Shopify affiliate apps are another great way of increasing your sales through the Shopify platform. So, let’s start with an affiliate example right away, if you click and Try Shopify and get 3 months for $1/mo, we are going to earn commissions as Shopify Partners. Simple? Okay, let’s dive in.
Shopify is considered to be the leading platform for Shopify dropshipping stores. What makes it different from the rest are the many apps you can download from their app store and automate your processes.
If you are a Shopify user, then we have some good news for you.
The platform has a huge list of affiliate apps you can use. Here’s our ultimate Shopify apps buyer’s guide.
Now, let’s figure out how we can use these apps to our advantage.
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing serves as an impactful performance-based strategy wherein individuals or entities, referred to as affiliates, collaborate with businesses to promote their products or services.
This collaborative effort is structured in a way that affiliates earn commissions for driving specific actions, such as lead generation or sales, through their marketing initiatives.
So, the strategy is actually a win-win for both sides:
- Merchants: They can expand their market reach and increase sales without upfront marketing costs, only paying for tangible results.
- Affiliates: Opportunities abound to generate passive income by endorsing products or services they genuinely support, all without the need to create their own offerings
π Read about Influencer Marketing For Dropshipping In 2024 β Beginnerβs Guide.
How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?
When it comes to how this marketing strategy works, I will try to explain it in a few simple steps based on the roles of each party in the process. So, here’s how it goes:
- Merchant (Advertiser): This refers to the business seeking to enhance its online presence and sales through affiliate marketing.
- Affiliate: Affiliates, often bloggers, website owners, or influencers, partner with merchants to strategically promote products or services.
- Affiliate Link: Affiliates are furnished with unique tracking links by the merchant, enabling precise tracking of traffic and sales generated through their promotional endeavors.
- Promotion: Affiliates deploy diverse marketing channels, including websites, blogs, social media, and email marketing, to effectively promote the merchant’s offerings.
- Commission: Affiliates earn commissions when users, directed through their affiliate links, perform desired actions, such as making a purchase. Thus, commission structures may vary, encompassing a percentage of the sale or a fixed amount.
π Learn What Is A Digital Creator vs Influencer + How To Boost Your Brand?
Why Use Affiliate Marketing For Dropshipping?
So you’re thinking about diving into the world of dropshipping, and I hear you’re curious about affiliate marketing.
Smart move! Here’s why it can be a game-changer for your new venture:
β No Upfront Costs
Imagine getting the word out about your cool dropshipping products without shelling out big bucks upfront. That’s what affiliate marketing lets you do. You only pay when an affiliate brings in a sale.
Hence, it’s like having a sales team that works on commission.
β Pay for Results
With affiliate marketing, you’re only paying for actual results.
When an affiliate sends a customer your way, and a sale happens, that’s when you kick in a commission. It’s a win-win β they earn, and you earn.
β Grow Without Breaking the Bank
Want to scale up but worried about the costs? Affiliate marketing is your answer.
As your team of affiliates grows, your business gets more exposure, and you don’t have to drain your wallet to make it happen.
β Let Others Spread the Word
You focus on what you do best β handling products and orders. Let affiliates handle the marketing.
Hence, they can do it through social media, blogs, emails β you name it. You get to benefit from their skills while you stick to your strengths.
β Less Risk, More Flexibility
Since you’re dropshipping and don’t have piles of inventory sitting around, the risk is low. And with affiliate marketing, you’re not locked into fixed marketing costs.
Plus, it’s a flexible setup that suits the unpredictability of starting something new.
β Go Global with Ease
Want to sell your dropshipping wonders worldwide? Affiliates can help you do that. They can be from anywhere, helping you reach customers on a global scale without you having to figure out local markets.
NEW: Get a Ready-to-Sell Shopify Store in 1 minute with AI!
Get a professional, personalized Ready-to-Sell Dropshipping store in less than a minute with the power of AI β Winning Products, a Unique Logo & our Custom Theme β included!
