How Permanent Customer Connection Works
When enabled, the system "locks" a referred customer to the original affiliate. This ensures the affiliate is fairly compensated for the lifetime value of that customer.
The Initial Referral: An affiliate refers a new customer who completes their first purchase using a referral link or discount code.
The Connection: Simple Affiliate automatically links that customer’s email address to the affiliate’s profile.
Future Orders: For all subsequent orders, the affiliate earns a commission automatically—even if the customer does not use a link or discount code again.
Important Note on Discounts: While the commission is automated for future orders, the discount is not. If the customer wants a discount on their second or third order, they must still manually enter the affiliate's code at checkout.
How to enable Permanent Customer Connection
This feature is managed at the Group level, allowing you to offer it as a perk for your "VIP" or "Top Tier" affiliates.
Navigate to the Groups section in Simple Affiliate.
Select the specific group you wish to configure (or create a new one).
Locate the "Permanent customer connection" toggle and switch it to Enabled.
Optional: Configuring a connection duration. To set a time limit, toggle "Enable duration limit" and enter the number of days (1–365). To keep it a lifetime connection, leave this toggle off.
Permanent (Lifetime): By default, the connection is set to lifetime. The affiliate will earn on that customer's orders indefinitely as long as both remain in your program.
Time-Limited: You can "Enable a duration limit" to cap the earning window. You can set this for any period up to 365 days. For example, a 90-day limit means the affiliate only earns on orders placed within the first 3 months of that customer's initial purchase.
Click Save.
How to manually create a customer connection
Using admin blocks, you can now manually connect and disconnect permanent customer connections directly from your Shopify admin.
Navigate to the Customers section in your Shopify admin.
Select the specific customer you wish to connect or disconnect.
Locate the "Blocks" section and click the "+Block" button. Then click "Connect Affiliate."
Search for the affiliate by name or email, click the correct row (or hit enter), and then click the Save button.
You'll see an "Affiliate connected" message once successfully saved.
Pin the Block: Be sure to click the pin icon (thumbtack) in the top-right corner of the block. If you do not pin it, the block will stay hidden, and you will need to manually open it every time you visit the product page.
How to manually disconnect a customer connection
There are times when you may need to manually end a permanent customer connection—whether to correct a tracking error or to move a customer to a different affiliate. You can manage these disconnections either directly within your Shopify Admin or from the affiliate’s profile in Simple Affiliate.
Option A: Disconnect from the Shopify Admin
This method is fastest if you are already reviewing a specific customer's profile in your Shopify Admin.
Navigate to the Customer: From your Shopify Admin, go to the Customers section and select the specific customer you wish to disconnect.
Locate the Admin Block: Scroll to the Blocks section. Find the Affiliate Attribution block and click the Disconnect button.
Verify: Once successfully removed, you will see an "Affiliate disconnected" message within the block.
Option B: Disconnect from Simple Affiliate
Use this method if you are reviewing a specific affiliate's performance and want to manage their entire connected customer list.
Navigate to the Affiliate Profile: From your Simple Affiliate dashboard, go to the Affiliates section and select the specific affiliate.
Locate the Connected Customers Table: Scroll down until you see it.
Remove the Connection: Click the red delete icon at the end of the row for the customer you wish to disconnect.
Important Rules to Remember
Email-Based Tracking: The connection is tied to the customer's email address. If the customer checks out using a different email, the system will not recognize the connection.
Group Specific: This setting only applies to affiliates within the specific group where it is enabled. If you move an affiliate to a group without this feature, new connections will stop being formed.
Non-Retroactive: Enabling this feature will not "back-fill" connections for past customers. It only begins creating permanent links for referrals that happen after the setting is turned on.
Affiliate Dashboard: The connected customer table is displayed by default. To hide the table, go to Settings > Dashboard and select the "Hide" option.
Hide the Connected Customers Table: Merchants can completely hide the Connected Customers table from affiliates if they prefer not to share any data. To do this, navigate to Settings > Dashboard and turn off the Connected Customers table for affiliates.
Adjust Data Exposure: While the default setting anonymizes customer data, merchants can choose to expose more detailed information if necessary. This can also be configured in the Settings > Dashboard section.
Default Privacy: To protect your customers, affiliates cannot see full names or emails by default. They will only see customer initials, the connection date, total order count, and total commission earned. If you choose to enable the Privacy toggle, you will be asked to confirm that you are authorized to share this data.
Anonymized Data: Affiliates can view initials instead of full names, dates of transactions, order details, and commission amounts. Sensitive customer information such as names, emails, phone numbers, addresses, order history, or tags is not visible to affiliates by default.
⚠️ We strongly recommend reviewing your Privacy Policy and Terms of Service before sharing customer contact information with affiliates. Ensure you have the necessary consent in place to comply with your local privacy regulations.
Configuring Data Privacy
Merchants can customize the level of data exposure for affiliates. By default, customer data is anonymized, but merchants can adjust these settings in Settings > Dashboard. Options include hiding the Connected Customers table entirely or exposing more detailed information if necessary.
What Happens Next?
Your affiliates can see their Connected Customers table directly in their Affiliate Dashboard. This is a strong motivator, as they can see their "passive income" potential growing with every new customer they bring to your store.
