How to set up Groups in Simple Affiliate
Groups let you give different affiliates different commission rates, discount-code rules, referral-link destinations, and dashboard content. Create groups for programs such as VIP affiliates, creators, or a seasonal campaign, then assign affiliates to the appropriate group.
In Simple Affiliate, go to Groups. Click Create group to make a new group, or select an existing group to edit it. Save a new group before adding Media Library files, configuring product or collection commissions, or enabling its discount rule.
1. Group details
Group name
Enter an internal name for the group, such as VIP Affiliates. Affiliates do not see the group name. Each group needs a unique, non-empty name.
Set this group as the default
Enable this option to make the group the default for new affiliates who are not assigned to another group. A program can have only one default group.
Group description
Add the message or program details that affiliates in this group should see on their dashboard. For example, use it to explain the benefits and expectations for VIP affiliates.
Group payout method
Choose the default payout method for affiliates in this group. Leave the selection as Default to use the payout method set for your whole program. Only payout methods that are active in your program are available.
Direct group invite
For stores using Classic customer accounts, an existing group shows a copyable invite link. People who sign up with that link are added directly to this group. This link is not available until the group has been saved, and it is not shown for New Customer Accounts.
Default referral link destination URL
Set the store page that new affiliates in this group use for their default referral link. Enter a page on your store, for example collections/all or a campaign landing-page path. This sets the destination for new default links; it does not change links that already exist.
Media Library
Upload images, files, and other content that affiliates in this group can access from their dashboard. Save a new group first, then use Upload files to manage its library.
2. Commission details
Commission type and default commission
Choose how affiliates in the group earn:
- Percentage pays a percentage of eligible sales. Enter the group's default percentage in Set default commission percentage.
- Fixed amount pays one flat amount for each eligible referral. Enter that amount in Set default commission fixed amount.
First-time customer commission
Enable the first-time customer option when an affiliate should earn a different amount or percentage for a customer's first order. Enter the special percentage or fixed amount after enabling the switch. Orders from returning customers continue to use the group's default commission.
Minimum order amount
Enable Minimum order amount and enter the minimum order value that must be reached before the group earns a commission. Orders below that amount do not create an automatic referral.
Conversion window
Enter the number of days in Conversion window. It is the time after a referral link was clicked during which orders count as referrals. The default is 30 days, and the maximum is 90 days. The window does not apply to standard discount codes, permanent customer connection, or product attribution. A single-use discount code is valid for the same number of days after the customer claims it.
Permanent customer connection
Permanent customer connection is a Pro feature. When it is enabled, a qualifying referred customer is connected to the affiliate so future eligible orders can continue to earn that affiliate commission, even without another referral link or code. You can keep the connection open-ended, or enable a duration limit and set it from 1 to 36 months. Learn more in How to Set Up Permanent Customer Connection (Pro plan).
Product and collection specific commission
This Pro feature lets you override the group's default percentage for selected products, variants, or collections. It is available only for percentage-based groups, not fixed-amount groups. Save the group, then click Set product & collection commissions. For detailed instructions, see How to set product-specific commissions (Pro plan) and How to set collection-specific commissions (Pro plan).
3. Discount details
Enable the discount-code rule
Discount codes are a Pro feature. Open the Discounts tab, turn on Enabled in Discount code rule, and click Save. Once the group's rule is active, affiliates in the group can use their discount codes to make referrals.
Choose a discount type and value
Set the customer discount directly in the group. Choose the discount type that matches your offer:
- Amount off order applies the discount to the whole order.
- Amount off collections opens the Shopify picker so you can choose eligible collections.
- Amount off products opens the Shopify picker so you can choose eligible products.
- Free shipping removes the shipping charge instead of using a money or percentage value.
For amount-off discounts, select Percentage or Fixed amount, then enter the value. A percentage can be from 0 to 100. A fixed amount is applied once per order, not once per item. Use Edit discount rule to open Shopify for settings that are not available in Simple Affiliate, such as eligibility, combinations, or other Shopify-specific rules.
Choose a discount code type
Standard discount codes give each affiliate a reusable code. You can optionally auto-apply the code when a shopper clicks the affiliate's referral link. When auto-apply is enabled, you can also restrict code-attributed commissions to codes that were auto-applied from a referral link.
Single-use discount codes help prevent discount-code leakage. A shopper receives a one-time code after clicking an affiliate's referral link. Changing a group from Standard to Single-use deactivates the group's existing standard affiliate codes, so review the change before saving. Read How to set up single-use discount codes (Pro plan) for the full setup and customer experience.
Set the discount code format
The code format controls the codes that Simple Affiliate generates for affiliates in this group. Build it from these three parts:
- Prefix (optional) adds text before the affiliate name, such as SAVE.
- Main name (required) chooses the affiliate identifier. Depending on the signup fields you use, choose the default name, first name, full name, social media name, Instagram username, or TikTok username. Instagram username and TikTok username are available only on new customer accounts.
- Suffix (optional) adds text after the name, such as 10.
Prefixes and suffixes accept up to six letters or numbers and are converted to uppercase. For example, the prefix SAVE, main name SAINC, and suffix 10 produce SAVESAINC10. The format applies to new affiliates and to the cases in the next paragraph. If a generated code already exists, Simple Affiliate appends letters from the affiliate's last name until the code is unique.
When you approve a pending affiliate, or move a pending affiliate to another group, Simple Affiliate generates its code again in the format of its group, if the code still has the format of its earlier group. The same occurs when you move an active affiliate with no referrals out of the default group. A code that you set yourself stays: a code that you enter when you add or import the affiliate, a code that you set with Rename code, and the code of a copy on a linked store. A code that you set before October 24, 2026 has no such record and can still change.
Click Save after changing any group settings. Commission and discount rules apply to affiliates in the group; discount-code formatting does not rename the codes of other existing affiliates.