? Do you want a clear, step-by-step guide that shows you exactly how to set up and run an affiliate program inside LearnWorlds so you can recruit partners, track referrals, and pay commissions accurately?

Table of Contents

How To Set Up Affiliate Programs In LearnWorlds

This guide explains how to create, configure, test, manage, and scale an affiliate program in LearnWorlds. You’ll get practical steps, configuration tips, sample templates, troubleshooting guidance, and best practices to run a reliable affiliate channel that drives enrollments and revenue.

Why run an affiliate program for your LearnWorlds school?

An affiliate program turns customers, influencers, and partners into sales channels by rewarding them for driving purchases. You benefit from extended reach, performance-based marketing, and lower upfront acquisition costs. Running the program inside LearnWorlds centralizes tracking and reporting with your course catalog, simplifying administration and attribution.

What the LearnWorlds affiliate features let you do

LearnWorlds includes built-in affiliate functionality that lets you register affiliates, generate unique referral links, track conversions, set commission rules, and export reports for payouts. You can assign commissions by product and manage who receives credit for sales. If you need advanced multi-tier sub-affiliate structures or complex automation, you can augment LearnWorlds with specialized third-party affiliate platforms.

Before you begin: prerequisites and planning

Prepare the legal, financial, and product-side details before enabling the affiliate program. Confirm your LearnWorlds plan supports the affiliate module or consult LearnWorlds support for plan-specific features. Choose commission models, define payout frequency and thresholds, and prepare legal terms that govern affiliate behavior and payment.

Key items to prepare:

Confirm plan access and account permissions.
Decide commission structure: percentage, fixed amount, or mixed.
Select cookie duration for tracking (days).
Draft affiliate terms and a payment policy.
Prepare creatives (banners, headlines, email copy).
Plan onboarding and reporting workflows.

Step 1 — Enable the affiliate program in your LearnWorlds admin

You must enable the affiliate area in your LearnWorlds admin panel so affiliate registration, links, and tracking become available. The following steps summarize the typical process; if the interface changes, the equivalent settings will be under Commerce or Growth > Affiliate settings.

Log in to your LearnWorlds admin dashboard.
Navigate to Settings or Growth, then locate Affiliate or Affiliate Program.
Toggle to enable the program; set whether affiliates require manual approval or are auto-approved.
Set your default currency and general behavior (e.g., allow multiple signups, require email verification).
Save changes.

You should see an affiliate center or dashboard appear for affiliates once enabled. If you don’t, contact LearnWorlds support to confirm the feature is activated for your plan.

Step 2 — Configure general affiliate settings

After enabling the program, set up the global behaviors that govern all affiliate links and accounts. These settings affect registration, attribution, and payout calculation.

Important settings to configure:

Approval method: auto-approve vs manual review of new affiliates.
Cookie duration: how long after a click a sale will be attributed to the affiliate (common choices: 30, 60, 90 days).
Commission default: global default either percent or flat amount.
Tracking preferences: whether coupon use or UTM parameters also map to affiliates.
Terms acceptance: require affiliates to agree to your affiliate terms during signup.

Set cookie duration based on your sales cycle. For short decision purchases, 30 days may be sufficient; for longer cycles, consider 60–90 days. Be explicit in your terms about refund and chargeback handling because these directly affect net commission amounts.

Step 3 — Define commission rules by product and type

You’ll usually need different commission rates for different products or courses. LearnWorlds allows assignment of commission rates at product level or you can use your global default. Decide whether to use percentage-based or fixed-amount commissions.

Examples of commission strategies:

Evergreen course A: 30% commission.
Certification course B (low margin): 10% commission.
Membership subscription: recurring 20% for the first X months.
One-off high-ticket course: fixed $200 per sale.

