We could have spent it on ads. Instead, we chose to pay you

Every new platform is faced with the same initial challenge: how do you attract users?

The conventional answer is advertising. You set a budget, hand it over to one of the major platforms, and then sit back and watch the traffic come in. It works - to a degree. However, it's expensive, it stops the moment you stop paying, and the money only flows in one direction: away from your product and into someone else's business.

We examined that model and opted for a different approach.

The car community already does this for free

Anyone who has spent time around car enthusiasts will know one thing: they love to talk about cars. Constantly. They talk about which car to buy, which to avoid, where to find a good deal and which seller to trust. The automotive community is one of the most active, passionate and well-connected in the world, and word of mouth has always been its primary currency.

Even before review sites, algorithms and targeted ads existed, someone in a forum, WhatsApp group or car park on a Sunday morning was already recommending something to someone who trusted their opinion completely.

The best recommendation a new platform can receive isn't from an advert. It's from a friend who says, 'I use this; it works; you should try it.'

We built Breaqs for that exact community. We realised early on that the people who would naturally talk about the platform - the enthusiasts, forum regulars, group chat advisors and friends that everyone calls before buying a car - deserved to be part of the story in a more meaningful way than just as users.

A Deliberate Choice About Where the Money Goes

The thinking behind the Breaqs partner programme was straightforward. We have a marketing budget. Rather than allocating it to advertising platforms, we could invest it directly in the people who are already talking about cars every day and who genuinely believe in what we're building.

We chose the latter. This is not to say that advertising is wrong - we use it too - but at this stage in Breaqs' development, community trust is worth more than reach.

People who arrive because a friend recommended Breaqs will engage, sell and stay longer differently than people who clicked a banner ad. They come with context. They come with trust already in place. They're also far more likely to recommend us to someone else.

How it works in practice

The Breaqs Partner Programme is open to everyone - you don't need a website, YouTube channel or large following. All you need is a personal referral link and people in your life who trust your opinion on cars.

When someone uses your link to sign up and then buys or sells a vehicle on Breaqs, you earn 25% of the platform's commission on that sale. For example, on a car that sells for €15,000, Breaqs earns €750. Your share of that is €187.50 - for a recommendation you would probably have made anyway.

This structure is designed to reward genuine connections, not just traffic.

• 90-day cookie window - if your referral takes a few weeks to decide, you will still earn!
• 2-year account linking: every qualifying transaction that your referral makes is credited to you for two years.
• No cap on earnings: the more active your network, the more you earn.
• Free to join - always

Why we're telling you this

Transparency matters to us. As a new platform, we are asking for your trust, and the least we can do is be open about our thought processes and the reasons behind our decisions.

Opting to prioritise community over advertising doesn't mean we're permanently opposed to paid marketing. It reflects where we are right now, our beliefs about how good platforms grow, and who we think should benefit from Breaqs finding its audience.

The automotive community has built its reputation on honest advice and genuine enthusiasm. We want Breaqs to grow in the same way - one trusted recommendation at a time. 

Join the Breaqs programme

If you share our vision and would like to play a part in the growth of Breaqs, our partner programme is open and free to join. Sign up to get your personal link and share it however you like - in a conversation, a message, a post or a video.

Next time someone asks you where to buy or sell a car in Europe, you'll be able to give them a good answer. This time, you'll also get paid for it!

Find out more and sign up at breaqs.com/partners.

- The Breaqs Team