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Affiliate Guides

Affiliate Guides

Complete documentation for earning commissions as a refVenue affiliate

Affiliate Guides

Welcome to the complete affiliate documentation! These guides will help you understand how to maximize your earnings as a refVenue affiliate.

Quick Start

New to affiliate marketing with refVenue? Start here:

Getting Started

Complete guide to starting your affiliate journey:

  • Understanding how affiliate marketing works
  • Setting up your account
  • Joining your first programs
  • Creating and sharing referral links
  • Making your first commission
  • Best practices and success tips

Start here if you're new!

Core Features

Dashboard

Learn how to use your affiliate dashboard:

  • 6 Performance Stats - Total earnings, clicks, conversions, and more
  • Program Cards - Quick view of all your active programs
  • Status Indicators - Understand application and approval status
  • Performance Metrics - Conversion rates and commission tracking
  • Quick Actions - Access important features quickly

Check this to understand your metrics.

Program Details

Deep dive into individual program pages:

  • Performance Header - Track program-specific metrics
  • Referral Tools - Get your unique links and codes
  • Coupon Codes - Access and share merchant discounts
  • Conversions Table - See all purchases and commissions
  • Marketing Assets - Download promotional materials
  • Program Terms - Understand commission structure and rules

Learn how to promote effectively.

My Earnings

Track and understand your commission income:

  • 4 Earnings Cards - Total, Pending, Approved, Paid
  • Earnings by Program - See which programs perform best
  • All Conversions - Detailed list of every purchase
  • Search & Filter - Find specific conversions quickly
  • Understanding Status - What Pending, Approved, and Paid mean
  • Timeline Expectations - When you'll get paid

Monitor your income here.

Payout Setup

Configure your account to receive payments:

  • Stripe Connect Setup - Step-by-step onboarding guide
  • Account Status - Understanding verification states
  • Bank Account Management - Update payment details
  • Payout Schedules - When and how you get paid
  • Tax Information - Forms and requirements
  • Troubleshooting - Solve common payout issues

Setup before your first sale!

By User Journey

For New Affiliates

  1. Getting Started - Start here
  2. Payout Setup - Setup payments
  3. Dashboard - Learn your dashboard
  4. Program Details - Understand programs
  5. My Earnings - Track earnings

For Active Affiliates

For Troubleshooting

Each guide includes a troubleshooting section:

Key Concepts

Commission Structure

Learn how you earn:

  • Percentage-Based - Earn % of sale (e.g., 10% of $100 = $10)
  • Fixed Amount - Set amount per sale (e.g., $5 per purchase)
  • Tiered - Earn more as volume increases
  • Recurring - Earn on subscription renewals

→ See examples in Getting Started

Conversion Status

Understanding the approval flow:

Pending 🟡

  • Just recorded
  • Awaiting merchant review
  • Not guaranteed yet
  • Typical wait: 1-7 days

Approved 🔵

  • Merchant confirmed
  • Payment guaranteed
  • Waiting for payout schedule
  • Will be paid soon

Paid 🟢

  • Already paid to you
  • Money received
  • In your bank account
  • Historical earnings

→ Learn more about status flow

Cookie Duration

How long you get credit:

  • Customer clicks your link
  • Cookie set in browser
  • Must purchase within cookie window
  • Typical: 30-90 days
  • Longer = more conversions

→ See cookie examples

Common Tasks

Joining a Program

  1. Browse Marketplace
  2. Click program card
  3. Review details and terms
  4. Click "Apply to Program"
  5. Fill out application
  6. Wait for approval (1-3 days)

→ Full application guide

Getting Your Links

  1. Go to My Programs
  2. Click approved program
  3. Copy referral link or code
  4. Add to your content
  5. Share with audience

→ Using referral tools

Tracking Performance

  1. Check Dashboard for overview
  2. View My Earnings for details
  3. Click program cards for specifics
  4. Use search/filter for conversions
  5. Analyze what's working