Get your Ready-to-Sell Store Now!What Are Shopify Affiliate Apps?
Shopify Affiliate Apps are apps that help you advertise your brand with affiliates and influencers.
An affiliate program is commission-based advertising where affiliates advertise all your products and refer potential new customers to your Shopify store in exchange for a commission.
*Influencers can use these apps to gather new connections, and apply, and monitor results.
Before we go in, get familiar with one of the most popular Shopify Apps out there Spocket for Dropshipping.
It’s time to explore them. Make sure you stay till the end, we are sharing the most important info so you can make a healthy decision on which app to use, when, and how.
You can try Spocket For Free!
π Discover the GoHighLevel Review: The Secret Weapon for Marketing Success.
The 14 Best Shopify Affiliate Marketing Apps
1. Affiliate Marketing Goaffpro
With over 1,000 reviews, Affiliate Marketing Goaffpro comes close to achieving a near-perfect 5-star rating on the Shopify app store. It is a professional affiliate marketing app that offers you a free marketing plan.
The app’s main goal is to convert all your new customers into affiliates.
By doing this, they get encouraged to post more about hot deals on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc.
You may ask how Shopify users can turn new customers into affiliates? This is done through a customized portal. You can set up product-level commissions, monitor transactions, and accept all payments through PayPal.
With this app, you can monitor partner orders through 2 methods: coupon codes and referral links. Coupon codes can be produced automatically or put together for a specific promotion.
2. UpPromote: Affiliate Marketing
With UpPromote, you can get affiliates to sign up through a registration form and allow them to promote their products through coupons or links. You are allowed to create unlimited offers, so there is no limit to that. Let’s not forget that you are able to test the app through a 14-day free trial.
The app gives you detailed instructions on setting everything up in just a few minutes.
You are able to track every click and order affiliates with different tracking methods. The performance tracker allows you to analyze product trends and analytics.
UpPromote has an easy payout process, it integrates with Paypal, helping you perform payments automatically with just a few clicks.
BONUS: 7 Best Payment Gateways For Shopify In 2024
3. Social Snowball
A Shopify affiliate app that requires minimal effort for everything. Social Snowball scores a perfect 5-star rating on the Shopify app store with nearly 40 positive reviews.
The app automatically signs up customers to an affiliate program, instead of them having to do so. It provides them a link or coupon code where they can earn a commission if they share it with their friends or family.
Online sellers can track their affiliates and progress through the Social Snowball dashboard. The Shopify affiliate app offers 6 payment methods and has a flexible customer support service.
Social Snowball has helped all of its users earn extra revenue from their automated affiliate programs. Even though it has under 100 reviews, the app was only launched last year and has been gaining popularity quite quickly since then.
4. Refersion: Affiliate Marketing
Refersion is a big player in affiliate marketing. Their affiliate marketing software combines all of its top features into one single tool.
If you own an eCommerce store on Shopify, this tool gives you a customized dashboard that can help you monitor the fees you pay to influencers and affiliates.
Affiliate commissions can be customized by affiliates. They receive their own customized dashboard after signing up, where they can set up campaigns, update personal information and run reports.
The big downside of Refersion is its high price of $89 per month and that funding is only available in the United States. On the other hand, you do get access to over 5 thousand potential partners at the beginning of your setup!
5. LeadDyno: Affiliate Marketing
Many of the Shopify affiliate apps offer a 14-day trial but LeadDyno extends this to 30 days! It is a great affiliate marketing tool for those who don’t have much knowledge of affiliates. The setup is simple and only takes a few minutes to set up.
Even if you don’t know what to do, don’t worry. LeadDyno assists you in promoting all your merchandise, having substantial customer support from the other affiliate apps. Customer service is available 24/7 and grants you a free connection to their partner network.
6. Affilo: Affiliate Marketing
Don’t let Affilo’s reviews fool you. The app grants you access to unlimited affiliates, offers, links, orders, and so much more. This allows you to have many options for rewarding your affiliates.
