If you’re running a Shopify store and want to grow your sales through word-of-mouth marketing, setting up a Shopify affiliate program can be a game changer. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up a Shopify affiliate program, the best apps to use, and how to attract affiliates who actually drive results.
What Is a Shopify Affiliate Program?
A Shopify affiliate program allows you to reward people (affiliates) who refer customers to your store. Affiliates promote your products using special referral links, and they earn a commission when their referrals make a purchase.
Affiliate marketing is a powerful, performance-based strategy that can help you:
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Increase traffic to your Shopify store
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Boost conversions and sales
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Build brand awareness
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Reach new audiences cost-effectively
Benefits of Starting an Affiliate Program for Your Shopify Store
Before diving into the setup, here are a few key benefits of launching your own affiliate program:
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Low-risk marketing: You only pay for results (sales or leads)
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Scalable growth: Your affiliate network grows as more partners join
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SEO boost: Affiliates create backlinks that help your search rankings
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Word-of-mouth power: Influencers and bloggers spread the word authentically
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a Shopify Affiliate Program
Step 1: Choose the Right Affiliate App
Shopify doesn’t offer a built-in affiliate system, but you can easily integrate a third-party app. Some of the most popular affiliate marketing apps for Shopify include:
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Refersion – Offers custom commissions, affiliate tracking, and easy onboarding
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UpPromote – Provides auto-generated links, email automation, and reporting
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LeadDyno – Features social media tracking and real-time analytics
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GoAffPro – Includes a branded affiliate portal and tiered commission options
Each app offers different pricing and features, so choose one that matches your store size and goals. Many of them offer free trials, so you can test before committing.
Step 2: Install the App and Customize Your Affiliate Portal
Once you’ve selected an app:
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Go to the Shopify App Store and install your chosen affiliate app
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Set up your affiliate portal where affiliates can sign up and manage their links
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Customize the portal with your branding, welcome message, and terms of service
Make the signup process simple and professional to attract quality partners.
Step 3: Set Commission Rates
Determine how much you’ll pay affiliates for successful referrals. Common structures include:
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A flat fee per sale (e.g., $10 per sale)
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A percentage of each sale (e.g., 15–30%)
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Tiered commissions for top performers
Make sure your commission is attractive but still leaves you with healthy profit margins.
Step 4: Create Affiliate Marketing Materials
To help affiliates succeed, provide them with high-quality marketing materials, such as:
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Referral links or discount codes
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Product images and banners
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Social media post templates
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Email copy they can use for promotions
Providing resources increases the likelihood of consistent and professional promotion of your brand.
Step 5: Recruit Affiliates
Once your program is live, it’s time to find affiliates. Some great sources include:
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Influencers in your niche (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok)
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Bloggers and content creators
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Your existing customers and email subscribers
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Affiliate communities and directories
Create a dedicated landing page where potential affiliates can sign up easily. Include this page in your website’s footer or share it on social media.
Step 6: Track Performance and Optimize
Affiliate apps usually offer tracking dashboards that allow you to monitor:
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Clicks and referral traffic
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Sales and conversion rates
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Commissions and payouts
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Top-performing affiliates
Use this data to:
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Reward and retain your best affiliates
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Adjust commission structures if needed
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Improve your marketing assets
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Remove inactive or low-performing affiliates
Best Practices for Managing Your Shopify Affiliate Program
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Pay affiliates on time to build trust
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Communicate regularly with updates and promotions
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Monitor for fraud or abuse using tracking tools
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Run seasonal contests or bonuses to keep affiliates engaged
Final Thoughts
Setting up a Shopify affiliate program is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow your eCommerce business. With the right tools, a fair commission system, and a motivated network of partners, you can significantly boost traffic, brand visibility, and sales — all while minimizing upfront marketing costs.
Start building your affiliate network today and turn your satisfied customers and niche influencers into loyal brand advocates.