> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mention-me.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Sharing Methods > A guide to the referral sharing methods available in Mention Me, with industry-specific recommendations for driving the best results. Not all sharing methods perform equally. Choosing the right ones can significantly boost referral success. Focusing on a few high-performing options for your sector often leads to greater engagement than offering every option at once. ## Why it matters Offering every available sharing method can overwhelm customers and impact performance. Refining your choices typically results in higher conversion rates. Performance varies by industry and device (desktop vs. mobile). The insights below are based on sector-specific data. ## Sharing methods ### Email Referral invitation sent directly from the share screen via email. ### Link "Copy Link" option — lets users share using any app they prefer (e.g. SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger). Share overlay showing link copy and sharing options ### Forwarded email Referral email sent to the referrer so they can forward it manually to friends. Forwarded email referral configuration in the platform ### Name Share A distinctive Mention Me feature that allows customers to refer friends by name, without digital messages. Ideal for in-person scenarios or on-site prompts, it captures offline word-of-mouth referrals and mirrors how people naturally recommend brands in conversation. On average, 34% of new customers are delivered this way, and some brands see up to 77% of their referrals through it. Name sharing requires you to pass us first and last names through tags, or for referrers to manually register their name. It can only be used via the referee tag (the "Been referred by a friend?" link at checkout, on the homepage, etc.). #### How it works for the referee 1. The referee clicks the "Been referred by a friend?" link on the checkout page. This launches an overlay prompting them to enter the name of the person who referred them. 2. The referee enters the referrer's name. We link the new customer to the matched referrer and give the referrer their reward on the referee's first purchase. See [How searching for a name works](#how-searching-for-a-name-works) below for what happens in each match scenario. If a referee makes a purchase without entering their referral details, you'll need to [link their accounts retrospectively](/knowledge/referral/customers/search-add-link). #### How searching for a name works There are three possible outcomes when a referee searches for a name: * **Exact match:** the referrer is found and the referee receives the coupon code. * **Duplicate match:** if multiple people have the same name, we ask the referee to confirm the referrer's email address. By default, we issue the code even if the email addresses don't match (we also email the referrer to check whether they registered with a different address). You can disable this option if preferred. * **No match:** if nobody in the system matches the search, we ask for the referrer's email address and only issue the coupon code on an exact match. A referrer's name may not match for several reasons: * Names change (for example, from maiden to married name) * Not all names are two words (some names have only one word) * People often go by nicknames If a referee enters a referrer's name that isn't in our records, we do our best to match them by looking for a similar name in the database and checking it's them. #### Things to note * We treat international names like Western names, and can handle non-Latin characters * We can only work off names registered with us. You can update customers' names if required * Matching is case-insensitive * We remove titles (Mr, Mrs) if the referee adds them, but specific titles (like Captain) will affect the search ### Admin (special case) Appears in reporting when the referral relationship is manually created — either by your internal team or Mention Me Support. ## Industry-specific insights Based on collective data across sectors, the four most effective sharing methods vary by platform (desktop and mobile). Use these insights to: * Prioritise top-performing methods in your UI * Optimise messaging around your most valuable channels * Run A/B tests comparing sector averages vs. customer-specific preferences Sharing method rankings by industry — Sports, Online Services, Health, Home Sharing method rankings by industry — Entertainment, FMCG, Food, Gifts Sharing method rankings by industry — additional sectors ## Need help? If you'd like support tailoring your sharing methods, reach out to your Client Success Manager or contact the [Support Team](https://help.mention-me.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new?ticket_form_id=1900000712373).