How to Launch Your First Affiliate Program with ReferralCandy (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Your customers already love your products and share them with friends. Now it's time to turn that organic enthusiasm into a structured, scalable marketing channel. This guide walks you through launching your first affiliate program with ReferralCandy, addressing the common challenges that growing Shopify brands face.

As your Shopify store grows beyond initial product-market fit, you've likely noticed something exciting: your customers aren't just buying—they're sharing. Those Instagram stories featuring your products, the unsolicited recommendations in comments, the "where did you get that?" conversations happening offline—this organic word-of-mouth is marketing gold.

An affiliate program transforms these casual recommendations into a structured, measurable marketing channel. With ReferralCandy, you can automate tracking, reward your advocates fairly, and scale this powerful form of marketing without losing the authentic connections that make your brand special.

How do I get started with my first affiliate program?

The biggest hurdle for many merchants is simply knowing where to begin. Instead of getting overwhelmed by possibilities, follow these concrete steps:

Step 1: Define your "why" and program goals

Before touching any software, get clear on your goals. Are you looking to:

• Increase new customer acquisition?
• Lower your customer acquisition costs?
• Reward existing customers who already promote you?
• Build a community around your brand?

Write down 2-3 specific goals with measurable targets, such as "Acquire 50 new customers through affiliates in Q1" or "Reduce our CAC by 15% compared to paid social."

Step 2: Connect ReferralCandy to your Shopify store

ReferralCandy integrates directly with your Shopify store:

1. Log into your Shopify admin
2. Navigate to Apps and search for ReferralCandy
3. Click "Add app" to install
4. Choose a plan for the free 14-day trial (we recommend the Premium Plan)
5. Add the AffiliatePlus add-on, which is included in your free trial
6. Approve the necessary permissions

The Premium Plan gives you all the essential tools you need, including unlimited affiliates, emails, rewards, and programs. With the AffiliatePlus add-on, you'll have access to advanced features like custom discount codes, different commission rates for different partner types, and a branded partner portal.

The integration automatically syncs your products, orders, and customer data, eliminating manual setup. Once connected, ReferralCandy can track purchases from affiliate referrals without any additional technical configuration.

How can I create a professional affiliate program without design skills?

Your affiliate program is an extension of your brand, but not every growing merchant has access to a design team. ReferralCandy makes it easy to create a polished, professional program regardless of your technical abilities.

Step 1: Create your affiliate campaign

Before customizing your program's appearance, you need to set up your affiliate campaign:

1. After enabling AffiliatePlus, you'll see two options: "Set up on my own" or "Personalize my program"
2. Choose "Personalize my program" to use the campaign generator
3. Answer a few quick questions about your:
   
   • Target audience (who will be your affiliates?)
   • Commission structure
   • Application requirements
   • Desired level of program automation
4. Review the generated campaign settings
5. Make any needed adjustments to align with your specific brand goals

If you prefer more control from the start, you can choose "Set up on my own" and configure each element manually.

Step 2: Customize your affiliate portal

Your affiliate portal is the hub where partners sign up, access their links, and track their performance. Make it yours in minutes:

1. Navigate to "Edit branding and content" from your affiliate campaign dashboard
2. Upload your logo
3. Set your brand colors using your hex codes
4. Customize your fonts
5. Upload a banner image that reflects your brand aesthetic
6. Preview how everything looks before publishing

The system automatically optimizes your branding elements across all touchpoints—from emails to the affiliate dashboard—ensuring a consistent experience that feels like a natural extension of your store.

Step 3: Create compelling affiliate messaging

Clear, engaging communication sets expectations and excites potential affiliates:

1. Draft a concise program description (50-75 words) that highlights:
   
   • What makes your brand special
   • Why you're launching an affiliate program
   • What's in it for affiliates (commission, community, exclusive access)
2. Create email templates for key touchpoints:
   
   • Invitation: Why you selected them specifically
   • Welcome: Next steps after joining
   • First sale celebration: Recognizing their achievement
   • Performance updates: Monthly or quarterly progress
3. Write clear instructions on how to use affiliate links or codes (with visual examples)

Example program description: "Our sustainable skincare is changing the industry, and our most passionate customers are leading the charge. Join our affiliate program to earn 15% commission on every sale you generate, get early access to new products, and connect with other conscious beauty advocates who share your values."

