User Referral Program FAQ
What is the user referral program?
How do I enroll?
How do I invite new users?
How do I track my referrals?
How do I get paid?
What is it?
oDesk users can refer new users to join oDesk through invitation emails, banners or referral URLs.
The referred user has to sign up as either a Buyer, Freelance Provider or Provider Company Manager. Once the referred user spends or earns $1,000 on oDesk (within 2 years of joining), the referring user will be paid a one-time referral fee of $50.
There is no limit on the number of people you can refer to join oDesk. Please read the full terms & conditions.
The user invitation form, banner/link code, details of the referred users, and referral fees earned can all be found in My oDesk -> Billing & Payment -> My Referrals.
How do I enroll?
All oDesk users are automatically enrolled in the program. Affiliated Contractors currently cannot refer users or receive referral fees. Additionally, referral fees are not paid out for new users who become Affiliated Contractors.
We currently do not have an automated sign up process for firms or individuals who would like to refer users to oDesk without signing up as either Buyers or Providers.
If you would like to sign up for the referral program and are not currently an oDesk user, please submit a help ticket with your name and contact information. We will get in touch with you directly to set up your referral account.
How do I invite new users?
Everything you need to start referring new users is available in My oDesk -> Billing & Payment -> My Referrals.
Email Invitations
If you would like to send referral emails to your friends or contacts to invite them to join oDesk, you can do so using the "Invite a Friend" box in the left hand navigation. You can only input one email address at a time. oDesk will send an email with a custom link to track the referral (see sample below). You will then be able to see if your friend joined oDesk and started working using the "Activity" tab.
Referral Links
The "Tools" tab has multiple banner and icon images you can put on your website, blog, etc. Just copy the HTML code underneath the image you would like to use.
We're also provided the HTML code for a referral text link if you prefer not to use an image.
How do I track my referrals?
oDesk takes care of the tracking and displays detailed numbers for users referred, links to their profiles, and how much they have earned or spent. Once a new referred user passes the $1,000 milestone, oDesk will automatically credit the referring user's account with the referral fee.
oDesk will track the activity of your referred users. Just go to My oDesk -> Billing & Payment -> My Referrals. You can see a summary report on the "Activity" tab. This shows:
- Username of the referred user
- Date the referral signed up for oDesk
- Amount the user has billed to date
- Referral award paid
- Date the referral milestone was reached
- Status of the referral award
How do I get paid?
The referral fee is paid when the referred user spends $1,000 as a Buyer or earns $1,000 as a Provider on oDesk.
Referral fees are credited to the referring user's financial account. Buyers may use the fees as credit against future oDesk charges. Providers can withdraw referral fees like any other payment received through oDesk.
Please note that payments for referrals are processed weekly at 3 pm PST on Fridays. Thanks for your patience and for the referrals!
Contact us if you have any questions on payment.