Loading source
Pulling the file list, source metadata, and syntax-aware rendering for this listing.
Source from repo
Designs and optimizes customer referral programs and affiliate programs to turn existing users into growth engines.
Files
Skill
Size
Entrypoint
Format
Open file
Syntax-highlighted preview of this file as included in the skill package.
references/affiliate-programs.md
1# Affiliate Program Design23Detailed guidance for building and managing affiliate programs.45## Contents6- Commission Structures7- Cookie Duration8- Affiliate Recruitment9- Affiliate Enablement10- Tools & Platforms (Referral Program Tools, Affiliate Program Tools, Choosing a Tool)11- Fraud Prevention (Common Referral Fraud, Prevention Measures)1213## Commission Structures1415**Percentage of sale:**16- Standard: 10-30% of first sale or first year17- Works for: E-commerce, SaaS with clear pricing18- Example: "Earn 25% of every sale you refer"1920**Flat fee per action:**21- Standard: $5-500 depending on value22- Works for: Lead gen, trials, freemium23- Example: "$50 for every qualified demo"2425**Recurring commission:**26- Standard: 10-25% of recurring revenue27- Works for: Subscription products28- Example: "20% of subscription for 12 months"2930**Tiered commission:**31- Works for: Motivating high performers32- Example: "20% for 1-10 sales, 25% for 11-25, 30% for 26+"3334---3536## Cookie Duration3738How long after click does affiliate get credit?3940| Duration | Use Case |41|----------|----------|42| 24 hours | High-volume, low-consideration purchases |43| 7-14 days | Standard e-commerce |44| 30 days | Standard SaaS/B2B |45| 60-90 days | Long sales cycles, enterprise |46| Lifetime | Premium affiliate relationships |4748---4950## Affiliate Recruitment5152### Where to find affiliates:53- Existing customers who create content54- Industry bloggers and reviewers55- YouTubers in your niche56- Newsletter writers57- Complementary tool companies58- Consultants and agencies5960### Outreach template:61```62Subject: Partnership opportunity — [Your Product]6364Hi [Name],6566I've been following your content on [topic] — particularly [specific piece] — and think there could be a great fit for a partnership.6768[Your Product] helps [audience] [achieve outcome], and I think your audience would find it valuable.6970We offer [commission structure] for partners, plus [additional benefits: early access, co-marketing, etc.].7172Would you be open to learning more?7374[Your name]75```7677---7879## Affiliate Enablement8081Provide affiliates with:82- [ ] Unique tracking links/codes83- [ ] Product overview and key benefits84- [ ] Target audience description85- [ ] Comparison to competitors86- [ ] Creative assets (logos, banners, images)87- [ ] Sample copy and talking points88- [ ] Case studies and testimonials89- [ ] Demo access or free account90- [ ] FAQ and objection handling91- [ ] Payment terms and schedule9293---9495## Tools & Platforms9697### Referral Program Tools9899**Full-featured platforms:**100- ReferralCandy — E-commerce focused101- Ambassador — Enterprise referral programs102- Friendbuy — E-commerce and subscription103- GrowSurf — SaaS and tech companies104- Mention Me — AI-powered referral marketing105- Viral Loops — Template-based campaigns106107**Built-in options:**108- Stripe (basic referral tracking)109- HubSpot (CRM-integrated)110- Segment (tracking and analytics)111112### Affiliate Program Tools113114**Affiliate networks:**115- ShareASale — Large merchant network116- Impact — Enterprise partnerships117- PartnerStack — SaaS focused118- Tapfiliate — Simple SaaS affiliate tracking119- FirstPromoter — SaaS affiliate management120121**Partner Relationship Management (PRM):**122- Introw — Full PRM with deal registration, commissions, tiers, QBRs, and partner engagement tracking ([integration guide](../../../tools/integrations/introw.md))123124**Self-hosted:**125- Rewardful — Stripe-integrated affiliates126- Refersion — E-commerce affiliates127128### Choosing a Tool129130Consider:131- Integration with your payment system132- Fraud detection capabilities133- Payout management134- Reporting and analytics135- Customization options136- Price vs. program scale137138---139140## Fraud Prevention141142### Common Referral Fraud143- Self-referrals (creating fake accounts)144- Referral rings (groups referring each other)145- Coupon sites posting referral codes146- Fake email addresses147- VPN/device spoofing148149### Prevention Measures150151**Technical:**152- Email verification required153- Device fingerprinting154- IP address monitoring155- Delayed reward payout (after activation)156- Minimum activity threshold157158**Policy:**159- Clear terms of service160- Maximum referrals per period161- Reward clawback for refunds/chargebacks162- Manual review for suspicious patterns163164**Structural:**165- Require referred user to take meaningful action166- Cap lifetime rewards167- Pay rewards in product credit (less attractive to fraudsters)168