Do you currently have your website running through WordPress? The likelihood that you do is extremely high – there are currently over 455 million sites using WordPress, and according to W3Techs, it powers as many as 63.5% of all websites currently using a Content Management System, or CMS. That’s an incredibly high market share, and it makes it more than likely that you’re using WordPress.
However, what if you want to create an affiliate program? Affiliate programs are hugely popular nowadays, and they can be a great part of crafting a quality brand image and bringing in new customers. Can you create an affiliate marketing program on WordPress? What’s the best way to do so? Here’s what you should know about creating and running an affiliate program on WordPress.
Affiliate Marketing on WooCommerce and Beyond
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular kinds of marketing out there. According to SEMrush Traffic Analytics, referral traffic is the third-largest type of website traffic. Plus, search traffic, the second-highest traffic type, is heavily impacted by affiliate marketing as well. If you’re interested in getting more customers, crafting a specific brand image, and generally making more sales, affiliate marketing is one of the most important options.
The core component of affiliate marketing is getting your brand’s name out there. Of course, you want to drive direct sales, but more than that, you want those sales to showcase that you’re a trustworthy brand that cares about its customers. If you can do that, you stand a high chance of getting more people to visit your website directly, thus bypassing the affiliate altogether, which means that you no longer have to pay affiliate commission costs.
Can I Create an Affiliate Program Manually on WordPress?
It is true that you can create a manual affiliate program through WordPress. It would be like creating any other affiliate program by yourself – you would develop some kind of in-house affiliate tracking system, then integrate it with your actual affiliate program, including whatever sign-up process you have through your website.
This is a lot of work, takes a lot of time, and may even be very expensive. This is typically only an option available for companies that can afford to take all of these things in-house, and even then, many of the most successful companies in the world use ecommerce management platforms and affiliate program management services.
Using WooCommerce as Your Affiliate Program Starting Point
Rather than trying to do this whole process by yourself, it’s a much better idea to use WooCommerce. This is essentially the WordPress extension into the world of ecommerce, and if you’re planning to run an ecommerce store on your WordPress site, you’re going to use WooCommerce.
There are definitely benefits to using other competitors, and you can run an affiliate program on many of them. However, if you’re already incorporated with WordPress, and many people are, WooCommerce is absolutely going to be your best option.
There are many available plugins on WooCommerce, including a variety of plugins based around affiliate marketing. Here are a few tips to ensure that you’re getting the best usage out of your WooCommerce plugins.
- Make sure your plugin is actually partnered with WooCommerce. Direct partnerships mean that you’ll get the most out of your integration.
- Make sure the plugin provides enough reporting for your needs. More information is always better in the realm of ecommerce and general advertisement.
- Make sure you can pay out commissions quickly and easily. One of the largest complaints that plague shoddily put-together affiliate programs is that the organizations that run them don’t pay out on time. Paying out quickly and easily is key.
The best way to hit all of these points is to use the Refersion plugin for WooCommerce. This integration checks all three of these boxes and more.
Affiliate Tracking Software on WooCommerce
Refersion is the best affiliate tracking software for you to use alongside your WooCommerce integrations. As part of your shop, Refersion makes it easy for you to track your affiliate experiences, seeing the number of sales each of your affiliates has driven, exactly which sales belong to each affiliate, and getting instant information regarding total commission.
When you think of affiliate tracking, you often think of your ability to understand what’s happening with your sales. However, Refersion also makes it easy for you to onboard even more affiliates who are dedicated to your business. You can set up different commission structures, pay out to your affiliates automatically, and design a branded affiliate portal that matches with the rest of your WordPress site. With the 14-day free trial, you can see for yourself how the Refersion setup boosts your WooCommerce experience.
The Bottom Line
Affiliate marketing is one of the top marketing options today, and a significant majority of businesses have started utilizing affiliate marketing as a component of their marketing strategy overall. If you currently have a website hosted through WordPress, you’re going to want to use WooCommerce to create your affiliate tracking program. You can bolster that affiliate program with the help of Refersion. Check it out today to learn more about how you can take your program to the next level.
FAQ
How does WooCommerce compare to other e-commerce platforms for affiliate marketing, in terms of features, costs, and ease of use?
WooCommerce is a popular choice for affiliate marketing due to its integration with WordPress, offering ease of use and customization. It provides a cost-effective solution compared to other platforms, with a wide range of plugins and themes to support affiliate activities.
What are the specific legal considerations or requirements for setting up and running an affiliate program, especially in different regions or countries?
When setting up an affiliate program, it’s important to consider legal aspects like data protection, consumer rights, and advertising regulations. These laws vary by country, requiring businesses to ensure compliance with local and international regulations to avoid legal issues.
Can you integrate WooCommerce with other affiliate networks, and if so, how does this process work and what are the benefits?
WooCommerce can integrate with other affiliate networks through various plugins, enabling businesses to connect with a broader network of affiliates. This integration helps in managing the affiliate program more efficiently and expanding the reach of marketing efforts.
