Affiliate Onboarding Checklist

Overview

This onboarding checklist ensures new affiliates have everything they need to start promoting successfully. Use this template to create a consistent, thorough onboarding experience.

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Pre-Approval Checklist (For Merchants)

Before approving a new affiliate application:

• Review application - Check their website/social media quality
• Verify audience fit - Ensure their audience matches your target market
• Check for red flags - Look for spam, fake followers, or policy violations
• Review content quality - Assess the quality of their existing content
• Confirm contact info - Verify email and other contact details
• Check compliance history - Any previous issues with other programs?

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Day 1: Welcome and Account Setup

For the Affiliate:

• Receive welcome email with login credentials
• Log into affiliate dashboard at [DASHBOARD_URL]
• Complete profile setup
  • Add payment information
  • Set preferred payment method
  • Verify tax information (W-9 for US affiliates)
  • Upload profile photo (optional)
• Generate affiliate links - Create your unique tracking links
• Get your promo code - [CODE_FORMAT] (if applicable)

For the Merchant:

• Send welcome email (see Welcome Email template)
• Create affiliate account in tracking system
• Assign commission tier - [STARTING_TIER]
• Grant resource access - Marketing materials, brand assets
• Add to affiliate newsletter list
• Schedule check-in for Day 7

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Days 2-3: Learning the Program

Required Reading:

• Program Terms & Conditions - [LINK]
• Commission Structure - Understand rates and tiers
• Cookie Duration - [COOKIE_DURATION] days
• Payment Schedule - [PAYMENT_SCHEDULE]
• Minimum Payout - [MINIMUM_PAYOUT]

Brand Education:

• Review Brand Guidelines - Colors, logos, voice
• Understand the Product - Features, benefits, pricing
• Know the Target Customer - Who we serve
• Review Competitor Positioning - How we're different
• Watch Product Demo - [DEMO_LINK] (if available)

Compliance Training:

• Read FTC Disclosure Requirements - [LINK]
• Understand Prohibited Activities - What's not allowed
• Review Content Guidelines - Approved messaging
• Acknowledge Program Policies - Sign off on terms

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Days 4-7: Getting Started with Promotion

Marketing Materials:

• Download brand assets from [ASSET_LIBRARY_URL]
  • Logos (various formats)
  • Product images
  • Banner ads (if available)
  • Email swipe copy
  • Social media templates
• Get approved product descriptions - Copy/paste ready
• Review sample content - See what successful affiliates do

Create Your First Content:

• Place affiliate links on your website/blog
• Create first promotional post (any platform)
• Include proper FTC disclosure - #ad, #affiliate, etc.
• Test your affiliate links - Make sure tracking works
• Share first social media post about the product

Technical Setup:

• Install any required tracking (if applicable)
• Set up link cloaking (optional but recommended)
• Create UTM parameters for better tracking
• Bookmark your affiliate dashboard

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Week 2: Optimization

Dashboard Familiarization:

• Check your statistics - Views, clicks, conversions
• Understand reporting - What metrics are available
• Review conversion data - What's working?
• Check pending commissions - Understand the hold period

Content Strategy:

• Plan content calendar - Schedule promotional content
• Identify best-performing content - Double down on what works
• Create additional content pieces - Diversify your approach
• Test different angles - Compare performance

Communication:

• Connect with affiliate manager - Introduce yourself
• Join affiliate community - [COMMUNITY_LINK] (if available)
• Ask questions - Don't hesitate to reach out
• Provide feedback - Share what would help you succeed

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Ongoing Success Checklist

Weekly Tasks:

• Check affiliate dashboard for stats
• Create at least [NUMBER] promotional content pieces
• Respond to audience questions about the product
• Stay updated on product/company news

Monthly Tasks:

• Review commission earnings
• Analyze top-performing content
• Update outdated content/links
• Check for new marketing materials
• Participate in any special promotions

Quarterly Tasks:

• Review and update promotional strategy
• Request performance review from affiliate manager
• Check for tier advancement opportunities
• Update compliance disclosures if needed

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Resource Quick Links

Resource	Link
Affiliate Dashboard	[DASHBOARD_URL]
Brand Guidelines	[GUIDELINES_URL]
Marketing Materials	[ASSETS_URL]
Terms & Conditions	[TERMS_URL]
Support/Help Center	[SUPPORT_URL]
Affiliate Manager Email	[MANAGER_EMAIL]
Community/Forum	[COMMUNITY_URL]

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Key Contacts

Affiliate Manager:

• Name: [MANAGER_NAME]
• Email: [MANAGER_EMAIL]
• Response time: Within [HOURS] hours

Technical Support:

• Email: [SUPPORT_EMAIL]
• For: Tracking issues, link problems, dashboard questions

Payments:

• Email: [PAYMENTS_EMAIL]
• For: Payment inquiries, tax forms, payout issues

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Links Not Tracking

1. Verify you're using the correct affiliate link
2. Clear cookies and test again
3. Check if the customer had a previous affiliate cookie
4. Contact support with specific examples

Dashboard Not Updating

1. Note: Stats update every [UPDATE_FREQUENCY]
2. Check for any platform-wide delays
3. Verify the sale went through (not abandoned cart)

Payment Not Received

1. Confirm you've met minimum payout threshold
2. Verify payment information is correct
3. Check if commissions are still in hold period
4. Contact payments team with your affiliate ID

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How to Customize This Template

1. Add your specific links - Dashboard, resources, etc.
2. Set your timeline - Adjust days based on your program
3. Include your contacts - Who should affiliates reach out to?
4. Add platform-specific steps - Based on your affiliate software
5. Create a PDF version - Send to new affiliates

Recommended Tools

For Affiliates:

• Link management: Bitly, Pretty Links
• Content scheduling: Buffer, Later, Hootsuite
• Analytics: Google Analytics, UTM parameters

For Merchants:

• Affiliate tracking: LinkJolt, Rewardful, FirstPromoter
• Communication: Email sequences, Slack channels
• Asset management: Google Drive, Dropbox, Brandfolder