start program
- 7-day copy-and-paste email follow-up templates
Check before you buy: bonuses and offer details can change. Review the current sales page so you know exactly what is included.
Who It Is Really For
Here is something you do not often see on a sales page. The book openly states that it is not for beginners. It is written for established business owners who already have a proven offer.
- Already have an offer that sells
- Collect leads through a lead magnet, webinar or contest
- Want more leads without more ad spend
- Run a coaching, course, e-commerce, agency or service business
- Prefer a full strategy over a quick tactic
- Have no product, offer or website yet
- Are not collecting any leads at all
- Only want a quick, single tactic to try
Pros and Cons
- Written by the founder of a leading referral platform
- Complete strategy, from principles to execution
- Clear three-step method that fits existing funnels
- Real-world inspiration and case studies
- Honest about who it is and is not for
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Not suitable for complete beginners
- Results figures on the sales page come from the seller
- Leans toward UpViral as the recommended tool
- Digital only, with no printed copy mentioned
Book vs Growth Hacking Blueprint
Both come from the same author and teach the same core idea, so which should you read? Here is the difference.
| Feature | The Viral Referral Method | Growth Hacking Blueprint |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Complete strategy across 19 chapters | Focused practical guide |
| Best for | Established business owners | Anyone wanting a quick first step |
| Includes inspiration | Yes, a dedicated section | Mainly method and optimisations |
| Format | Digital ebook | Digital book |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back | 30-day money-back |
Want the full comparison? Read our Growth Hacking Blueprint review. In short: choose the Blueprint for speed and the book for depth.
How to Read It for Results
Read the foundational chapters first, so you understand why the method works before you build anything.
Pick the lead magnet, webinar or contest that already brings in the most sign-ups.
Add a thank-you page incentive and make sharing easy across social media, messaging apps and email.
Use the follow-up sequence to turn new leads into engaged readers and customers.
Adapt the examples to your industry, then run your campaign as an evergreen system.
Ready to run it with software? Our 14-day $1 trial plan and 10th Anniversary deal review show your next options.
A book worth keeping close while you build your referral engine. Photo: Pexels
Is It Worth Reading?
Yes, if you are the reader it was written for. The Viral Referral Method is the most complete explanation of how to turn existing leads into a steady stream of new ones, written by someone who built a business around exactly that.
It is honest about its audience, practical in its method and backed by a 30-day guarantee. If you already have an offer and a way to collect leads, this book can help you get far more from the traffic you already have. If you are just starting out, begin with the Growth Hacking Blueprint and come back to this book when your offer is proven.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a 195-page digital book by Wilco de Kreij that teaches business owners how to grow their email list and sales through referrals, using a three-step method built around the thank-you page.
It was written by Wilco de Kreij, a Dutch entrepreneur and the founder of the referral marketing platform UpViral.
The book itself states that it is not for beginners. It is written for established business owners who already have a proven offer.
It is a digital ebook delivered as an instant download, so no shipping is required.
Both share the same core idea. The Viral Referral Method is the deeper, more complete guide, while the Growth Hacking Blueprint is a shorter, more focused practical guide.
Yes. The sales page states a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Get the full strategy, then put it to work on the leads you already have.
Get the Viral Referral Method Book Grab the Growth Hacking Blueprint Try UpViral for 14 Days See the 10th Anniversary Special Explore Everything UpViral OffersDisclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Book details, bonuses and figures are based on the publisher's sales page at the time of writing and may change.
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