Create a Referral Site

What is a Referral Site?

A referral site is built specifically to share referral codes and sign-up bonuses. Many companies offer rewards to both new customers and the people who refer them—banks, brokerages, credit cards, travel apps, and subscription services all run referral programs.

If you build a site that ranks for keywords like "Bank Name referral code" or "App Name sign-up bonus," you capture traffic from people actively searching for those deals. Once your pages rank, you earn passive income whenever someone signs up through your links.

Why This Model Works for Digital Nomads

True Passive Income

After the initial content creation and SEO work, referral sites run themselves. There are no clients to manage, no deadlines to meet, and no hours to track. Revenue flows based on search traffic, not your active involvement.

Location Independence

All work happens online. Research programs, write content, optimize for SEO, and track earnings from anywhere with internet. The income doesn't care about time zones or travel schedules.

Scalable Content Model

Each referral program is a potential page. Build one successful page, then replicate the approach across dozens or hundreds of programs. More ranked pages = more passive income.

High-Value Referral Categories

Financial Services

Category	Typical Bonus	Competition
Bank accounts	$50-500	High
Brokerages	$50-200+	High
Credit cards	$50-200	Very High
Crypto exchanges	$10-100	Medium-High
Money transfer apps	$5-50	Medium

Financial referrals pay the most but are the most competitive.

Subscription Services

Category	Typical Bonus	Competition
Meal kits	$20-80	Medium
Streaming services	$5-20	Medium
Software/SaaS	$10-50	Low-Medium
Subscription boxes	$10-30	Low
Fitness apps	$10-25	Low

Lower individual payouts but less competition and more programs to cover.

Travel and Lifestyle

Category	Typical Bonus	Competition
Ride sharing	$5-20	Medium
Travel credit cards	$50-200	Very High
Hotel programs	Points/$	Medium
Airline programs	Miles/$	Medium
Car sharing	$10-50	Low-Medium

Great for travel-focused nomad audiences.

Building Your Referral Site

Site Structure

Homepage → Category overview and featured deals
├── /bank-referrals/ → Hub page for banking
│   ├── /chase-referral-code/
│   ├── /capital-one-referral-bonus/
│   └── [individual bank pages]
├── /app-referrals/ → Hub page for apps
├── /subscription-referrals/
└── /travel-referrals/

Content for Each Referral Page

Essential elements:

• Current bonus amount (keep updated)
• Eligibility requirements
• How to claim the bonus
• Terms and restrictions
• Your referral code/link
• Step-by-step signup process

Value-add content:

• Review of the service
• Comparison to alternatives
• Who should sign up
• Tips for maximizing value
• FAQ section

SEO Strategy

Target keywords:

• "[Brand] referral code"
• "[Brand] sign-up bonus"
• "[Brand] referral bonus"
• "[Brand] new user promo"
• "[Brand] vs [Competitor]"

On-page optimization:

• Include keywords in title, H1, and URL
• Clear, helpful content structure
• Updated date for freshness
• Schema markup for offers
• Internal linking between related programs

Monetization Mechanics

Personal Referral Codes

Many programs give users personal referral links:

• You share your unique code
• New user signs up with code
• Both you and new user get bonus

This is the core model for most referral sites.

Affiliate Networks

Some programs work through affiliate networks:

• Rakuten, CJ Affiliate, Impact
• Get paid per signup or action
• Often higher volume than personal codes

Advertising

Supplement referral income with:

• Display ads on high-traffic pages
• Sponsored content from brands
• Newsletter sponsorships

Managing Your Referral Site

Keeping Content Current

Referral programs change constantly:

• Bonus amounts increase/decrease
• Terms and restrictions change
• Programs pause or end
• New programs launch

System for updates:

• Monthly review of all active pages
• Set alerts for program changes
• Update publish dates when refreshing
• Remove or redirect dead programs

Tracking Performance

Monitor what's working:

• Google Analytics for traffic by page
• Search Console for rankings
• Spreadsheet tracking conversions
• Revenue per program

Compliance and Disclosure

Required:

• FTC disclosure of affiliate relationships
• Accurate, current information
• Honest representation of programs

Best practices:

• Clear disclaimers on every page
• Distinguish between types of referrals
• Update content when terms change

Scaling Your Referral Portfolio

Expansion Strategies

More programs:

• New banks, apps, services launching
• International programs for different markets
• Niche programs others miss

More content per program:

• Comparison articles
• "Best bonuses" roundups
• Category guides
• Problem-solution content

Multiple sites:

• Different niches on separate domains
• International sites for other countries

Building Authority

Sites with authority rank faster:

• Consistent publishing schedule
• Quality content that earns links
• Active social presence
• Email list building

Challenges and Solutions

Competition

Problem: Major personal finance sites dominate top keywords.

Solutions:

• Target long-tail keywords
• Focus on newer/smaller programs
• Niche down (e.g., only crypto referrals)
• Build unique value (reviews, guides)

Program Volatility

Problem: Referral programs end or reduce bonuses.

Solutions:

• Diversify across many programs
• Don't depend on any single program
• Quickly pivot when programs change
• Build site authority for faster ranking of new content

Seasonal Fluctuations

Problem: Some programs have seasonal patterns.

Solutions:

• Mix evergreen and seasonal programs
• Plan content around promotional periods
• Build buffer during high months

Referral Sites While Traveling

Remote-Friendly Operations

Everything works remotely:

• Research and writing
• SEO optimization
• Performance tracking
• Program management

Minimal Time Investment

Once established:

• 5-10 hours/month for updates
• Quick checks on rankings
• New content as opportunities arise

Who Should Build a Referral Site?

This path is ideal if you:

• Have patience for SEO timelines
• Enjoy research and content creation
• Want truly passive income
• Can commit to ongoing maintenance
• Have interest in personal finance/deals

It's not right if you:

• Need immediate income
• Dislike writing content
• Can't handle SEO uncertainty
• Aren't organized about updates
• Don't understand referral programs

The Bottom Line

Referral sites capture value from the gap between companies offering bonuses and users searching for them. Build a site that ranks for these searches, and you earn passive income from every signup.

The model requires patience—SEO takes months—but creates genuinely passive income once pages rank. Start with a focused niche, build quality content, and expand systematically.

The users searching for referral codes want to sign up. They just need your page to find the deal. Build that bridge, and you get paid for every crossing.

Your referral site could be earning while you sleep. Start building today.