Affilo offers three types of commissions:
- Flat-rate commission– a fixed-rate payment made. Isn’t based on percentage.
- Percent-based commission- all commission earned by affiliates is by the amount of revenue they achieve.
- Product-level commission– commission is earned from the number of products sold. Every product sold gives different earnings.
A great feature of Affilo is that you can change the commission rates at any time. You can offer commission rates based on the performance of marketers.
Here are a few highlights of Affilo:
- Can use Paypal to pay your affiliates
- The app has great templates to help with signups and managing affiliates
- Many customizable commission scheme options
- You can use links and coupon codes with your partners to drive more traffic to your website and make purchases.
7. Affiliatly: Affiliate Marketing
Affiliatly gives you the chance to place an unlimited number of referral orders. As a matter of fact, keep in mind you do have a limit to the number of partners you can have.
Unlike the other Shopify affiliate apps, Affiliatly allows you to use their platform for up to 90-days! You can monitor the program through many methods:
- Coupon codes
- QR codes
- Links
- Customer’s email
You can pay your affiliates through PayPal or gift cards. Let’s not forget that you may also provide your affiliates with banners or other content in order to help them sell your products or services.
Learn more: Shopify Marketing for Beginners
Here are some of the major benefits you get from Affiliatly:
- Easy setup
- Unlimited transactions
- Providing affiliates with more promo materials to promote your products and services
- 2 payment methods
8. MLM Network Marketing: ShoutOut
ShoutOut is a Shopify affiliate app specifically designed for online retailers. Identically, disregarding how much traffic or revenue you receive, the app fees are fairly low. Although, it only offers a 7-day free trial.
You can use the influencer’s network to increase your traffic and revenue, without any additional costs. Its main motto is to pay your affiliates based on how much revenue you make.
Here are a few highlights of the app:
- Sign-up templates
- Affiliate dashboards
- Automatic refunds
- Discount code tracking
- Only one plan offered by the app
9. Bamboo: Referral Program
Has a new referral program that rewards customers when they promote your products to their friends and family members. Once your customers sign up, they get a referral link they can share. Next, whenever a family member or friend makes a purchase, your customer gets a reward.
Bamboo is a great app that takes advantage of affiliate and word-of-mouth marketing at the same time. A great way to attract new customers.
One of the only top Shopify affiliate apps that are for free! You can download the premium version too, which allows you to refer up to 400 people vs 30 with the free version.
Bamboo highlights:
- Up to 400 referrals per month
- Allows you to integrate referral campaigns with emails and popups
- An excellent referral program that builds trust quickly with new customers
10. Omnistar Affiliate Software
Omnistar’s main goal is to help you build and maintain your affiliate program without much effort. Furthermore, it provides free networking tools and easy-to-navigate dashboards that are specifically designed for managing affiliates.
Here are a few free networking tools designed for handing affiliates by Omnistar:
- Email templates
- Banners
- Social media widgets
- Email marketing apps
BONUS: Check our extended list of the best marketing apps on Shopify.
Affiliates have an easy sign-up process and are paid by PayPal. you are able to set up a multi-tier referral network and earn referral perks such as discount cards, vouchers, and many other bonuses.
Omnistar’s customer service is indeed excellent, although it does not support any recurring affiliate earnings. Moreover, let’s not forget that you also have to use external email services to contact affiliates.
11. Automizely
Automizely Loyalty, a handy Shopify app, assists you in finding affiliates to promote your products and set up customer referral programs. With this app, you can easily:
- Set up one-click referral campaigns with unique links and reward coupons.
- Send automated reward emails with easy-to-redeem coupon codes to advocates.
- Conduct bulk email invites to influencers and monitor everything through a single dashboard.
- Offer free gifts to influencers as commissions to cut down on marketing costs.
- Customize widget text, color, and layout for a consistent experience.
Plus, it comes with a free plan.
12. BixGrow
BixGrow is a complete package for e-commerce store owners to boost revenue through affiliate marketing. So, if you are looking for the best Shopify affiliate apps, here’s one of them.
