Shopify Affiliate Marketing: A Guide for Beginners

Making extra income has become easier for creators. All thanks to affiliate marketing. It’s becoming a big thing and you can literally earn money while asleep. You promote a product/service, someone makes a purchase through your unique link and you earn a commission. No inventory, no customer support headaches, just passive income flowing in as you focus on content creation.

Many bloggers, influencers, and content creators turn to affiliate marketing to monetize their platforms. Shopify’s affiliate marketing program is something you can do, as it offers commissions for referring new merchants to their platform.

This article will break down everything you need to know about affiliate marketing, with a special focus on Shopify’s affiliate marketing program—its perks, its pitfalls, and whether it’s worth your time. Stick around (or skip ahead if you’re curious) to find a more profitable, long-term alternative that could seriously boost your earnings and set you up for success.

What is affiliate marketing?

To keep it simple, affiliate marketing can be defined like this; you get paid for recommending something you love. No need to create your products, handle customer service, or worry about shipping—just drive traffic and get rewarded. Affiliates can earn based on different metrics, like clicks, sales, leads, etc.

Affiliate marketing is a booming industry, projected to hit $8.2 billion and grow. Businesses love this marketing model as they only pay affiliates when they bring in sales․ Instead of spending thousands on ads, brands let affiliates—bloggers, influencers, YouTubers, and even podcasters—spread the word by reviewing tech gadgets, sharing fashion tips, or teaching people how to build websites.

The best part is that there’s no limit on how much you can earn. Your commission depends on how many sales you generate, which means the more you grow, the more you make.

The referral process: how affiliate link tracking works

As discussed, affiliate marketing relies on unique tracking links that connect a customer’s purchase to the affiliate who referred them. When you join an affiliate program, you receive a customized URL that includes a special tracking code. This code helps the company identify which affiliate sent the customer and ensures that commissions are properly assigned. For instance, an affiliate link might look like this: “www.example.com/affiliateID”.

When someone clicks on your affiliate link, a tracking cookie is stored in their browser. This cookie records:

• The time and date of the click.
• The affiliate who referred them.
• Any actions they take, such as browsing, adding items to a cart, or making a purchase.

If the user completes a transaction within the cookie’s lifespan, you earn a commission. Some programs offer short cookie durations (such as 24-48 hours), while others extend the window up to 90 days, giving you a better chance of earning from delayed purchases.

Why become an affiliate?

Imagine you were paid every time you recommended something you already love. Affiliate marketing allows you to focus on promotion—connecting people with products they need.

It works well for content creators, influencers, and digital marketers who already have an audience, but even if you don’t have a big follower base, affiliate marketing offers a low-risk way to build an online income stream. Audience matters because the bigger the number of people who get your message, the bigger the number of clicks on your affiliate link. And, as you can imagine, your income.

So, to wrap up the benefits of affiliate marketing:

• Low starting costs: If you can drive traffic, you can start earning without any spending.
• Passive income potential: Once you create content your affiliate links keep working for you 24/7.
• No income limits: Many affiliates start by making a few dollars/month, but top performers bring in six or even seven figures annually.
• Freedom & flexibility: Work from anywhere, set your own schedule, and build a business that fits your lifestyle.

Shopify affiliate marketing: pros and cons

Let’s talk about one of the most popular affiliate programs–Shopify affiliate marketing. We will look at its pros and cons, and discover if it’s worth it. I’ve been researching and analyzing Shopify’s affiliate program, comparing commission structures, payment policies, and overall earning potential. Let’s take a closer look.

How does Shopify affiliate marketing work?

Shopify’s affiliate program is free to join and open to bloggers, content creators, and digital marketers looking to promote the platform. What will you get?

• Up to $150 per referral for full-priced plans.
• 30-day cookie duration, meaning you earn a commission only if the customer subscribes within that period.
• Bank transfer or PayPal, with a minimum payout threshold of $10.

This is what Shopify’s website tells us—and when we dig into the pros and cons, here’s what stands out.

