Refer Friends to Paid Research Studies — Digital Loyalty Card

Turn participant referrals into a measurable growth channel with a digital loyalty card built for paid research studies. Calusa Marketing helps you encourage friends-to-study referrals, reward completed actions, and keep participants engaged without app downloads or complex integrations. Our configurable platform and fulfillment support make it easier to generate qualified leads while protecting your team’s time.

Digital loyalty card referral program

Our Digital Loyalty Card Services

Flexible referral, loyalty, and reward solutions built to help paid research teams increase qualified participation.

Digital Loyalty

Create an easy, no-app loyalty experience that keeps participants engaged, supports referral messaging, and helps your organization learn more about the people responding to your studies.

Lead Generation

Encourage research prospects to complete forms, consultations, or screening steps by offering incentives that reduce hesitation and move more qualified leads into your recruitment funnel.

Gift Cards

Offer participants the gift of choice with digital vouchers, 100+ U.S. gift card options, VISA alternatives, and turnkey fulfillment that eliminates manual card storage.

Digital referral loyalty card setup process

Our Digital Referral Program Process

Define Referral Goals And Rules

We define the referral actions that matter most, such as study signups, completed screenings, or attended research sessions. Then we align reward values with participant motivation, study economics, and your recruitment goals.

Configure The Digital Card

Select Rewards Participants Want

Launch, Track, And Fulfill

Proven Program Results

Success Stories

Organizations trust Calusa Marketing to build measurable loyalty, referral, and incentive programs that improve participation.

"Great marketing company who comes alongside you in whatever way best suits your needs for your style of business with an even better staff that makes everything so simple. Do yourself a favor and partner with these great folks!"

Nicholas Deason
Nicholas Deason
The Calusa Difference

Why Choose Calusa Marketing?

Calusa Marketing combines incentive strategy, flexible technology, and white glove support.

Fast Setup

Configure referral programs quickly with no app download and no complex integration required.

Deep Expertise

Over 75 years of combined incentive marketing, loyalty, and reward fulfillment experience.

Full Service

Gift card fulfillment, customer support, and program logistics handled for your team.

Custom Strategy

Programs are designed around your audience, economics, referral actions, and measurable goals.

Meet The Calusa Team

Experienced incentive strategists, technologists, and fulfillment specialists.

Portrait of Mike Giroud, President of Calusa Marketing

Mike Giroud

President

Mike Giroud serves as President of Calusa Marketing, the St. Petersburg, FL-based incentive marketing firm he has helped grow since its founding in 2015. With deep roots in loyalty and engagement program strategy, Mike provides executive leadership across all facets of the business, from platform development to client relationships. Under his direction, Calusa Marketing has grown to manage over 1,000 programs serving more than 500,000 members while maintaining a 99% client retention rate. Mike is committed to delivering results-driven incentive solutions that help clients generate leads, inspire sales teams, and improve retention — all backed by decades of combined industry experience and a culture built on integrity, accountability, and perseverance.

Portrait of Alex Philips, EVP of Sales at Calusa Marketing

Alex Philips

EVP, Sales

Alex Philips is the Executive Vice President of Sales at Calusa Marketing, where he leads the company's national sales strategy and client acquisition efforts across a broad range of industries. With extensive experience in loyalty and incentive marketing, Alex works closely with prospects and existing clients to design programs that drive measurable results — from increased customer spend to improved employee retention. He brings a consultative approach to every engagement, ensuring that each program is tailored to the client's specific goals and budget. Alex is a key driver behind Calusa Marketing's impressive growth and its reputation for delivering high-impact incentive solutions with white glove service.

Portrait of Jon Riggleman, EVP at Calusa Marketing

Jon Riggleman

EVP

Jon Riggleman serves as Executive Vice President at Calusa Marketing, playing a pivotal role in the company's strategic direction and operational excellence. With a career steeped in loyalty, engagement, and incentive program management, Jon brings a wealth of knowledge that contributes to Calusa Marketing's over 75 years of combined team experience. He works across departments to ensure that client programs are executed with precision, accountability, and measurable outcomes. Jon is deeply committed to the company's core values and is instrumental in maintaining the high standards of service that have earned Calusa Marketing a 99% client retention rate and a reputation as a trusted partner across multiple industries.

Portrait of Evan Blake, VP of Technology at Calusa Marketing

Evan Blake

VP, Technology

Evan Blake is the Vice President of Technology at Calusa Marketing, overseeing the development and management of the company's cloud-based SaaS reward platforms. Evan ensures that Calusa Marketing's technology solutions remain cutting-edge, user-friendly, and seamlessly deployable — requiring no integration and no app download for clients or their customers. His technical expertise enables rapid program configuration and easy ongoing management, giving clients a competitive edge in their loyalty and incentive initiatives. Evan is passionate about leveraging technology to reduce operational burden while maximizing program effectiveness, and his work is central to Calusa Marketing's ability to serve over 1,000 programs across diverse industries nationwide.

Portrait of Tom Rocca, VP and Advisory Board Member at Calusa Marketing

Tom Rocca

VP / Advisory Board

Tom Rocca serves as Vice President and a member of the Advisory Board at Calusa Marketing, bringing decades of strategic insight and industry expertise to the organization. In his dual role, Tom both contributes to day-to-day leadership and provides high-level guidance that shapes the company's long-term vision. His experience across loyalty, incentive marketing, and reward fulfillment is a cornerstone of Calusa Marketing's 75+ years of combined team knowledge. Tom is a trusted voice in shaping client program strategies that deliver lasting results, and his commitment to excellence and integrity reflects the values that have made Calusa Marketing a recognized leader in incentive and engagement solutions.