This versatile app offers:
- A comprehensive affiliate management system for easy setup and management of affiliate programs.
- Network-expanding capabilities to increase sales effortlessly.
- Customization options with white-label email features and customizable templates.
- It has a user-friendly interface.
Furthermore, with BixGrow you can get started with a free Starter plan. Paid plans, Scale and Pro, start at just $9/month.
13. AfterShip Affiliates
AfterShip Affiliates is an excellent app for Shopify store owners. It serves as a one-stop solution for affiliate marketing programs, helping you:
- Foster trust and turn customers into brand ambassadors with AI-powered features.
- Manage invitations, reward affiliates, and handle everything at scale.
Also, the app offers three plans β Essentials, Pro, and Customizable, including a free plan. For pricing details, you can book a demo.
14. Buzzbassador
Buzzbassador, a Shopify app, simplifies the management of affiliate, influencer, and brand ambassador programs in one dashboard. The app includes features to:
- Automate time-consuming tasks like communication and tracking.
- Enhance member engagement for more sales and a happier community.
- Facilitate easy recruitment with a fully customizable application form and landing page.
- Ensure timely payments to members through various methods.
- It has a user-friendly, mobile-optimized dashboard, and
Moreover, its pricing starts from $39 per month, going up to $499/month.
How To Create an Affiliate Marketing Program On Shopify?
Next, I will show you my process of starting an affiliate marketing program for dropshipping. So, check this out.
Step 1- Define Your Ideal Customer and Identify Affiliates
Before diving into setting up your Shopify affiliate marketing program, take some time to define your ideal customer. Hence, this will help you target affiliates who resonate with your brand.
So, identify affiliates that align with your target audience and can effectively promote your products.
Step 2- Choose the Right Products for Your Program
Carefully select products with a high demand for your affiliate marketing program. So, focus on items that can maximize sales and affiliate revenue.
For example, I personally use Google Trends to check on product demand. Thus, I type in product keywords and check on interest over time. So, let’s try it out.
Moreover, I use product research tools like Minea to help me identify the product’s profit margins, sales, customer engagement, competitors, and more.
Also, be flexible with the product selection based on performance, ensuring continued benefits over time.
Step 3 – Set Competitive Commission Rates
Decide on commission rates that incentivize affiliates and attract quality partners.
Whether you opt for fixed-rate or percentage-based commissions, research competitors’ reward systems to stay competitive. So, ensure the rates are fair and attractive to both potential affiliates and customers.
Step 4 – Select an Affiliate Marketing App
The next step requires you to explore affiliate marketing apps compatible with Shopify, such as UpPromote, Refersion, etc.
For example, you can go to Shopify App Store, and browse through their hundreds of affiliate apps.
Or, simply, check out my curated list of the top affiliate apps right above in this blog article.
Next, you can assess features, compatibility with your store’s needs, and user reviews. Refersion, for instance, is known for its robust tools for managing and tracking affiliate programs.
Plus, if you check on user reviews, the app has 4.7/5 stars. Hence, users really like this app because it smoothly works with Shopify, keeps track of commissions well, and pays out earnings effectively. What’s more, they love how easy it is to use and how affiliates can sign up easily after making a purchase.
Step 5 – Implement the Chosen App and Configure Settings
Once you’ve chosen an affiliate marketing app, integrate it with your Shopify store.
So, configure the settings based on your program’s requirements, including commission structures, tracking methods, and communication preferences.
Step 6 – Find and Connect with Affiliates
Next, invest time in finding the right affiliates for your program.
Reach out to loyal customers, influencers, and potential brand advocates who align with your product. Also, market your affiliate program to attract suitable partners.
Step 7 – Evaluate Potential Affiliates
Consider factors like online presence, expertise, social media followers, engagement rates, and alignment with your brand image when evaluating potential affiliates.
Review their terms and conditions to ensure they comply with your program’s rules and ethical standards.
Step 8 – Send Invitation Emails and Formal Agreements
Once you’ve identified potential affiliates, send them formal invitation emails.