Pros of Shopify’s affiliate marketing program

Strong brand recognition – Shopify is one of the most recognized ecommerce platforms, meaning half of the marketing is done for you.

Marketing resources provided – Affiliates get access to banners, email templates, and lead magnets, so you don’t have to create everything from scratch.

Global market & trust factor – Shopify is used by businesses worldwide, so you’re promoting a product they already know.

Cons of Shopify’s affiliate marketing program

One-time commission – The biggest downside is that you only get paid once per referral. If your referral stays with Shopify for years, you don’t earn anything beyond that initial commission.

Capped earnings per referral – No matter how much your referral spends on Shopify, your maximum payout is $150. Some programs offer percentage-based commissions, meaning affiliates earn more when customers spend more.

Highly competitive market – Shopify’s program is saturated with experienced affiliates who have been promoting it for years. If you’re just starting, breaking through the competition can be tough.

To sum up, if you’re looking for quick, one-time payouts, the Shopify affiliate marketing program might seem like a decent option. But if your goal is to build long-term, recurring affiliate income, there are better alternatives that offer higher earning potential, recurring commissions, and a less competitive market.

Become a 10Web Affiliate

Get 30% revenue from each new referral for 12 months.

BECOME AN AFFILIATE

A better alternative to the Shopify affiliate program

Being a big name in the industry Shopify might seem a good go-to as an affiliate program. But if you are hesitating about the drawbacks, then let me introduce you to 10Web’s affiliate marketing program.

First, the product; 10Web is an all-in-one solution to build and manage an ecommerce website effortlessly. The AI-powered Ecommerce Website Builder lets you create a website for your online store in seconds while providing reliable hosting and a domain registration service.

Now, about your earning potential. 10Web’s affiliate program is built for long-term, recurring income. Here’s how it works:

• Affiliates earn 30% recurring revenue for the 12 months on every referral. That means if your referral stays subscribed, you keep earning—month after month.
• You have access to marketing resources, banners, and a dedicated affiliate support team to help maximize your success.
• You can obtain personalized coupon codes to share with your audience. This not only incentivizes potential customers but also helps in tracking the effectiveness of your promotional efforts.
• 10Web provides a user-friendly affiliate dashboard where you can monitor your performance metrics, track referrals, view commissions, and manage payouts efficiently.
• Affiliates can choose between PayPal and bank wire transfers for their earnings. The payout threshold is $200 for PayPal and $500 for bank transfers, offering flexibility based on your preferences.

One of the biggest advantages of 10Web’s affiliate program is its higher earning potential. Instead of a one-time payout like Shopify, 10Web offers recurring commissions for a full year. This makes it a more sustainable and reliable income stream. The AI-powered Website Builder is also a high-demand product, as businesses and solopreneurs are constantly looking for faster, easier ways to build websites.

With AI-driven automation, 10Web makes site creation effortless, making it an attractive and high-converting product to promote. Since 10Web focuses on AI-powered ecommerce solutions, it offers a cutting-edge alternative to traditional website builders. The growing demand for faster, smarter, and more automated online store creation is a greater chance to stand out. This makes it easier to gain traction and increases the likelihood of higher conversion rates.

So, who are you waiting for? Sign up today and start earning.

Conclusion

It seems like anybody who wants to earn some extra income joins an affiliate program–easy and scalable. Shopify’s affiliate marketing program might seem like a great option at first—big brand recognition, easy to promote, and a well-known platform, but its one-time commissions and competitive market can limit your earning potential.

If you’re looking for a smarter, more profitable alternative, join 10Web’s affiliate program. With 30% recurring commissions for a full year, advanced tracking, marketing support, and a growing demand for AI-powered website solutions, it offers a real opportunity to build long-term, sustainable income.

FAQ

Become a 10Web Affiliate

Get 30% revenue from each new referral for 12 months.

BECOME AN AFFILIATE

Become a 10Web Affiliate

Become a 10Web Affiliate

Get 30% revenue from each new referral for 12 months.

BECOME AN AFFILIATE