Can I migrate an existing affiliate program?

Yes. You can import your affiliates from a CSV file, or rebuild the program in Simple Affiliate. Either way, decide how the existing links and codes keep crediting the right affiliates, and tell your affiliates what changes.

Import affiliates from a CSV file

The import needs a paid Shopify plan, a store that is at least 3 days old, and an active Simple Affiliate subscription: Basic, Pro or Premium. Starter has no subscription. When your store doesn't meet these conditions, the Import affiliates button doesn't show.

1. Set up your groups, commissions and discount rules. The import puts all the affiliates of one file in one group.
2. Open Affiliates.
3. Click Import affiliates.
4. Click Download CSV template.
5. Fill in one row for each affiliate.
6. Click Add file.
7. Choose your CSV file.

   

8. Choose the Group of the imported affiliates.
9. Click Import.

The import rules are:

• Each file can have up to 100 affiliates. Split a larger list into several files.
• Email, First Name and Last Name are required. The template also has a column for each optional signup field that you use, such as Discount Code on Pro and Premium.
• A row with an empty required value, or an email address or discount code that is in the file two times, stops the whole file. Nothing is imported until you correct the file.
• A row with the email address of an existing affiliate is skipped.
• A row with an email address that isn't valid, or with a discount code of another affiliate, fails. The other rows still import.
• A discount code that exists in your Shopify store but belongs to no affiliate moves to the imported affiliate.

The result lists each skipped and failed row with its reason. Imported affiliates are active at once. Simple Affiliate uses the Shopify customer with the same email address, or creates one. The import sends no welcome email, so send each affiliate their dashboard instructions yourself. The full steps are in How to import affiliates.

Rebuild the program

Rebuild when you want to redesign commissions, groups, links or onboarding instead of carrying the old records forward.

1. Review your current affiliates, commission rules, groups, referral links and discount codes.
2. Decide which affiliates and tracking methods to recreate.
3. Set up the new groups, commissions, referral links and codes in Simple Affiliate.
4. Invite your affiliates to the affiliate dashboard with sign-in instructions.
5. Test a referral link and a discount code before you announce the new program.

Affiliates sign in with your store's Shopify customer accounts. New customer accounts use Shopify's customer-account area, classic ones use a branded theme page, and in both setups the affiliate dashboard URL (/pages/affiliate unless you change the address) opens the dashboard.

The tracking cutover

When you move from another affiliate app, pick a cutover date and tell your affiliates before you switch. Old links and discount codes may need to redirect, be replaced, or stay active for a time while affiliates update their marketing materials.

Go method by method. Referral links attribute through a tracking code such as sacode, with optional UTM parameters for campaign reports. Make sure that each existing discount code has a matching code in Simple Affiliate before affiliates replace their published links or promotions. Then check the published materials: email campaigns, social profiles, paid ads, blog posts and partner websites. Test the exact journey of your affiliates' customers: landing page, checkout, order attribution and commission.

Before you announce

• Each migrated affiliate can reach the correct Shopify customer account and affiliate dashboard.
• Groups and commission rules match the terms that you intend to honor.
• Referral links and discount codes record the expected attribution.
• Affiliates know which links or codes to use after the cutover date.
• You keep an export of the previous program for reconciliation and support questions.