Portrait of Alex Brown, Sales Director at Calusa Marketing

Alex Brown

Sales Director

Alex Brown is a Sales Director at Calusa Marketing, responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities while building lasting relationships with clients across a variety of industries. Alex brings a client-first mindset to every conversation, taking the time to understand each organization's unique challenges and goals before recommending an incentive program solution. With expertise spanning loyalty programs, digital punch cards, gift card solutions, and travel incentives, Alex helps clients unlock new revenue streams and motivate both their employees and customers. His dedication to delivering results and his collaborative approach make him a valued partner for businesses seeking to grow through strategic incentive marketing.

Portrait of Thomas Ris, Sales Director at Calusa Marketing

Thomas Ris

Sales Director

Thomas Ris is a Sales Director at Calusa Marketing, where he works with clients across multiple sectors to design and implement incentive programs that drive meaningful business outcomes. Thomas brings a data-driven approach to sales, aligning program structures with each client's specific performance goals to ensure measurable ROI. Whether working with HVAC distributors, media companies, or retail organizations, he takes pride in crafting solutions that are fast to deploy, cost-effective, and easy to manage. Thomas embodies Calusa Marketing's commitment to diligence and perseverance, consistently going above and beyond to ensure that every client program is set up for long-term success.

Portrait of Brigitt Barclay de Tolly, Sales Director at Calusa Marketing

Brigitt Barclay de Tolly

Sales Director

Brigitt Barclay de Tolly is a Sales Director at Calusa Marketing, bringing a dynamic and personalized approach to helping clients build and execute impactful incentive and loyalty programs. She specializes in understanding the nuanced needs of businesses across diverse industries, from vacation ownership and timeshare companies to blood donation centers and call center operations. Brigitt is known for her consultative style and her ability to match clients with the right combination of platform tools, reward offerings, and fulfillment services. Her commitment to customer satisfaction and her passion for driving results make her a trusted advisor and a key contributor to Calusa Marketing's exceptional 99% client retention rate.

Portrait of Caitlin Knight, Director of Fulfillment at Calusa Marketing

Caitlin Knight

Director, Fulfillment

Caitlin Knight serves as Director of Fulfillment at Calusa Marketing, overseeing the end-to-end delivery of rewards, travel incentives, and gift card programs for clients and their program members. Caitlin ensures that every incentive is fulfilled accurately, promptly, and with the high standard of care that Calusa Marketing is known for. She manages travel bookings, confirmations, and fulfillment logistics, allowing clients to focus on their core business while Calusa handles the operational details. Caitlin's meticulous attention to detail and her dedication to delivering a seamless experience for program members are central to the company's ability to reduce client operational burden and maintain its reputation for white glove service.

Portrait of Jeanna Ortiz, Customer Service Specialist at Calusa Marketing

Jeanna Ortiz

Customer Service

Jeanna Ortiz is a Customer Service specialist at Calusa Marketing, serving as a frontline representative for the company's commitment to exceptional support available seven days a week. Jeanna assists program members and clients with inquiries related to rewards, travel incentives, digital punch cards, and gift card programs, ensuring every interaction is handled with professionalism, warmth, and efficiency. Her dedication to resolving issues quickly and thoroughly reflects Calusa Marketing's core value of integrity — putting customer satisfaction at the center of everything the company does. Jeanna plays a vital role in sustaining the trust and loyalty of the more than 500,000 program members Calusa Marketing proudly serves.

Portrait of Kali Velazquez, Billing Specialist at Calusa Marketing

Kali Velazquez

Billing Specialist

Kali Velazquez is a Billing Specialist at Calusa Marketing, responsible for managing invoicing, payment processing, and financial accuracy across the company's portfolio of over 1,000 client programs. Kali brings precision and reliability to her role, ensuring that billing operations run smoothly and that clients have a clear, transparent view of their program costs. Her attention to detail and commitment to accuracy support Calusa Marketing's promise of being a true partner — one that clients can trust not only for results but for straightforward and professional financial management. Kali's work behind the scenes is essential to the seamless experience that has helped Calusa Marketing achieve its outstanding client retention record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a paid referral program?

A paid referral program rewards people for recommending qualified friends, customers, or participants who complete a desired action. For paid research studies, that action may be signing up, completing eligibility screening, attending a study, or referring another participant. Calusa Marketing helps structure the reward rules, digital loyalty card experience, and fulfillment process so the program is easy to manage and measure.

How does a digital loyalty card work for research study referrals?

What rewards can we offer participants who refer friends?

Do participants need to download an app?

How much should we pay for a research study referral?

Can the program reward only qualified referrals?

Who manages reward fulfillment and participant support?

How quickly can a referral loyalty program launch?

Still Have Referral Program Questions?

Get clear answers from a team that builds incentive programs every day.

Trusted Associations

Awards and Recognition

IMA Member recognition

IMA Member

Membership in leading incentive marketing association.

ADRP Member recognition

ADRP Member

Recognized association for rewards professionals.

ARDA Member recognition

ARDA Member

Industry membership supporting trusted incentive programs.

Build Your Referral Loyalty Program

Tell us about your referral goals, participant journey, and reward budget. Our team will help outline a fast, easy, cost-effective program structure.

Contact Us Today

For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at (727) 999-3122. You can also send us a quick email at sales@calusamarketing.com.