Therefore, I recommend you include a detailed agreement outlining commission rates, payment terms, and other relevant information.
Also, ensure that affiliates read and accept the terms before promoting your products.
Step 9 – Set Realistic Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
Establish realistic short-term and long-term goals for your affiliate marketing program. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and create a timeline to track progress. Adjust your strategy as needed to meet your objectives and ensure the program’s continued success.
Step 10 – Integrate the Affiliate Program Link in the Website Footer
Make it easy for potential affiliates to find your program by adding a prominent link in your website footer.
This traditional and accessible location ensures that interested parties can quickly locate information about your affiliate marketing program.
Also, ensure the font size is readable, and the link is easily visible, maximizing the chances of attracting more affiliates and brand ambassadors to boost your earnings.
Step 11 – Leverage Email Marketing Funnel
Enhance your affiliate marketing program’s reach by incorporating it into your email marketing funnel.
Start by sending out an email announcement to nurture potential affiliates. Not only that but make sure you engage with your existing customer base.
Thus, you can try offering them the opportunity to join your program strengthens the potential for mutual success.
integrating email marketing strategies with customer outreach ensures that your affiliate program maximizes its potential impact on income and expands your reach effectively.
Step 12 – Promote on Social Media Platforms
Take advantage of the wide reach of social media platforms to promote your affiliate marketing program. Thus, regularly post updates on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to spread the word about your program.
Also, create visually appealing content, and share the benefits of joining your affiliate program.
In addition to social media, consider joining affiliate networks like Rakuten Advertising. These networks serve as valuable platforms where interested affiliates can discover your program and access relevant information.
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful and results-driven affiliate marketing program for your Shopify store.
Best Affiliate Marketing Programs Examples
Need some inspiration about an affiliate marketing program for your dropshipping store? Let’s overview the top examples.
AutoDS
The AutoDS affiliate program gives you a chance to earn some good cash with a 20% recurring commission for three months.
To attract more clicks on your affiliate link, you can offer potential customers a whole month of access for just $1, instead of the regular seven days.
DropshipMe
DropshipMe is a handy tool for ecommerce store owners. It helps you find a profitable niche, locate the best suppliers, and decide which products to sell.
You could earn a nice $269 for every referral who clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase.
The DropshipMe affiliate program is generous, offering a 30% commission for turnkey custom store orders and a whopping 50% for each product import package sale you bring in.
Spocket
Spocket is a powerful research tool for dropshippers, allowing them to pick top-selling products from thousands of suppliers, with 80% of them based in the US or Europe.
The Spocket affiliate program has three commission tiers based on the sales volume you generate. Bronze affiliates earn 20% recurring commissions for 12 months, silver affiliates get 25%, and gold-level affiliates receive a solid 30%.
Inventory Source
Inventory Source runs two affiliate marketing programs. The first, for regular affiliates, offers a solid 35% commission for every sale with an average order value of $159.
Alternatively, influencers, high-volume affiliates, and strategic partners (like web agencies and developers) can apply for the premier channel partner program, earning a 10% β 20% revenue share on all sales.
Bank My Cell
Bank My Cell takes a different approach to affiliate marketing by promoting phone trade-in companies. Instead of earning commissions on product sales, it serves as an affiliate for phone trade-ins.
Also, by creating landing pages with custom widgets, Bank My Cell helps people easily find trade-in values for their used phones.
The success of this affiliate is attributed to two key strategies: publishing numerous content pages to establish authority and using PR and statistics pages to build powerful backlinks to its website.
Conclusion
These were my top 14 best Shopify Affiliate apps. However, there are many affiliate apps on the Shopify app store, although we recommend these as we saw they have better reviews and may make your life easier when doing affiliate marketing.
Influencer marketing is a big part of affiliate marketing. Learn more about influencer marketing for dropshipping.
Also, we have created an ultimate guide with the 20 best Shopify Dropshipping Apps. Check them out to update and grow your store.
