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This comprehensive guide walks through all the steps an operator (program owner / admin) must take to create, configure, and run an affiliate program in Affelios. Follow this step-by-step process to get your program up and running successfully.

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Choosing a Plan

Unsure which business plan is best? The following comparison offers insights to help you decide which option aligns with your goals and business needs.
Choose a plan based on your anticipated volume and business needs. Consider your current traffic, expected growth, and budget when making your selection.
  • Flex
  • Pro
  • Enterprise

Flex Plan

Monthly Fee: $0 (pay-as-you-go)Best for: New or low-volume usersVolume Limits:
  • Under ~80k clicks per month
  • Under 4,000 transactions per month
If you’re uncertain about your volume needs, start with the Flex plan and upgrade as your program grows. You can change plans at any time.

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Creating an Affelios Subscription

The subscription setup process may vary slightly depending on your current UI. The following steps represent the typical flow for creating an Affelios subscription.
1

Sign In or Create Account

Sign in to your existing Affelios Identity account or create a new one if you’re a new user.
2

Select Your Plan

Choose your desired plan (Flex, Pro, or Enterprise) based on your volume requirements from the previous section.
3

Provide Business Details

Enter your billing information and business details required for account setup.
4

Confirm and Activate

Review your subscription details and confirm to activate your account.
Once your subscription is active, you’ll have full access to the Affelios platform and can proceed to configure your affiliate program.

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Configuring Your Program

This is the foundational setup for your affiliate program. These settings will define how your program operates and how affiliates interact with your system.

Program Configuration Overview

The program configuration includes essential settings for branding, communication, payments, and tracking that will apply to your entire affiliate program.

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Program Settings & Branding

Navigate to Program / Settings to configure your core program settings:
Configure email addresses for different types of communications:
  • Admin Email From: Email used for admin notifications
  • Accounts Email From: Email used for affiliate/account notifications
  • Administrator Email: For general administrative queries
  • Accounts Email: For account-specific communications
Configure how affiliates are managed and approved:
  • Auto-Approve Affiliates: Toggle to allow automatic affiliate approval
  • Clean Slate / No Negative Carry-Over: Reset affiliate balances each period
  • Organic Tracking: Enable default attribution for untagged conversions

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Affiliate Payout Options

Payment Configuration

Configure the payment processors you support so that affiliates can choose one that’s suitable for them.
Still within program settings, select which payment processors you support:
  • Bank transfer
  • PayPal
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Other payment processors
By enabling these payment processors, you’re giving affiliates the flexibility to choose the payment method that works best for their location, preferences, and business needs.
Affiliates will be able to select from these supported payment processors when registering and setting up their payout preferences.
Also configure any relevant tax settings (e.g. withholding, VAT, etc.) based on your business location and legal requirements.
While optional, using a custom domain significantly improves your program’s professional appearance and brand consistency.
Recommended for Ad Performance: Configuring a custom domain is highly recommended as it can help avoid issues around URL blacklisting and ad blockers. Using your own branded domain instead of the default Affelios domain reduces the risk of your affiliate links being blocked by ad blockers or flagged by security filters.
1

Add Custom Domain

Click Add Custom Domain in your program settings.
2

Enter Hostname

Enter the hostname you wish to use (e.g., affiliates.yourcompany.com).
3

Configure DNS Records

Add the required DNS records to your domain registrar as provided by Affelios.
4

Validate Configuration

After DNS propagation (which may take time), validate the records via the “Validate” button.
5

Complete Setup

Mark the domain-setup step as complete once validation is successful.
DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours depending on your domain provider and geographic location.

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Commission Plan Defaults & Brand Association

Commission Planning

Set up default commission plans that will apply broadly across your program, with the ability to create more specific plans later.

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Creating Commission Plans

1

Navigate to Commission Plans

Go to Commission Plans in your dashboard to create and manage your commission structures.
2

Create Default Plans

During setup or in later configuration, create default commission plans that apply broadly across your program.
3

Set Brand-Specific Plans

When creating a Brand, you may designate a default commission plan that will apply to all products under that brand (unless overridden).
4

