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Affiliate and brand ambassador programmes for D2C brands

Creators and customers who earn when they sell for you, set up and run.

Who it is for: Brands that want creators and fans selling on commission.

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Affiliate and ambassador programme

  • Affiliate programmeCreators earn a commission on sales from their unique links or codes.
  • Brand ambassadorsA smaller group of committed creators makes ongoing content in return for perks.
  • Customer referralsBuyers who earn rewards for bringing friends.
  • Tracking and payoutsLinks, codes, attribution and monthly payouts handled.

Affiliate and ambassador programme: the formats we run

Each one used where it earns.

Affiliate programme

Creators earn a commission on sales from their unique links or codes.

Brand ambassadors

A smaller group of committed creators makes ongoing content in return for perks.

Customer referrals

Buyers who earn rewards for bringing friends.

Tracking and payouts

Links, codes, attribution and monthly payouts handled.

How we set up affiliate and ambassador programmes

Step by step, in the order we do it.

  1. 1
    Commission set by margin

    Commission rates are set product by product from your margin, and paid only on delivered orders that are not returned.

  2. 2
    Links and codes that track

    Each affiliate gets unique links and codes through a Shopify app or affiliate platform, so every sale is credited correctly.

  3. 3
    The right affiliates

    We invite creators, loyal customers and niche pages. Brand ambassadors are chosen from your best buyers and creators.

  4. 4
    A return window before payout

    Commission is paid after the return window closes, so RTO and returns do not cost you twice.

  5. 5
    Regular clean-up

    Top affiliates get better terms. Inactive ones are removed, and codes that leak to coupon sites are switched off.

What you get each month

  • New affiliates recruited and onboarded
  • Commission statements based on delivered orders
  • A report on sales, payouts and margin by affiliate
  • Leaked or misused codes found and closed

What we need from you

  • A payout budget and approval of commission rates
  • Products or samples for affiliates
  • Shopify access to install the tracking app
  • Approval of the terms affiliates sign

Facts we plan affiliate and ambassador programmes around

Checked in October 2026, with the source for each.

Affiliate posts are ads

Under ASCI's guidelines, affiliate posts need the same clear disclosure as paid posts.

Source: ASCI influencer guidelines

Returns change the payout

COD orders return at 1.8 to 2.3 times the rate of prepaid orders, which is why we pay commission after the return window.

Source: Base, 2026

What we do every week

Run by a senior marketer with five accounts at most.

  • Commission structure set by margin
  • Tracking links and codes set up
  • Recruitment through our creator network
  • Monthly payouts and reporting
  • Fraud and coupon-leak checks

Where brands lose money with affiliate and ambassador programmes

Commission above margin

Flat commissions that ignore product margin lose money on low-margin items.

Coupon leaks

Codes posted on coupon sites pay commission on sales you already had.

Recruit and forget

Affiliates go quiet without briefs and new products to talk about.

What you will see in every weekly report

You see ROAS and contribution margin side by side, every week.

In every weekly report

  • Affiliate revenue
  • Contribution margin after commission
  • Active affiliates
  • Cost per order
  • What changed, what is next, and what didn't work

Custom reports, built for how you make money

  • Margin by product and size
  • ROAS by city and dark store
  • Repeat orders by cohort
  • RTO by pin code and payment method
  • Marketplace vs website profit

Weekly

Report and call

ROAS and margin by channel, what changed, what is next.

Monthly

Report and call

It compares results against your targets and sets next month's roadmap.

Quarterly

Projections and plan

Realistic numbers from your own data, checked against what actually happened.

The first 90 days

How affiliate and ambassador programmes usually starts, from the free audit to the first quarterly plan.

  1. Week 1

    Angles and creator mix agreed

  2. Weeks 2 to 4

    First batch live and scored

  3. Month 2

    Double down on winning angles

  4. Month 3

    Affiliate programme running, next-quarter plan

How we run your account

The same operating rhythm on every account, from the first week.

A senior marketer

Owns your account and your targets, with five ad accounts at most.

Weekly report and call

ROAS next to contribution margin, what changed and what happens next.

Live dashboard

Every channel in one view, so you never wait for the weekly call.

Monthly review

Results against the targets agreed in writing, and next month's plan.

Quarterly plan

Projections built from your own numbers, checked against what happened.

Slack or WhatsApp

Day-to-day questions answered by the person who runs your account.

Agency vs in-house vs Mobile First, for Affiliate and ambassador programme

Agency vs in-house vs Mobile First, for Affiliate and ambassador programme
Typical agencyIn-house teamYour growth teamMobile First
VolumeA handful of polished ads a monthLimited by one designer's time
As many creator videos as your mix and budget allow
Finding creatorsAgency roster, whoever is freeDMs and spreadsheets
Sourcing tech matched to audience, reach and past results
Judging a videoViews and engagementGut feel
ROAS and margin on every video
Usage rights and disclosureOften unclearOften missed
Written into every brief, with ASCI disclosure
Free toolCAC payback calculatorDo customers pay back within 6 months?Free growth auditHave a senior marketer check itA senior marketer reads your ads, marketplaces, tracking and margins within 48 hours.

Also under creatives and creators

Creative strategyAngles, hooks and briefs every month, scored on ROAS and margin.Creator videos at scaleMany creators making videos for your brand every month, found by our sourcing tech and matched to your goal.Creatives and creators overviewCreative strategy, creator videos at scale and affiliate programmes.

Affiliate and ambassador programme: questions brands ask

How does an affiliate programme work for D2C brands?

Creators or customers get a unique link or code. When someone buys through it, they earn a commission. You pay only on sales, which makes it one of the lowest-risk ways to grow creator content and reach.

What commission should we offer?

It depends on your margin. We set commission so each affiliate sale still makes money after product cost, shipping and returns, often with higher rates for top performers.

Is the setup a one-time fee?

Yes, setup can be a fixed one-time fee. Running the programme every month is a retainer, or you can run it yourself after setup.

How do you stop coupon abuse?

We watch where codes are used, close leaked codes and pay commission only on valid orders after the return window.

Who can become an affiliate?

Creators, customers and partners can join, each with a unique link or code.

What is a brand ambassador programme?

It is a smaller group of committed creators who make content for you over time, in return for perks and commission.

How do you track affiliate sales?

Each affiliate gets a unique link or code, and we count only valid orders after the return window.

Do affiliate posts need an ad label?

Yes. Under ASCI's guidelines, affiliate posts need a clear disclosure such as #ad.

Can we run the programme ourselves after setup?

Yes. Many brands take over after setup, and we hand over the rules, links and tracking.

How do you find affiliates?

We use our sourcing tools and creator network to find people whose audience matches your buyers.

60 seconds

Are we a great fit?

Five questions, no email needed. You get an honest answer on screen.

Affiliate and brand ambassador programmes for D2C brands: Commission set by margin; Links and codes that track; The right affiliates; A return window before payout; Regular clean-up
Affiliate and brand ambassador programmes for D2C brands, at a glance

Talk to us about affiliate and ambassador programmes

Tell us about your brand. We read your accounts before the call, so it is about your numbers.

  • Free growth audit, yours to keep
  • ROAS and profit read for every channel
  • WhatsApp reply within one working day

Next: five quick questions, then pick a 30-minute slot.

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Before you go: are any of your campaigns losing money?

Our free growth audit shows which campaigns lose money after returns and discounts. A senior marketer reads your accounts within 48 hours, and the audit is yours to keep.

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