Seeking sales pitchers who can boost your sales without weighing down your marketing budget? Look no further than creating an affiliate program for your Shopify store.
Affiliate marketing is the latest phenomenon dominating the ecosystem of digital marketing for e-commerce with its ability to build brand credibility and generate high ROI.
We unpack here everything you need to know about setting up your Shopify Affiliate Program step by step.
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What do you need to create an affiliate program in Shopify?
To create an affiliate program in Shopify, it’s essential to consider the following prerequisites:
- Identify the goal of the Shopify Affiliate Program: Clearly define the objectives and scope of the program. Determine what you aim to achieve through the program, whether it’s increasing sales, driving traffic, or extending brand reach.
- Choose the Right Shopify Affiliate Marketing App: Selecting a suitable affiliate marketing app for Shopify stores is crucial for streamlining affiliate marketing management. Analyze features of Shopify affiliate marketing apps such as tracking, reporting, commission management, and integration with Shopify before choosing the right fit for your affiliate marketing.
- Recruit Affiliates for your Affiliate Program in Shopify: Identify potential Shopify affiliates who align with your brand values and target audience. Consider reaching out to influencers, bloggers, loyal customers, or affiliate communities to join as affiliates.
- Promote the Shopify Affiliate Program: Promote effectively to attract affiliates and maximize participation. Utilize various channels such as email marketing, social media, website banners, and affiliate websites to spread awareness and encourage sign-ups.
By addressing these key factors, you can lay a solid foundation for launching a successful affiliate marketing campaign.
How to create an affiliate program in Shopify?
Creating an affiliate program requires affiliate marketing app integration with Shopify that can help you set up and manage the whole affiliate marketing campaign with ease.
You can choose the right app based on the requirements of the business after thoroughly examining the characteristics of the affiliate marketing app in Shopify.
Afflr is a user-friendly Shopify affiliate marketing app that will cater to all your affiliate marketing needs in one place. It is a user-friendly app that offers simple integration with Spotify, program creation, customization, automation, and a dashboard for tracking performance. This app lets you try out the free version to experience the basic features before upgrading to a premium price plan.
Let’s explore a detailed, step-by-step process for creating an affiliate program in Shopify.
- Create a Shopify Affiliate program
- Configure your program
- Add affiliates
- Share Unique Affiliate link and Affiliate Code
- Monitor the performance
- Payout commission to the Affiliates
Create a Shopify Affiliate program
To create a Shopify Affiliate Program, Go to your Shopify admin dashboard -> Apps -> Afflr -> Programs and then click on the Add Program button
Set up the Affiliate Program for Shopify
You can set up your Shopify Affiliate program easily using Afflr.
Below is a screenshot of a setup for an affiliate program that provides a 10% commission to affiliates and a 10% discount to customers on their initial purchase:
This screenshot showcases a sample configuration where we have set up an affiliate commission and a corresponding affiliate discount for the first transaction of an affiliate customer.
Similarly, the Afflr app provides you with several configuration options like setting minimum requirements, setting usage limits, or limiting to one use per customer.
Add affiliates to the Affiliate program in Shopify
Adding the right affiliate for your Affiliate program in Shopify is a vital step. Afflr allows you two ways of recruiting affiliates.
Use the Affiliate signup form
You can use sign up form to invite affiliates to register using two ways:
1. Affiliate Landing Page
An affiliate landing page is a web page in your Shopify store where visitors who land are presented with the details about your affiliate programs and means to sign up to become affiliates. Afflr lets you create an affiliate landing page for your Shopify store which you can also customize based on your needs.
To access the Affiliate Landing page for your Shopify store using Afflr, Go to your Afflr admin dashboard -> Settings and toggle the Enable button.
2. Affiliate Portal
Affiliate Portal offers affiliates a dedicated platform to track their performance. Within this portal, affiliates can register and await approval to be part of your affiliate marketing network. Afflr enables you to establish an affiliate portal effortlessly in just a few clicks.
To activate Affiliate Portal in your Shopify store using Afflr, Go to your Afflr admin dashboard -> Settings and toggle the Enable button.
Adding Affiliates using the Afflr admin dashboard
To add affiliates using the Afflr admin dashboard, Go to your Afflr admin dashboard -> Affiliates and click on the Add Affiliate button.