→ Performance metrics guide

Setting Up Payouts

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Click "Payout Account" tab
  3. Click "Setup Payout Account"
  4. Complete Stripe onboarding
  5. Verify bank account
  6. Wait for approval

→ Complete payout guide

Finding Top Programs

  1. Check Dashboard stats
  2. Go to My Earnings
  3. View "Earnings by Program" table
  4. Sort by Total Earnings
  5. Focus on top performers

→ Optimize performance tips

Best Practices

Setup Phase

  • ✅ Complete profile immediately
  • ✅ Setup payout account before first sale
  • ✅ Start with 3-5 relevant programs
  • ✅ Read all program terms
  • ✅ Plan content strategy

Promotion Phase

  • ✅ Provide genuine value
  • ✅ Always disclose affiliate relationships
  • ✅ Focus on products you believe in
  • ✅ Create quality over quantity
  • ✅ Know your audience

Optimization Phase

  • ✅ Track all performance metrics
  • ✅ Analyze what converts
  • ✅ Test different approaches
  • ✅ Focus on top performers
  • ✅ Scale what works

→ See all tips in Getting Started

What NOT to Do

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • ❌ Spam comments or forums
  • ❌ Make fake or misleading reviews
  • ❌ Hide affiliate relationships
  • ❌ Use click fraud or cookie stuffing
  • ❌ Bid on trademarked terms (unless allowed)
  • ❌ Send email spam
  • ❌ Violate program terms
  • ❌ Give up after one week

→ Full list of mistakes

Legal & Compliance

FTC Disclosure (US)

Required by law:

  • Must disclose affiliate relationships
  • Before affiliate links appear
  • Clear and conspicuous
  • On every piece of content
  • Easy to understand

Example:

"This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission
if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you."

→ Legal requirements guide

International

  • GDPR (Europe) - Cookie consent, privacy policy
  • Other Countries - Check local laws
  • Tax - Understand reporting requirements

Getting Support

Platform Issues

Contact refVenue support:

For:

  • Technical bugs
  • Account issues
  • Dashboard problems
  • General questions

Program-Specific

Contact merchant directly:

  • Via program details page
  • Check support contact
  • Allow 1-2 business days

For:

  • Approval delays
  • Commission disputes
  • Program questions
  • Payout schedule

Payout Account

Contact Stripe support:

For:

  • Verification issues
  • Bank account problems
  • Payout delays
  • Technical errors

Success Metrics

First Month Goals

  • Join 3-5 programs
  • Get 2-3 approved
  • Generate 100-500 clicks
  • Make first conversion
  • Setup payout account

3-Month Goals

  • 5-10 active programs
  • 100+ conversions
  • $500-1,000 earned
  • Consistent promotion
  • Clear top performers

6-Month Goals

  • 10+ programs
  • 500+ monthly clicks
  • $2,000-5,000/month
  • Automated systems
  • Multiple traffic sources

→ Detailed goal planning

Additional Resources

In-Platform

Documentation

Quick Reference

Dashboard URLs

  • Main Dashboard: /dashboard
  • Marketplace: /marketplace
  • My Programs: /my-programs
  • My Earnings: /my-earnings
  • Settings: /settings
  • Payout Account: /settings?tab=payout

Key Metrics

  • Total Earnings - All-time commission
  • Pending - Awaiting approval
  • Approved - Confirmed, will be paid
  • Paid - Already received
  • Conversion Rate - Purchases ÷ Clicks
  • Average Commission - Total earnings ÷ Conversions

Status Colors

  • 🟡 Yellow/Pending - Under review
  • 🔵 Blue/Approved - Confirmed
  • 🟢 Green/Paid - Received
  • 🔴 Red/Rejected - Denied (rare)

Next Steps

Choose your path:

I'm brand new: → Start with Getting Started Guide

I need to setup payments: → Go to Payout Setup Guide

I want to understand my stats: → Read Dashboard Guide

I need to track earnings: → Check My Earnings Guide

I want to promote better: → Review Program Details Guide

Ready to start earning? Head to the Marketplace and apply to your first programs!

Need help? Contact support or check the FAQ.