Not too long after XM drops its iREP affiliate program, Sirius sent out a mass email promoting a referral program of its own: "Sirius Friends."
The email, which was sent out mid-day yesterday, promotes to a $20 reward check for every friend you refer to Sirius Satellite Radio. You can provide up to 10 friends by submitting their name and email address, and in return your friends receive a 15% discount off of a Sirius radio or accessory. Friends you refer need to stay active subs for 60-days before you can get paid.
Referral programs can never be considered a bad thing - there's little downside to giving it a shot - though I'm skeptical about the amount of traction they receive when executed like this. I'd like to see Sirius (and XM) create a richer product experience (like widgets, etc), and/or make the campaigns more targeted (specific NFL, NASCAR, Howard messages), and then combine those with incentives (like the $20 reward/15% off for your friend) to actually spur viral activity.
Simply asking you to spread the word isn't as effective as making it fun to spread the word.
It's called: the end of quarter rush!
One thing I have never understood about Siri or Xm is the fact that the money is to be made in the recurring revenue of subscribers, and as that base grows, the cash grows substantially . Simply put, the more subs they add the more they will make. So then, why does XM and SIRI not simply give out free radios to consumers for one year sign ups? I don't mean this lame one-year sub giveaway they are doing now, or any other radio specials for free they do try to run, that are only for current subscribers. Only for current subscribers is not how you build your sub base, all that does is allow someone to upgrade a radio to a newer one under a new sub and cancel the older sub. What are these clowns thinking? If I could add 15, 20, 30 million more subs in 6 months or less by giving everyone a free radio who wants one and have them sign up for one year subs, then I just made a fortune quickly. Why do they only offer free radios to current subscribers? That is not how you get your name and product out to everyone to subscribe.