Share Unique Affiliate link and Affiliate Code
By Sharing unique affiliate links and affiliate codes, you can easily track the affiliate sales. This affiliate referral link or affiliate code is singular to each Shopify affiliate.
a. Affiliate Link
An affiliate link is a unique URL assigned to each affiliate. When an affiliate customer clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase, the affiliate is credited with the referral and earns a commission.
b. Affiliate Code
An affiliate code is a unique identifier assigned to each affiliate marketer. Affiliate codes are often used by affiliate customers to make purchases offline or over the phone. Affiliate codes can also be used during the checkout process to avail of affiliate discounts.
How can the admin access the Affiliate link and code
For the admin to access the affiliate link and code in Afflr, Go to your Afflr admin dashboard -> Affiliates and click on the affiliate name
You will be led to a page that displays affiliate details along with the affiliate link and affiliate code as shown in the screenshot.
How can a Shopify affiliate access an Affiliate link
A Shopify affiliate can access their affiliate link in the affiliate portal dedicated to them. They have to simply log in to the affiliate portal using the affiliate portal link provided by the Shopify store using their email.
As shown in the screenshot, they will find affiliate links along with other performance information in the portal.
Monitor the Shopify Affiliate Program’s performance
To monitor the performance of the program it is important to identify and analyze the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). By meticulously scrutinizing these performance metrics, you can elevate the affiliate marketing experience and amplify results.
Afflr provides a dashboard to track the performance metrics in real-time to optimize your affiliate program and make informed decisions.
Track Affiliate sales
To track affiliate sales using Afflr, Go to your Afflr admin dashboard -> Sales
As shown in the screenshot, all affiliate sales made through affiliate referrals are displayed here.
Track Affiliate Commission
To track the affiliate commission using Afflr, Go to your Afflr admin dashboard -> Commissions
As shown in the screenshot, all affiliate commissions made through affiliate referrals are displayed here.
Payout Affiliate Commission
Paying out affiliate commissions is an easy process with Afflr. Eligible affiliates are automatically queued for payment upon sale.
Using Afflr, to initiate the process of payout to the affiliates, Go to your Afflr admin dashboard -> Payouts.
The pending payouts will be displayed as shown in the screenshot. You can simply click on the pay button to issue a payout to affiliates.
Kickstart your Affiliate Marketing journey easily now with Afflr
Conclusion
Establishing an affiliate program in your Shopify store opens doors to exponential growth and increased brand visibility.
By following the structured procedure outlined in this blog, you can create a sturdy affiliate program for your Shopify store that drives sales, expands your customer base, and solidifies your position in the market. You can make use of a useful Shopify affiliate marketing tool like Afflr to make the entire experience of handling affiliate marketing smooth.
Further reading on this topic
Yes, you can create an affiliate program for your Shopify store. There are several apps available in the Shopify App Store that can help you set up and manage your affiliate marketing campaign.
To start your own affiliate marketing program, you’ll need to follow these steps:
1. Choose a Shopify affiliate marketing app.
2. Set up your program by defining commission rates, discounts, and other conditions.
3. Recruit affiliates through various channels.
4. Share affiliate link and affiliate code
5. Track affiliate sales and commission.
6. Pay affiliates their commissions accurately and on time.
You can post your affiliate links for free on various platforms such as:
1. Your website or blog
2. Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest)
3. Online forums and communities related to your niche
4. YouTube videos or other content-sharing platforms
5. Email newsletters to your subscribers
To get affiliate sales quickly, you can:
1. Leverage your existing network and customers through email marketing or social media.
2. Offer special deals or discounts to attract affiliates and potential customers.
3. Optimize based on analytics and performance data.
Shopify affiliates typically get paid through various payment methods such as direct bank transfer, PayPal, or other online payment platforms.
Beginners can start affiliate marketing by following these steps:
1. Identifying the goal of the Program
2. Choose the Right Shopify Affiliate Marketing App
3. Recruit Affiliates
4. Promote your Shopify Affiliate Program
Yes, Shopify affiliate marketing can be profitable for a Shopify store. It can bring high ROI on a very minimal upfront cost and can increase brand visibility and reach.
You can create a free affiliate link for each affiliate by assigning them an affiliate program. Unique affiliate links can be found in the admin dashboard of the Shopify affiliate marketing app.