Seems like the 3 easiest ways for your referred friends to qualify:

Have them join the AAdvantage dining program (1000 mile bonus for first $25 dine)
or
Have them create a AAdvantage eShopping profile & download the toolbar (500+500 miles)
or
Point them to one of the no-annual fee first year Citibank offers which would then put them in a place to claim an award ticket... which might be motivation enough for them to do it.

Because if they have'nt already started an AA account, I doubt 2000 miles in a new account is going to mean much to them. A free ticket on the other hand...

PM me if you want to be referred