Table: Example commission rule types

Commission type	Best for	Typical use case
Percentage (e.g., 30%)	Courses with consistent margins	Most digital courses and bundles
Fixed amount (e.g., $50)	High-priced, variable-margin items	Paid certifications where revenue per sale is unpredictable
Recurring percentage	Subscription products	Memberships where affiliates earn for initial months
Tiered commission	Volume incentives	Higher rates after X referrals/month

When you configure commissions:

Assign product-level rates where necessary.
Document overrides so you don’t lose track of which product uses which rate.
If LearnWorlds doesn’t natively support recurring affiliate credits for subscriptions, plan to track recurring payments and manage those payouts manually or via integration.

Step 4 — Create the affiliate signup page and registration flow

You must give potential affiliates a simple way to register. The signup flow should collect essential details and require acceptance of your affiliate terms.

Registration fields to include:

Full name
Email (verify on signup)
Website or social profile URL
Preferred payment method and payout details (or require these before payout)
Tax forms or opt-in to provide them later (W-9/W-8BEN)
Agreement to affiliate terms and promo policy

Provide clear next steps after signup:

If manual approval is required, ship an email confirming receipt and estimated review timeline.
If auto-approval is allowed, provide immediate access and the affiliate dashboard link with starter materials.

Sample onboarding checklist for affiliates:

Verify account email
Read and agree to affiliate terms
Access affiliate dashboard
Retrieve referral link & coupon
Download creatives and swipe copy
Watch onboarding video or training material

Step 5 — Create and distribute affiliate links and coupon codes

Affiliates need links and optional coupon codes to promote your courses. LearnWorlds typically generates unique referral links per affiliate that append a tracking ID or parameter to the landing page URL. You can also supply coupon codes for affiliates that automatically apply discounts and credit the affiliate.

Link and coupon best practices:

Use consistent link format; explain UTM usage for campaigns.
Provide unique coupon codes per affiliate for offline promotions.
Clarify how coupon + affiliate link interactions are prioritized (coupon vs link attribution).
Offer recommended landing pages for different promotional angles (e.g., course page, webinar registration, free trial).

UTM example template affiliates can use:

Source=affiliate
Medium=affiliate
Campaign=[affiliate-name]-[promotion]

Complete example: https://your-school.learnworlds.com/some-course?aff=AFFCODE&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=partner-johnsmith

Step 6 — Provide creatives, swipe copy, and promotion guidelines

Make affiliates’ lives easier by delivering assets that convert and reduce friction. Supply images, banners, landing pages, email templates, and social post examples. Provide a style guide that outlines brand rules and legal disclosure requirements.

Contents of an affiliate asset pack:

1200×628 hero image and 600×315 smaller banner.
Short headlines and long-form email template.
Example ad copy for Facebook, LinkedIn, and native placements.
Landing page recommendations and funnels.
Approved messaging and disclaimers.
Example video scripts for YouTube/TikTok.

Provide clear rules on prohibited tactics (spam, trademark bidding, false claims) and instructions for required public disclosure (e.g., “I may earn a commission if you buy using my link”).

How To Set Up Affiliate Programs In LearnWorlds

Step 7 — Approve, onboard, and communicate with affiliates

Set an efficient approval and onboarding workflow to convert signups into active promoters. A consistent onboarding sequence improves conversion rates from the affiliate cohort.

Onboarding steps:

Approve affiliate (automatic or manual).
Send welcome pack with links, coupon, dashboard URL, and resources.
Use an email sequence over 7–14 days to educate: how to use links, top-performing creatives, and tips for promotion.
Host a webinar or private group for top partners.

Sample welcome email subject and body (shortened):

Subject: Your Affiliate Account Is Ready — Get Started
Body: Provide referral link, login instructions, most effective creatives, top recommendations for promotion, and your contact for questions.

Use a CRM or email automation to track affiliate engagement, send milestone rewards, and handle low-performing accounts.

Step 8 — Track conversions, revenue, and reporting

Reliable reporting is essential for trust. Use LearnWorlds affiliate reports to monitor clicks, conversions, revenue, and commission due. Regularly export reports and reconcile them with your payment system.

Key metrics to monitor:

Clicks: number of affiliate link clicks.
Conversions: purchases attributed to each affiliate.
Conversion rate: conversions divided by clicks.
Revenue: gross sales attributed.
Commission due: computed based on rules minus refunds/chargebacks.
Refunds & chargebacks: adjust commissions accordingly.

