Do you want to incentivize customers and partners to promote your WooCommerce products? Adding an affiliate program is a no-brainer way to increase sales.
According to BigCommerce [1], affiliate sales can account for 15-30% of overall revenue. Their incremental value and relatively low cost make affiliate programs an excellent addition for ecommerce stores.
When a user signs up to become an affiliate, they share a unique referral link to your online store. If someone makes a purchase by clicking on the affiliate‘s link, the affiliate earns a commission (typically 5-15% of sales).
This encourages affiliates to actively promote your products to their audience. As an added benefit, it requires no work on your end!
In this guide, we‘ll compare three great solutions for adding an affiliate program to your WooCommerce website:
- AffiliateWP
- Easy Affiliate
- ShareASale
Let‘s look at the key features, pros and cons, and step-by-step setup instructions for each:
1. AffiliateWP
AffiliateWP is the most popular dedicated affiliate management plugin available for WordPress and WooCommerce.
Key Features:
- Dashboard for managing affiliates and tracking sales
- Automated approval or denial of applications
- Custom affiliate rates and commission rules
- Affiliate portal with links, creatives, and analytics
- Great WooCommerce integration and product syncing
||Pros|Cons|
|-|-|-|
|Benefits|Robust platform and feature set for managing affiliates Scales well – can handle thousands of affiliates Extensive documentation and support |Can have a learning curve for new users
| Cost | Pricing starts at $199 per year | Monthly cost may be prohibitive for very small or new stores
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up AffiliateWP
Follow these six simple steps to add AffiliateWP to your WooCommerce store:
- Sign up for an AffiliateWP account
- Install and activate the AffiliateWP plugin via your WordPress dashboard
- Navigate to Settings > Integrations and enable WooCommerce
- Set your default affiliate commission under Settings > General (Tip: Start with 10-15% commission on all products)
- Create your Terms of Service for affiliates under Settings > General
- Begin manually or automatically approving affiliate accounts as they register
And you‘re all set! Be sure to share your unique affiliate links so affiliates can start driving sales to your store.
Over 3,500+ ecommerce stores use AffiliateWP to power their affiliate programs, including SaaS apps, online course creators, agencies, and niche retailers.
2. Easy Affiliate
Previously known as Affiliate Royale, Easy Affiliate offers a straightforward affiliate solution for WordPress and WooCommerce.
Key Features:
- Simple setup wizard for getting started
- Custom affiliates landing pages
- Fraud detection and protection
- Basic built-in reporting
- Coupon and commission configuration
||Pros|Cons|
|-|-|-|
|Benefits|Very easy to set up (only takes minutes) Clean, intuitive interface Affordable pricing |Lacks some advanced features for managing lots of affiliates
|Cost| Starts at only $99 per year | Must pay annual licensing fee (no lifetime option)
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Easy Affiliate
You can have Easy Affiliate running on your WooCommerce store in less than 5 minutes:
- Purchase and install Easy Affiliate
- Click Launch the Wizard and connect WooCommerce
- Select your commission type and rate
- Configure affiliate registration and application process
- Create coupons or advertising material (optional)
- Start approving affiliates!
Over 10,000+ stores currently use Easy Affiliate to power their affiliate programs. The plugin makes affiliate marketing accessible for small ecommerce stores.
3. ShareASale
ShareASale is a large affiliate network. Instead of a WordPress plugin, merchants join the network.
You get instant access to an existing base of affiliates who can promote your products. ShareASale handles the platform and payments.
Key Features:
- Built-in affiliate base
- Handled affiliate payments
- Account reporting
- Affiliate screening
- Browser extension
||Pros|Cons|
|-|-|-|
|Benefits |Quick & easy setup Pre-screened affiliates Large existing affiliate base |20% commission fee on all earnings ($25 monthly minimum)
|Cost | $650 to join (one-time) | Expensive upfront cost
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started on ShareASale
- Create a ShareASale account
- Get approved as a merchant
- Install ShareASale‘s WooCommerce plugin
- Enter your ShareASale merchant ID and API keys
- Configure order tracking settings
- Browse affiliates and reach out to potential partners
The biggest downside to ShareASale is the monthly minimum fee and 20% cut of earnings. But for beginners, it simplifies launching an affiliate program.
Over 5,000 global brands use ShareASale to power their affiliate marketing, including GoPro, Forbes, and Glassdoor.
Which Platform is Best for You?
All three solutions enable you to easily create an affiliate program for your WooCommerce store.
AffiliateWP is the best all-around solution and provides the most control, making it ideal for established merchants.
Easy Affiliate is the most beginner-friendly option for stores wanting basic affiliate capabilities.
ShareASale offers the fastest setup by joining their existing platform, but come with higher fees.
Evaluate your technical proficiency, existing store revenue, and business goals to decide which platform to use.
Whichever you choose, adding affiliates is an easy way to tap into incremental sales and revenue for your WooCommerce business!
Let me know if you have any other questions about getting your own affiliate program running.
References
- Burton, A. (2022, December 7). Affiliate Marketing for Ecommerce: Here’s What You Need to Know. BigCommerce. https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/affiliate-marketing/#what-is-affiliate-marketing
