Referral programs offer considerable power. However, identifying authentic brand advocates can be difficult.
Some programs attract those focused on profit, resulting in unconvincing promotions. For example, consider influencers promoting the same product identically; were you persuaded?
As a WooCommerce store owner, you possess a significant advantage: a community of customers who use and appreciate your offerings. Transforming these customers into affiliates allows you to leverage authentic word-of-mouth marketing.
This article details how to build an army of enthusiastic brand ambassadors from your existing WooCommerce customer base.
Converting Customers into Affiliates: A Guide
Referral programs are proven methods for business growth. Partnering with genuine brand enthusiasts yields the most effective outcomes.
Loyal customers make ideal product champions. Their passion for your brand translates into authentic promotions, fostering trust with potential customers.
You can avoid the effort of finding and recruiting affiliates by adding a signup form to key WooCommerce pages like the ‘Accounts’ page.
Using a plugin like AffiliateWP simplifies the creation of a referral program, enabling you to add a signup form and start converting customers rapidly.
Even better, AffiliateWP only shows this form to people who’ve already made a purchase in your online store. This lets you target engaged customers who are already familiar with your WooCommerce products.
These customers can then enroll with a single click. AffiliateWP will generate their affiliate link automatically so they can start promoting your brand straight away.
With that said, let’s see how you can add an affiliate program in WooCommerce and allow customers to sign up with one click.
⭐ Want to learn more about referral programs? Then check out our affiliate marketing statistics you need to know.
Step 1. Set Up AffiliateWP
AffiliateWP is a powerful affiliate tracking and management tool for businesses that want to start their own referral program. Unlike other affiliate software, AffiliateWP is built as a WordPress plugin, so you can easily add it to your site.
We use AffiliateWP across several of our partner brands and have seen great results. For more information on that, be sure to check out our detailed AffiliateWP review.
When it comes to converting your customers into affiliates, AffiliateWP integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce. After creating your signup form, AffiliateWP will automatically add it to your store’s most important pages, such as the My Account page, Dashboard tab, and Checkout confirmation page.
First, you’ll need to install and activate the premium AffiliateWP plugin. For more details, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, the setup wizard will ask for your license key. You can get this information from your account on the AffiliateWP website.
Once completed, proceed by clicking the ‘Continue’ button.
AffiliateWP will then analyze your website and recommend commonly used plugin integrations that you might find beneficial.
On this screen, you need to select ‘WooCommerce’ to connect your online store.
Afterward, proceed by selecting ‘Continue.’
Subsequently, you have the option to select your preferred method for compensating your affiliates. Opt for the ‘Payout Service’ to facilitate payments via credit card, or choose ‘PayPal Payouts’ for streamlined, single-click transactions.
After selecting your payment method, proceed to the subsequent stage.
On this screen, designate the currency that your store will utilize.
Additionally, you have the option to specify a standard commission percentage applicable to all affiliates. If uncertain, you can modify commission rates for specific affiliates later on.
To finalize the setup process, select the ‘Finish Setup And Exit’ button.
You are now equipped to personalize email settings, incorporate opt-in forms, and oversee your affiliates directly from your WordPress admin panel.
For a more detailed walkthrough, refer to our guide on setting up a referral program within WordPress.
Step 2. Enable Affiliate Registration
The next step involves enabling affiliate registration. Navigate toAffiliateWP » Settings. Here, you need to select the ‘Affiliates’ tab.
On this page, activate the option labeled ‘Allow Affiliate Registration.’
That concludes this step! Your customers now have the ability to participate in your referral program.
Step 3. Activate the Affiliate Signup Widget
With registration now enabled, your next task is to generate the affiliate signup form.
On the displayed page, find the setting labeled ‘Convert customers into affiliates using the affiliate signup widget.’ Enable this feature by selecting its corresponding radio button.
Activating this option adds a new section, enabling complete customization of your signup form.
Step 4. Customize the Signup Widget
AffiliateWP includes a ‘Brand’ setting, allowing you to choose a primary color that reflects your brand identity.
