Creator Codes
Creator Codes are affiliate tracking codes that enable you to partner with influencers, content creators, and community leaders to promote your store. When customers use a creator's code at checkout, the creator earns a commission on the sale, incentivizing them to drive traffic and sales to your store.
This feature allows you to build a network of affiliates who promote your products to their audiences, expanding your reach while only paying for actual results.
How Creator Codes Work
- Create a code for each creator/influencer you partner with
- Set commission rates - define what percentage the creator earns per sale
- Share the code with the creator to promote to their audience
- Track performance - monitor uses, revenue generated, and commissions owed
- Pay creators - mark commissions as paid when you've transferred funds
Customers enter creator codes at checkout. If the code is valid, the order is tracked against that creator's code, and commission is calculated based on your settings.
Creating Creator Codes
Navigate to Marketing > Creator Codes and click Create Creator Code.
Required Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Creator Name | The name of the influencer/creator (for internal tracking) |
| Commission Percentage | What percentage the creator earns (e.g., 10%) |
| Commission Basis | Calculate commission before or after discount codes are applied |
Optional Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Code | Custom code string (auto-generated if left empty) |
| Description | Internal notes about this creator or partnership |
| Minimum Order Amount | Code only works on orders above this threshold (e.g., $25) |
| Allow with Coupons | Whether customers can combine this code with discount coupons |
| Usage Limit (Total) | Maximum total uses across all customers |
| Per Customer Limit | Maximum uses per individual customer |
| Start Date | When the code becomes active |
| Expiration Date | When the code stops working |
| Active | Enable/disable the code without deleting it |
Commission Basis
You have two options for how commission is calculated:
After Discounts (recommended): Commission is calculated on the final order total after discount coupons are applied. This prevents paying commission on discounted amounts.
Before Discounts: Commission is calculated on the original order total before any discount coupons. Creators earn more, but you pay commission on the full price even if customers use coupons.
Commission Basis Example
Order subtotal: $100 Discount coupon: -$20 Final total: $80
After Discounts (10% commission): Creator earns $8.00 Before Discounts (10% commission): Creator earns $10.00
Managing Creator Codes
Viewing Statistics
The dashboard displays key metrics:
- Total Codes: Number of creator codes created
- Active: How many codes are currently active
- Total Revenue: All revenue generated from creator code usage
- Unpaid Commission: Total commission owed to creators
Filtering and Search
- Search: Find codes by code string or creator name
- Status Filter: Filter by Active, Inactive, Expired, or Scheduled codes
Code Status
Creator codes can have the following statuses:
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Active | Currently working and available for use |
| Inactive | Manually disabled (can be re-enabled) |
| Expired | Past the expiration date |
| Scheduled | Not yet active (start date is in the future) |
| Depleted | Usage limit has been reached |
Tracking Usage
Click on the usage count (blue number) for any code to view detailed usage history, including:
- Order numbers (linked to order details)
- Customer emails
- Order totals
- Commission amounts
- Payment status (Paid/Pending)
- Usage dates
This helps you verify creator performance and audit commission payments.
Paying Creators
When you're ready to pay a creator:
- Click Pay next to the creator code
- Verify the unpaid amount shown
- Enter the amount you're paying (can be partial payment)
- Click Mark as Paid
Payment Recording
The "Mark as Paid" function only records that you've paid the creator in your system. You must separately send the actual payment to the creator (via PayPal, bank transfer, etc.). This feature is for tracking purposes only.
Commission Tracking
The system automatically tracks:
- Total Commission Owed: All commission earned from orders using the code
- Total Commission Paid: All payments you've marked as paid
- Unpaid Commission: The difference between owed and paid
You can view both overall unpaid commission and per-code unpaid amounts.
Best Practices
Setting Commission Rates
- Standard rates: 5-15% is typical for gaming/digital products
- Top-tier creators: 15-25% for creators with large, engaged audiences
- New partnerships: Start at 10% and adjust based on performance
- Competitive research: Check what similar stores offer
Structuring Partnerships
For high-volume creators:
- Set higher commission rates (15-20%)
- Increase or remove usage limits
- Provide custom codes that include their brand/name
- Track multiple codes per creator for different campaigns
For smaller creators:
- Standard rates (5-10%)
- Set moderate usage limits to test performance
- Use generic auto-generated codes
- Review performance after 30-60 days
Communication Tips
When onboarding creators:
- Clearly explain commission rates and payment terms
- Provide their unique code and usage instructions
- Share marketing materials (graphics, product info)
- Set expectations for payment schedules (e.g., monthly)
Ongoing management:
- Send monthly performance reports (uses, revenue, commission owed)
- Pay commissions on a regular schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
- Communicate when you mark payments as paid
- Notify creators when codes are nearing usage limits
Usage Limits
When to use limits:
- Testing new creator partnerships
- Running limited-time campaigns
- Preventing abuse or fraud
- Managing budget constraints
When to avoid limits:
- Proven high-performing creators
- Long-term partnerships
- Brand ambassadors
Combining with Coupons
Allow with coupons when:
- You want to maximize customer acquisition
- Your margins support stacking discounts
- You're running promotional campaigns
Don't allow with coupons when:
- Margins are tight
- You want to prevent discount stacking
- The creator code itself provides value
Preventing Coupon Stacking
If you uncheck "Allow with coupons," customers must choose between using a creator code OR a discount coupon, not both. This protects your margins while still rewarding the creator.
Troubleshooting
Code Not Working at Checkout
Check the following:
- Code is marked as Active
- Start date hasn't been set to the future (or has passed)
- Expiration date hasn't been reached
- Usage limit hasn't been depleted
- Order total meets minimum order amount requirement
- If customer has already used the code, check per-customer limit
Commission Calculations Incorrect
Verify:
- Commission basis setting (before/after discounts)
- Whether "Allow with coupons" is enabled
- Order total used for calculation
- Check individual usage records for the specific order
Creator Not Seeing Their Code
Common causes:
- Code was created but not shared with the creator
- Creator is using wrong capitalization (codes are case-sensitive)
- Code was disabled after being shared
- Expiration date was set incorrectly
High Unpaid Commission Balance
Best practices:
- Set a regular payment schedule (e.g., monthly)
- Pay commissions once they reach a threshold (e.g., $50+)
- Communicate payment schedules to creators upfront
- Keep detailed records of payments for tax purposes
Duplicate Orders in Usage History
If you see duplicate orders:
- Check if customer placed multiple orders with the same code (expected)
- Verify usage limits are working correctly
- Review order history to confirm legitimate transactions
Analytics and Reporting
Key Metrics to Track
Per Creator:
- Conversion rate (uses vs. audience size)
- Average order value
- Revenue per use
- Return on investment (commission paid vs. revenue generated)
Overall Program:
- Total revenue from creator codes
- Average commission rate across all codes
- Most profitable creators
- Commission as % of revenue
Performance Review
Monthly review checklist:
- Identify top-performing creators (highest revenue, most uses)
- Review low-performing codes (consider discontinuing or adjusting)
- Calculate ROI for each creator partnership
- Process commission payments
- Reach out to top creators with performance bonuses or higher rates
Related Features
- Coupons - Discount codes for customer promotions (can be combined with creator codes if enabled)
- Referrals - Customer referral program for organic growth
- Email Campaigns - Promote creator partnerships to your email list
- Analytics - Deep-dive into creator code performance and revenue tracking
Creator Codes transform your customers' favorite influencers into a sales force, driving traffic and revenue to your store while only paying for actual results. Start by partnering with a few trusted creators, test different commission rates, and scale your affiliate program as you identify top performers.