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Inviting Users

ContactsManager SDK provides a comprehensive invite system that enables developers to implement controlled growth mechanisms, track user acquisition, and build viral loops into their applications. The invite system supports multiple distribution methods and provides detailed analytics for measuring growth effectiveness.

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How It Works

The invite system operates on a token-based architecture where each user can generate unique invite codes and links. These invites can be distributed through various channels and redeemed by new users to join the application. The system maintains complete audit trails of who invited whom, enabling sophisticated growth analytics and user relationship mapping. Key components include:

1. Invite Code Generation: Unique 6-character codes for easy sharing
2. Invite Link Creation: Full URLs for web-based distribution
3. Redemption Tracking: Complete audit trail of invite usage
4. Bulk Email Distribution: Automated email invites to contact lists
5. Relationship Mapping: Track invitation hierarchies and user networks

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Core Invite Capabilities

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Controlled Growth Management

The invite system enables precise control over app growth through configurable invite limits per user. This approach creates exclusivity and manages server load during early growth phases. Waitlist Implementation: Configure invite limits to create natural waitlists where existing users become growth ambassadors. Users receive a limited number of invites (e.g., 5 invites per user), creating scarcity and encouraging thoughtful invitation behavior. Graduated Access: Implement tiered invite systems where user engagement or tenure increases their invite allocation. Active users or early adopters can receive additional invites as rewards. Quality Control: Limited invites encourage users to invite people they genuinely believe will benefit from the app, resulting in higher-quality user acquisition and better retention rates.

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Viral Loop Construction

Build sustainable viral growth mechanisms by making the invite process seamless and rewarding for both inviters and invitees. Invitation Incentives: Track successful invites to reward users who bring valuable new members. Implement point systems, premium features, or other benefits for successful referrers. Network Effects: Use invitation data to identify and strengthen user clusters. When friends invite friends, they create engaged micro-communities within your app. Social Proof: Display mutual connections during onboarding (“Join 3 of your friends who are already using this app”) to increase conversion rates from invites.

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Multi-Channel Distribution

Support various distribution methods to maximize invite reach and effectiveness. Direct Code Sharing: Generate short, memorable codes that users can share verbally or through any messaging platform. Ideal for in-person sharing or platforms where links aren’t clickable. Link-Based Invites: Create full URLs that can be shared through social media, messaging apps, or email. These links can include tracking parameters for attribution analysis. Bulk Email Campaigns: Enable users to invite multiple contacts simultaneously through automated email campaigns. This scales personal invitations while maintaining the personal touch. Custom Integration: Integrate invite codes into your app’s existing sharing mechanisms, whether through in-app messaging, social features, or content sharing.

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Business Impact Scenarios

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Early-Stage App Launch

During initial launch phases, implement invite-only access to create buzz and manage growth velocity. Each founding user receives 3-5 invites, creating natural expansion while maintaining community quality. Implementation Strategy: New users join through invite codes only. Track which early users are most effective at bringing quality members, and reward them with additional invites or early access to new features.

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Community Building

Use invitation hierarchies to build tight-knit communities around shared interests or geographic locations. Local Network Growth: Users invite friends from their local area, creating geographic clusters that enable location-based features and real-world meetups. Interest-Based Communities: Track invitation patterns to identify organic community formation around specific topics or use cases.

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Enterprise Adoption

Enable team-based growth where one team member can invite colleagues, creating natural organizational adoption patterns. Team Onboarding: First team member receives invites for their entire team. Track team completion rates and provide admin dashboards for team leaders. Department Expansion: Successful teams receive additional invites to expand to related departments, creating organic enterprise-wide adoption.

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Retention Through Connection

Users who invite friends and see those friends become active are significantly more likely to remain engaged long-term. Connection Tracking: Monitor when invited users become active and notify the original inviter. This creates positive feedback loops that increase both parties’ engagement. Mutual Engagement: Implement features that specifically leverage the inviter-invitee relationship, such as shared challenges, collaborative features, or mutual progress tracking.

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Privacy and Security

The invite system maintains ContactsManager’s privacy-first approach while enabling powerful growth features. Minimal Data Exposure: Invite codes contain no personal information. Validation occurs through secure server-side lookups without exposing user data. Controlled Information Sharing: When validating invites, only essential information (inviter name, organization) is shared with potential invitees. Audit Trail Protection: Invitation relationships are tracked for analytics but can be anonymized or deleted according to privacy requirements. Bulk Email Privacy: Email invitations are sent through verified domains with proper unsubscribe mechanisms and respect recipient privacy preferences.

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Implementation Considerations

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Invite Limit Strategy

Design invite limits that balance growth velocity with user experience. Too few invites create frustration; too many eliminate scarcity value. Dynamic Limits: Adjust invite allocations based on user behavior, app capacity, or growth targets. Active users or successful referrers can earn additional invites. Replenishment Timing: Consider whether invites replenish over time, after successful redemptions, or through specific user actions.

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Redemption Experience

Design the invite redemption flow to maximize conversion while providing clear value proposition to new users. Inviter Context: Show new users who invited them and why that person thought they’d benefit from the app. This personal connection increases conversion rates. Immediate Value: Ensure invited users can immediately connect with their inviter or access features that demonstrate the app’s value.

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Analytics and Optimization

Track invite performance to optimize growth strategies and identify successful user acquisition patterns. Conversion Tracking: Monitor invite-to-signup and invite-to-active-user conversion rates across different distribution channels. Network Analysis: Identify users who consistently bring high-quality new members and understand their invitation strategies. Channel Effectiveness: Compare performance across direct codes, links, and bulk emails to optimize distribution strategy. For implementation details and code examples, see the Inviting Users service documentation.