Configure Commission Types

Set up different commission structures:
  • Revenue Share: Commission as a percentage of sale value
  • CPA (Cost Per Action): Fixed commission per conversion
  • Hybrid: Combination of revenue share and CPA models
  • Tiered: Different rates based on volume or performance (applies to all types)
Revenue Share Plans:
  • Commission as a percentage of sale value
  • Most common for e-commerce
  • Scales with product value
  • Easy to understand for affiliates
CPA (Cost Per Action) Plans:
  • Fixed commission per conversion
  • Good for lead generation
  • Predictable costs for operators
  • Simple to calculate
Hybrid Plans:
  • Combination of revenue share and CPA models
  • Flexible structure for different scenarios
  • Can optimize for both volume and value
Tiered Structure (All Types):
  • Different rates based on volume or performance
  • Rewards high-performing affiliates
  • Encourages volume growth
  • Can be applied to Revenue Share, CPA, or Hybrid plans
  • Start with simple Revenue Share plans
  • Test different rates with top affiliates
  • Consider your profit margins
  • Use CPA plans for predictable cost scenarios
  • Consider Hybrid plans for complex product lines
  • Implement tiered structures to reward performance
  • Review and adjust quarterly
  • Document your commission structure clearly

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Testimonials Management

Testimonials & Reviews

Create and approve testimonials to showcase successful affiliate partnerships and build trust with potential affiliates.
1

Create Testimonials

Navigate to the Testimonials section to create new testimonials from successful affiliate partnerships.
2

Gather Content

Collect testimonials that include:
  • Affiliate name and website
  • Success metrics (clicks, conversions, earnings)
  • Quotes about their experience
  • Performance highlights
3

Review & Approve

Review testimonials for accuracy and appropriateness before approving them for display. When approved, the testimonial will appear on your program’s landing page.
Testimonials are powerful social proof that can encourage new affiliates to join your program. Focus on highlighting specific results and success stories.

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Completing Setup

1

Review Configuration

Double-check all your program settings, payment methods, and tracking configuration.
2

Complete Setup

When all required steps are done, click Complete Setup.
3

Program Ready

Your program is now ready for brand integration and affiliate onboarding! Follow the steps below to configure your first brand and start building your affiliate program catalog.

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Brands, Products & Media

Brand & Product Management

Once your program is configured, you’ll need to create brands and products that affiliates can promote. This section covers setting up your catalog and tracking parameters.

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Create & Configure a Brand

Navigate to the Brands section to create your first brand. When adding a brand, you’ll need to provide:
  • Name: Your brand’s display name
  • Industry: The industry category your brand operates in
  • External ID: Your internal identifier for syncing with external systems
  • Landing Page URL: Include the tracking parameter (ClickKey placeholder)
https://yourdomain.com/?clickId=[ClickKey]
https://yourdomain.com/?referral=[ClickKey]
https://yourdomain.com/product?utm_source=affiliate&clickId=[ClickKey]
The parameter name must match how you set up tracking in your system.
Choose your preferred integration method:
  • REST API
  • JavaScript SDK
  • Webhook integration
  • Custom integration

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ClickKey & Tracking Parameter

The ClickKey is a unique tracking value provided by Affelios that enables the tracking of a customer’s journey from click to conversion. This value is passed back to Affelios when the customer transacts, allowing the system to properly attribute the sale to the correct affiliate.

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How ClickKey Tracking Works

1

Link Generation

When an affiliate creates a tracking link, Affelios generates a unique ClickKey value for that specific link.
2

Customer Click

When a customer clicks the affiliate link, they’re redirected to your site with the ClickKey parameter included in the URL.
3

Session Tracking

Your website captures and stores the ClickKey value (typically in cookies or session storage) to maintain attribution throughout the customer’s visit.
4

Conversion Event

When the customer completes a purchase, your system sends the ClickKey value back to Affelios along with the transaction details.
5

Commission Attribution

Affelios uses the ClickKey to identify which affiliate should receive credit for the sale and processes the commission accordingly.

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Example Landing Page URLs and ClickKey Parameter Names

https://example.com/product?clickId=abc123
When creating a brand, you specify the parameter placeholder (e.g. [ClickKey]) in your landing URL. Affelios will replace this with the actual tracking ID during use, and this same value will be used to track the customer’s journey and attribute commissions.

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Commission Plans & Selection Logic

Commission Plan Hierarchy

Affelios uses a sophisticated cascading system to determine which commission plan applies to each transaction, always choosing the most specific applicable plan.

