All of us know interesting people. Some have unique talents. Others have business ideas, write beautiful poetry, or have a passion to change the world for the better. 

Should your mom be sharing her recipes with the world?
Does your roommate have hilarious opinions on current events?
Got a co-worker who needs to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams?
Is your favorite singer-songwriter looking for a better way to make money from his music?

If they're not online, they should be. If you've ever told a friend or family member that they should create a blog, start their own podcast, or sell what they make online, this is your chance to give them the nudge they need.

The WordPress.com Refer-a-Friend Program kicked off this spring. Both you and your connections can earn credits for their new WordPress.com websites. But what's really exciting is how you'll give people you know the opportunity to bring their big ideas to life.

How the referral program works

We've designed our peer referral program to be mutually beneficial: You simply invite someone  -- friends, family, casual acquaintances -- to build a website. As long as they're totally new to WordPress.com, they get a US$25 credit towards purchasing a WordPress.com plan.

And every time someone you refer picks a plan, you get a US$25 credit, too! That's our way of saying "thanks." The credit will be applied within two months of the referrer signing up and making an eligible purchase.

WIth current pricing, a $25 credit is more than 50% off the first year of a Personal plan and more than 25% off a Premium plan. Plus, your referrals also get a free custom domain name for their first year.

Here's how to start:

    1. Log in to your WordPress.com account and go to Tools → Earn.
    2. Locate your unique referral link in the Refer-a-Friend section.
    3. Copy the link and share it via email, social media, or text message.

Think about what you'll say to each person before you pass along that link. Instead of saying, "Click this link and you'll save money on a website," tell people why you think they should make that leap. Tell them why you believe in them.

Then, tell them why you use WordPress.com and explain how you think it will help them, too.

A little encouragement goes a long way

Why should you bother? Why should you take the time to tell others about WordPress.com?

It's not really about saving a few bucks (although that's nice!). The credit is just a little incentive that convinces your friends they should take that first step towards doing something meaningful. You're not clipping coupons. You're encouraging the creation of something new and valuable on the internet.

Think back to when you first built a website. Think about the first blog post you ever published. If you're like most people, it felt like a big deal. And it was a big deal. You had something to say, a goal you were striving to reach, and your website gave you the power to make it happen. Now it's time to empower others with that same sense of possibility.

In a world of tweetstorms and 24-hour news cycles, websites help us stop consuming and start creating. They give us a space to be thoughtful and proactive. We need more original artists. We need more thoughtful writers. We need more brilliant entrepreneurs. We need more compassionate community activists.

Everyone at WordPress.com believes in the importance of democratizing online publishing. That means giving small businesses, free thinkers, and creators the tools they need to build an online presence.

But we also need you. We need you to help spread the word about what can be done with a real website. Think about three people you can refer to WordPress.com today and give them the spark they need to get started.

Want to send along some inspiration? Check out the amazing websites and customer stories featured on Discover!