Setting up your program
The dashboard checklist takes you from empty install to a working affiliate program — pages, commission rate, payouts, and your first partner.
Open Affiliates → Dashboard after activating. Until your program is running, the dashboard shows a setup checklist — each item links to the right screen, and ticks itself off as you complete it.
1 · Create your pages
The plugin needs two public pages: an application page where partners apply (shortcode [affiliate_factory_registration]) and an affiliate dashboard where approved partners see their stats and links (shortcode [affiliate_factory_portal]).
The checklist creates both with one click. If you'd rather place the shortcodes yourself — inside an existing "Partners" page, say — paste them into any page; the Pages & shortcodes panel on the dashboard shows whether each shortcode is detected and where.
2 · Set your commission rate
Under Settings → Commissions, choose percentage or flat, set the rate, and set the maturity window (how long a referral stays pending so refunds can't claw back paid money — match it to your refund policy). The commissions article explains every option; if you're unsure what to charge, our blog's commission rate guide has benchmarks by industry.
3 · Connect payouts
Under Settings → Payments, connect PayPal or Stripe with your own credentials — payouts go directly from your account to your partners, no middleman. Each card has a Test connection button that verifies the credentials against the live API. Prefer bank transfers or something else? Skip this and record payouts manually — the ledger works either way. Details in payouts.
4 · Review tracking defaults
Settings → Tracking controls the referral window, cookie behavior, and consent integration. The defaults are sensible (first-party cookies, privacy-safe IP handling); read tracking before changing them, and data & privacy if you operate under GDPR.
5 · Get your first affiliate
Share your application page, or add a partner by hand: Affiliates → Affiliates → Add affiliate. Approving an application triggers the welcome email (editable under Affiliates → Emails) with their referral link and personal coupon code.
Keep an eye on the badges
Once running, the Affiliates menu shows needs-attention badges: a count on Affiliates for pending applications and on Referrals for referrals held for review. If the badges are at zero, your program is humming.