Getting started with your affiliate program

Part 1: Recruitment

Recruiting affiliates is a foundational step in launching a successful program. It enables affiliates to access your tracking and creatives, so they can start driving traffic and conversions.

Accessing the Affiliate Directory

To begin recruiting:

1. Navigate to Partners > Affiliates > All Affiliates

2. This opens the full Commission Factory affiliate directory

Using the Ranking System

Click the Rank column to sort affiliates. Rankings are based on:

• Overall sales performance

• Platform activity (e.g. login frequency)

• Number of advertiser approvals

🔍 Tip: Rankings highlight high-performing affiliates, but newer affiliates may be a strong fit despite lower rankings.

Viewing Affiliate Details

Click the three-dot menu > View affiliate to see:

• About Us: A summary of the affiliate

• Media Decks: Uploaded brochures

• Traffic Sources: Linked websites or apps

Inviting Affiliates

If you'd like to work with an affiliate:

• Click on the affiliate card, then select Invite affiliate

• Choose which traffic sources you approve for them to use when promoting your brand

Using Granular Filters

To refine your search:

• Use filters like Channel, Category, Traffic Type, Website Type, and Target Market

• Click Apply to view results

• Click Rank again to surface top performers within filtered results

Channels

You can filter here if you would like to find affiliates based on the publisher type. For example, content sites.

Categories

You can select this to help identify affiliates that promote a specific category type. For example, if you are a fashion brand, you may want to find affiliates that have a focus on promoting clothing and fashion.

Traffic type

This is the way the affiliate promotes you, for example, a website or an influencer may be on a social media page.

Website type

Gives you the ability to get more granular on the channels. For example, if you want a content publisher type who has a blog site.

Screening Affiliate Applications

Affiliates may also apply to your program directly:

1. Go to Partners > Manage to review pending applications

2. Click View > Show traffic sources in the top-right to see extra data:

   • Traffic source (URL)

   • Channel and publisher type

   • Overview

   • Estimated weekly visitors

3. Approve or decline based on program fit

Part 2: Engagement

Affiliates often promote multiple brands. Keeping your program top of mind is key.

Sharing Promotions

Upload new campaigns via:

• Creatives > Promotions for sales

• Creatives > Coupons for code-based offers

Include:

• Offer details

• Target URL

• Campaign dates

• Tick Show in annotations for reporting visibility

Notify affiliates:

• Use the Envelope icon to send messages

• You can paste existing content from your CRM systems using HTML or write a personalised message

• Send to All Affiliates or select specific partners

• Schedule or send instantly

Incentivising Affiliates

Consider:

• CPA boosts for first-month performance

• Tiered incentives (e.g. 3 sales = +1% CPA)

• Competitions (e.g. top content site wins gift card)

Launches and New Products

Send monthly updates to showcase:

• New product drops

• Trending items

• Seasonal promotions

Use personalised or HTML messages via the Message Centre.

Part 3: Optimisation

Exclusive Codes

Affiliates often request exclusive coupon codes. Before assigning one, consider the following:

• Does the affiliate have strong site traffic or a large audience?

• Are they offering added exposure in return?

• Will they promote the code via email, social media, or on-site?

• Does their audience align with your brand?

To create and assign a code:

1. Go to Creatives > Coupons

2. Assign the code to a specific affiliate

3. Enable Clickless Coupons if you’re passing back coupon data

4. Use Prefix Codes if you’re providing single-use variants

What is a Clickless Coupon?

A clickless coupon attributes the sale to the affiliate even if the customer doesn’t click their link. For example, if a customer sees an exclusive code on social media or offline and completes a purchase using that code, the affiliate still earns commission—as long as coupon data is passed back to Commission Factory.

Prefix Codes

You can also use clickless tracking with prefix codes. For instance, if all single-use codes for a partner begin with “AFF”, any purchase using a code that starts with “AFF” will be attributed to that affiliate.

Editorial Content

To build brand awareness:

• Identify content publishers aligned with your brand

• Brief them on campaign objectives

• Provide product links, images, and promotions

Optional:

• Offer codes or bonuses

• Run giveaways

• Share product samples

Opportunities Marketplace

Browse affiliate-uploaded campaigns via Opportunities > Marketplace:

• Review campaign name, fee requirements, and start dates

• Click Apply to submit your participation

• Enter commission increase (e.g. 30% for a 10% CPA = 13%)

• Upload any required creatives

• Agree to terms and click Submit

Track status in Opportunities > Applications. Use the three-dot menu to edit or withdraw.

Part 4: Adding Custom Campaign Fees

To record a custom opportunity or placement fee:

1. Go to Reporting > Transactions > View Transactions

2. Click Add Transaction

Fill in:

• Affiliate name

• Order date = today

• Order ID = campaign name (include IO if needed)

• Sale value = 0

• Customer type = New

• Commission = fee amount