Step 4: Design your affiliate application process 

This step is optional and depends on how you configured your campaign. If you chose to create a curated program with the signup details page turned on during campaign creation, you can customize the application process:

1. From your campaign dashboard, go to "Edit branding and content"
2. Customize your application form with 3-5 relevant questions:
   
   • "Why are you interested in becoming an affiliate for our brand?"
   • "How do you plan to promote our products?"
   • "Which social platforms do you primarily use?"
   • "What makes you connect with our brand values?"
3. Add custom fields for a more personalized application experience

A selective application process helps you build a community of authentic advocates rather than transactional promoters. Look for affiliates who demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for your products and align with your brand values.

Pro tip: Include an open-ended question like "Anything else you'd like us to know?" to identify standout applicants who go above and beyond in their responses.

If you chose an open program without an application process during campaign setup, you can always add one later by updating your campaign settings.

How do I track affiliate sales?

Accurate tracking is crucial for an affiliate program, but technical setup often intimidates merchants.

Step 1: Set up your tracking links

ReferralCandy simplifies tracking by automatically generating everything you need:

1. The system automatically creates unique referral links for each affiliate as soon as they join
2. These links work immediately without any additional configuration
3. With the AffiliatePlus add-on, you can also customize discount codes to something memorable like "SARAH20"
4. Navigate to "Discount Codes" in your dashboard to customize the format

Custom codes like "SARAH20" are more memorable than generic tracking links and add a personal touch to the affiliate's promotion. They're particularly effective for verbal recommendations or when sharing in video content.

All tracking is handled automatically in the background, with no need for technical expertise or additional setup. When a customer clicks an affiliate link or uses a discount code, ReferralCandy recognizes the referral and attributes the sale to the correct affiliate.

Step 2: Personalize discount codes

With the AffiliatePlus add-on, you can offer custom discount codes that are easier for affiliates to share verbally or in content:

1. Navigate to a Customer page in your Shopify admin dashboard
2. Go to More actions > Apps > Edit discount code 
3. Customize the affiliate’s discount code 

Custom codes like "SARAH20" are more memorable than generic tracking links and add a personal touch to the affiliate's promotion.

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Where do I find affiliates to start with?

Many merchants struggle to recruit quality affiliates who genuinely care about their products.

Step 1: Identify potential affiliates from your community

Your best affiliates are often already in your ecosystem:

1. Export a list of repeat customers (3+ purchases)
2. Review your social media mentions and tags
3. Check customer service interactions for enthusiastic feedback
4. Look for micro-influencers who fit your brand aesthetic

Focus on quality over quantity—10 engaged affiliates who love your brand will outperform 100 with no genuine connection.

Step 2: Create compelling affiliate invitations

Your invitation should make affiliates feel valued:

1. Personalize each invitation with specific reasons you chose them
2. Clearly outline the benefits (commission, exclusive access, community)
3. Keep it concise—explain the program in 2-3 paragraphs
4. Include a clear call-to-action

Example invitation: "We've noticed how often you feature our products in your Instagram stories, and the authentic way you share your experience with our brand. We'd love to invite you to join our affiliate program, where you can earn 15% commission on sales you generate while getting early access to new products..."

Step 3: Review and approve quality applications

With your application process established:

1. Set aside time weekly to review applications
2. Score applicants based on brand alignment, reach, and engagement
3. Research their social presence before approving
4. Provide personalized feedback for accepted affiliates

Remember that each affiliate becomes an extension of your brand voice—choose partners who represent your values and aesthetic.

Conclusion

Launching an affiliate program doesn't have to be overwhelming. With ReferralCandy, you can transform organic word-of-mouth into a structured, scalable marketing channel that preserves the authentic relationships at the core of your brand.

Remember that your affiliate program will evolve over time. Start with a focused approach, learn from your data, and gradually expand as you build confidence and expertise. The most successful programs balance automation with genuine human connection, creating a community of advocates who authentically champion your brand.

Next Steps

1. Define your program goals and commission structure
2. Set up ReferralCandy and connect to Shopify
3. Customize your program with your branding and messaging
4. Identify your first 10 potential affiliates from your existing community
5. Launch with a focused test group before expanding

Ready to turn your most passionate customers into your most powerful marketing channel? Get started with ReferralCandy today →

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