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How Commission Plans Are Selected

The system evaluates commission plans in order of specificity, starting with the most detailed combination and falling back to more general plans if no specific match is found.
Affelios first looks for plans specific to the individual affiliate:
  1. Affiliate + Brand + Product + Tracker (Most specific)
  2. Affiliate + Brand + Tracker
  3. Affiliate + Tracker
  4. Affiliate + Product
  5. Affiliate + Brand
  6. Affiliate only (Least specific affiliate plan)
If no affiliate-specific plan matches, the system falls back to default plans:
  1. Default Product Plan (Brand + Product)
  2. Default Brand Plan
  3. Fully Default Plan (System-wide default)
You can create commission rules at multiple scopes. The system always prefers the more specific plan over generic ones, giving you flexibility to create custom rates for specific affiliates or campaigns while maintaining sensible defaults.

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Uploading Media for Affiliates

Marketing Assets

Providing high-quality marketing assets helps affiliates promote your brand more effectively and maintains brand consistency across all promotional materials.
1

Navigate to Media Section

Go to Media → Upload Media in your dashboard.
2

Upload Assets

Upload your marketing materials:
  • Images and banners
  • HTML5 ZIP packages following IAB guidelines
  • Logo variations
  • Product photos
3

Configure Landing Pages (Optional)

Assign custom landing pages per media asset so you can change redirect URLs without requiring affiliates to update their links.
4

Publish to Affiliate Portal

Affiliates will see these assets in their portal and can use them in their campaigns.
Following IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) guidelines ensures your creative assets meet industry standards and work well across different advertising platforms.

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Create & Configure Products

Product Setup

Create products that affiliates can promote. Each product should be associated with a brand and can have its own commission rates and tracking settings.
Product configuration details may vary based on your specific setup. The following represents the typical product creation flow.
When creating a product, you’ll typically need to provide:
  • Product Name: Display name for the product
  • External ID: Your internal identifier for syncing
  • Description: Product description for affiliates
  • Category: Product category or type
  • Price: Product price for commission calculations
  • Commission Rate: Default commission percentage or amount
  • Brand Association: Link to the appropriate brand

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Integrations

Platform Integrations

Connect Affelios with your existing systems and platforms to streamline your affiliate program management and data flow.

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What Are Integrations?

Integrations allow you to connect Affelios with your existing business systems (like your website, e-commerce platform, or CRM) to automatically sync data and track affiliate performance without manual intervention.

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How Integrations Work in Affelios

Automatic Data Flow:
  • Product information syncs from your system to Affelios
  • Conversion data flows back from your system to Affelios
  • Real-time updates ensure accurate tracking and reporting
Seamless Attribution:
  • ClickKey values are automatically captured from affiliate links
  • Conversion events are tracked and attributed to the correct affiliate
  • Commission calculations happen automatically based on your configured plans
Multiple Integration Options:
  • E-commerce platforms (like Shopify) for product and order management
  • Custom websites via JavaScript SDK for flexible implementation
  • Marketing tools (like Playbook) for automated workflows
  • Custom solutions using REST API for unique requirements

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Getting Started with Integrations

Integration Implementation

To integrate your brand with your system, you’ll need to choose the appropriate integration method and follow the setup process for your specific platform.
Need detailed integration guidance? Visit our comprehensive Integration Documentation for platform-specific setup guides, code examples, and step-by-step implementation instructions.
Start with the integration that best matches your current tech stack. First-class supported integrations can typically be set up in under 30 minutes, while custom integrations may take longer depending on your specific requirements. You can always add more integrations later as your program grows.

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User Permissions & Roles

Team Management

Manage your team by inviting users and assigning appropriate roles and permissions to help manage your affiliate program.
User permission configurations may vary based on your specific setup. The following represents typical role management functionality.
As an operator, you can invite users (e.g. team members) to help manage the program:
  • Send invitations via email
  • Set initial role assignments
  • Manage pending invitations
Assign granular roles and permissions:
  • Read-only: View-only access to reports and data
  • Media Manager: Upload and manage marketing assets
  • Payout Manager: Process affiliate payments
  • Affiliate Manager: Approve and manage affiliates
  • Full Admin: Complete program access
  • Ensure each user only has access to functions they require
  • Regularly review and update user permissions
  • Remove access for team members who no longer need it

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Data, Reporting & API

Data & Analytics

Access comprehensive reporting of your affiliate program data for analysis and automation.

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Exporting & Reporting

Reporting Dashboard

Access detailed analytics and reporting through the Affelios dashboard to gain insights into your affiliate program performance.