After selecting your primary color, AffiliateWP generates a color palette that complements your choice for the widget.
You can also add a background image and change the widget text by typing into the ‘Heading’ and ‘Text’ fields.
The text should motivate customers to join your referral program, so this is an ideal opportunity to explain the benefits of becoming an affiliate.
You can also modify the call to action by entering text in the ‘Button Text’ field. Aim for a concise and persuasive message that motivates customers to enroll.
As you implement changes, the live preview will update, allowing you to experiment with different settings to achieve the best presentation.
Step 5. Customize the Confirmation Screen
With that done, you can customize the layout that AffiliateWP will show when a customer joins your program. To do this, click the slider next to ‘Preview Affiliate Signup Confirmation.’
The live preview will now update to show the confirmation layout.
You can now replace the default ‘Confirmation Text’ and ‘Confirmation Heading’ text with your own messaging.
This provides an ideal moment to express gratitude to new affiliates for enrolling in your program, or to clarify what they should do next.
As shown in the preview, AffiliateWP automatically creates an affiliate link and inserts it into the confirmation design. This lets new affiliates begin marketing your items immediately.
Step 6. Publish Your Affiliate Widget
Once configured, scroll to the bottom and select ‘Save Changes.’
That’s all there is to it! AffiliateWP will now display this signup form in prominent locations on your store. Note that the widget is visible only to customers with a prior order.
Tips and Tricks to Supercharge Your WooCommerce Referral Program
You’ve added a referral program to your WooCommerce store; that’s a good start, but more is needed.
To convert customers into a dedicated affiliate network, motivate them about the program.
To assist, here are key affiliate marketing tips for encouraging customers to enroll and promote your offerings.
Announce Your Program
AffiliateWP places a signup widget on key store pages, but consider announcing the program directly.
Announcing your program via email ensures everyone is aware, potentially leading to immediate signups.
For optimal outcomes, ensure this email details the advantages of joining the affiliate program. Employ segmentation and personalization to create more engaging messages.
For instance, if a customer purchased a particular item, consider a message like: “Enjoyed [product-name]? Share it with friends and earn money!”
To further promote the program, announce it on your blog, social media profiles, YouTube channel, and other platforms.
Provide Additional Incentives
While earning is a good motivator, add another incentive for customers to join. Consider a one-time bonus upon an affiliate’s first sale.
Use FOMO to boost sign-ups with limited-time perks like higher commission rates. This encourages immediate conversion rather than delayed consideration.
Provide special advantages only for your affiliate base.
Motivate customers by providing exclusive perks like coupon codes, early access to new products, free shipping, or faster delivery – anything that makes them feel valued as affiliates.
However, be strategic. You don’t want sign-ups solely for freebies without any intent to promote your products.
For example, you might offer a free month of shipping upfront and then unlock another free month every time the affiliate makes a sale. This keeps them engaged and actively promoting your products, rather than just enjoying your perks without putting in the effort.
Frequently Ask Questions
Creating and running a referral program can bring up a few questions.
Here are answers to some of the most common things we get asked – whether you’re curious about how to get started or need tips on making your setup even better, we’ve got you covered.
What is AffiliateWP?
AffiliateWP is a WordPress plugin designed to help you run your own affiliate program. It integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, so you can turn customers into affiliates with ease.
How does an affiliate program benefit my WooCommerce store?
An affiliate program essentially uses the power of your existing customers to bring in new ones. Your most loyal customers can help build trust and authenticity for your brand, as they naturally share their positive experiences with your products.
Is it difficult to set up an affiliate signup form?
Not at all! With powerful tools like AffiliateWP, setting up an affiliate signup form is incredibly quick and easy. You can add a signup form to your website without needing any specialist technical skills, so you can start converting your WooCommerce customers into affiliates with minimal effort.
We hope this article helped you learn how to turn your customers into affiliates. You may also want to see our guide on how to do lead generation like a pro or check out our expert pick of the best lead generation plugins.
Consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel for more WordPress video tutorials if this article was helpful. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
