Understanding Permanent Customer Connection
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Permanent Customer Connection feature. This powerful tool helps you reward affiliates for long-term customer loyalty by automatically tracking all future purchases from a referred customer back to the original affiliate.
How Permanent Customer Connection Works
When this feature is enabled for an affiliate group, it changes how commissions are tracked after an initial referral.
An affiliate from the enabled group refers a new customer to your store using their affiliate link or discount code.
The customer makes their first purchase, and the commission is tracked as usual.
Our system then creates a permanent connection between that customer and the referring affiliate.
Once this connection is established, the affiliate will automatically earn a commission on all future orders made by that customer, even if the customer no longer uses the affiliate's link or discount code for their purchases. This ensures affiliates are rewarded for the full lifetime value they bring to your store.
Important Note on Discounts
While the commission tracking is automated for all future orders, it is important to note that discounts are not automatically applied. If a customer is permanently connected to an affiliate, they will still need to use the affiliate's specific discount code during checkout to receive a discount on any future orders. The commission will be tracked regardless, but the discount is not carried over automatically.
Configuring the Connection Duration
You have full control over the duration of this permanent connection. This allows you to choose between a true lifetime connection or a connection that lasts for a specific period.
Permanent (Lifetime) Connection: By default, the customer connection is permanent. If you leave the duration limit disabled, the affiliate will be credited for the customer's purchases for as long as they are a customer.
Time-Limited Connection: You can choose to "Enable a duration limit" for the connection. This allows you to set a specific number of days that the connection will remain active, up to a maximum of 365 days. For example, if you set a limit of 90 days, the affiliate will receive commissions on all orders from that customer for 90 days following the initial referral. After 90 days, the connection expires.
How to Set Up Permanent Customer Connection
To enable and configure this feature for a specific affiliate group, please follow these steps:
Navigate to your main dashboard and find the section where you manage your affiliate Groups.
Select the specific affiliate group you wish to configure or create a new one.
Within the group's settings, locate the "Permanent customer connection" option and enable it.
Once enabled, you will see the option to "Enable duration limit."
To keep the connection permanent, leave this option disabled.
Enable this option and enter the desired number of days (up to 365).
Save your changes to the affiliate group.
All affiliates within that group will now have the Permanent Customer Connection rules applied to their new referrals.