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Available Reports

Click Analytics:
  • Track link performance and user engagement
  • Monitor click-through rates by traffic source
  • Analyze geographic distribution of clicks
  • Track device and browser statistics
Conversion Data:
  • Monitor sales and conversion rates
  • Track conversion funnels
  • Analyze time-to-conversion metrics
  • Monitor seasonal trends
Affiliate Performance:
  • Individual and aggregate affiliate statistics
  • Top performer identification
  • Performance trends and growth metrics
  • Affiliate ranking and leaderboards
Commission Reports:
  • Detailed payout and earnings data
  • Commission calculations and breakdowns
  • Payout history and schedules
  • Tax reporting information
Tailored Analytics:
  • Create custom date ranges
  • Filter by specific affiliates or products
  • Export data in CSV format
  • Schedule automated report delivery
  • Create dashboard widgets for key metrics

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Export Options

1

Access Reports

Navigate to the Reports section in your dashboard.
2

Select Data Range

Choose your desired date range and filters for the report.
3

View & Export

View your data and optionally export it in CSV format for use in other software.

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Billing, Subscription & Cancellation

Billing Management

Monitor your usage, manage your subscription, and handle billing-related tasks.

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Understanding Billing Cycles & Unit Usage

Usage Monitoring

Keep track of your usage to stay within your plan limits and optimize costs. Understanding billing cycles and unit usage is crucial for effective program management.

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Unit Usage Tracking

Monitor your usage across different metrics to ensure you stay within plan limits and understand your program’s growth patterns.
Primary Usage Units:
  • Clicks: Number of affiliate link clicks processed
  • Transactions: Number of conversions tracked and attributed
  • API Calls: Programmatic access and integration usage
  • Storage: Media assets and data storage consumption
Additional Metrics:
  • Affiliates: Number of active affiliate accounts
  • Products: Products in your catalog
  • Reports: Generated and exported reports
  • Custom Domains: Branded domain usage
Real-time Tracking:
  • Current usage vs. plan limits
  • Daily, weekly, and monthly usage trends
  • Projected usage for current billing cycle
  • Cost projections and overage alerts
  • Usage breakdown by metric type
Cycle Information:
  • Current billing period start/end dates
  • Next billing date and amount
  • Usage reset schedule
  • Payment method and history
  • Invoice access and download

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Usage Optimization

1

Monitor Daily Usage

Check your usage dashboard regularly to track consumption patterns.
2

Analyze Trends

Review usage patterns to predict future needs and optimize costs.
3

Plan Upgrades

Upgrade your plan proactively if you’re consistently approaching limits.
Exceeding your plan limits may result in additional charges. Monitor your usage regularly to avoid unexpected costs.

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Cost Optimization Tips

  • Optimize tracking implementation to reduce API calls
  • Clean up unused media assets to reduce storage costs
  • Use batch operations for bulk data processing
  • Implement caching to reduce redundant API requests
  • Analyze usage patterns to choose the right plan
  • Consider annual billing for potential discounts
  • Evaluate if you need all features in your current plan
  • Plan for seasonal usage spikes
  • Review billing statements monthly
  • Track usage trends over time
  • Plan for growth and scaling needs

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Canceling a Subscription

Before canceling your subscription, ensure you’ve exported any important data and notified your affiliates of the change.
1

Navigate to Billing

Go to the subscription / billing area in your dashboard.
2

Cancel Subscription

Choose Cancel Subscription and follow the prompts.
3

Contact Support (If Needed)

If you need help with account termination or have questions, contact support.
4

Review Charges

Be aware of any prorated or outstanding charges that may apply.

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Best Practices & Tips

Optimization Tips

Follow these best practices to ensure your affiliate program runs smoothly and efficiently.
Begin with basics, then expand:
  • Initially configure minimal defaults
  • Layer in more granular commission rules as you grow
  • Don’t overcomplicate your initial setup
Use consistent naming:
  • Brands, trackers, and media should map to your internal systems
  • Use descriptive names that make sense to your team
  • Avoid generic names like “Campaign 1” or “Test Brand”
Always verify your tracking:
  • Test links and confirm click attribution works
  • Verify commission calculations are correct
  • Check that conversions are being recorded properly
Maintain organized assets:
  • Keep version control of media assets
  • Update campaign templates regularly
  • Maintain consistent affiliate messaging
Periodically review your setup:
  • Audit commission plan overlaps
  • Check for unintended fallbacks
  • Review affiliate performance and adjust plans

Next Steps

For additional information about specific features like product configuration or user permissions, refer to the dedicated articles in the knowledge base or contact support for assistance.
What’s Next?
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