Table: Key reporting columns to include in your export

Column	Meaning
Affiliate ID	Unique identifier for affiliate
Clicks	Number of link clicks
Orders	Number of attributed purchases
Revenue	Gross purchase amount
Commission Rate	% or fixed amount applied
Commission Due	Amount owed before adjustments
Refunds	Returns that affect net commission
Net Commission	Commission after refunds/charges
Payout Status	Paid / Pending / Canceled

Schedule regular reconciliation: weekly for active programs, monthly for small programs. Retain an audit trail with time-stamped exports.

Step 9 — Process payouts, tax, and compliance

LearnWorlds will compute commissions but typically does not directly disburse funds to affiliates. You’ll need to export commission reports, confirm amounts, and pay affiliates via PayPal, bank transfer, Wise, or payout services. Establish a consistent payout schedule and threshold.

Payout workflow:

Define a payout threshold (e.g., $50).
Determine payout frequency (monthly, bi-weekly).
Export commissions and mark rows with payout amounts.
Obtain W-9 or W-8BEN for affiliates if required for tax compliance (collect before first payout).
Pay affiliates via your chosen service and mark payouts as paid in LearnWorlds if the UI allows, or maintain status in your accounting system.

Table: Payout methods — pros and cons

Method	Pros	Cons
PayPal	Fast & familiar	Fees; currency conversion costs
Bank transfer (ACH/SEPA)	Lower cost for large amounts	Longer processing time; manual setup
Wise/TransferWise	Low FX fees	Requires recipient account setup
Payout services (Mass-pay providers)	Automated large-scale payouts	Integration, fees, and verification required

Ensure you communicate payout timing and any hold periods for refunds (e.g., hold commission for X days to cover potential refunds).

Step 10 — Test the affiliate flow end-to-end

Verify everything before you launch widely. Test both the affiliate signup and tracking for an actual purchase.

Testing checklist:

Create a test affiliate account.
Use the affiliate link to click through and make a purchase (or use sandbox/test payment if available).
Confirm the sale appears in affiliate reports.
Test coupon + affiliate combination and see which takes precedence.
Verify cookie duration behavior across devices and browsers.
Test refund handling and ensure commissions are reduced for refunded orders.

Document successful test scenarios and any discrepancies for support follow-up.

Common issues and troubleshooting

Even with care, problems occur. Here are the common issues and how to address them.

Affiliate link not attributing sales:
- Confirm the affiliate ID parameter in the URL is correct.
- Test in an incognito window to eliminate cache/cookie interference.
- Ensure the cookie duration didn’t expire between click and purchase.
Commission calculated incorrectly:
- Check product-level overrides that might supersede the global rate.
- Confirm whether coupons or promotions affect commissionable revenue.
Duplicate attribution or conflicting UTM and coupon:
- Define attribution priority in your terms (e.g., “first click takes precedence” or “coupon supersedes link”).
- Use unique coupon codes per affiliate if precise tracking is essential.
Refunds not reducing paid commissions:
- Implement a payback policy where future commissions can be offset, or require receivables from affiliates for refunds.
- Maintain a rolling reserve for potential chargebacks.

If problems persist, gather export CSVs, test scenarios with timestamps, and contact LearnWorlds support with clear reproduction steps.

Best practices to maximize your affiliate program performance

Follow these practical tips to increase affiliate engagement and revenue:

Keep commissions compelling enough to motivate your partners. Typical ranges for digital courses fall between 20–50% depending on price and margin.
Provide regular creative updates and high-conversion landing pages.
Communicate performance with affiliates; a monthly report motivates better performance.
Reward top performers with bonuses or exclusive offers to encourage loyalty.
Offer short-term promotions where affiliates can earn higher commissions; use these to boost activity.
Enforce compliance: require proper disclosures and forbid banned tactics to protect brand reputation.
Track cohort performance and iterate on product pages, ad creatives, and onboarding materials.

Scaling and advanced options

If your affiliate program grows, you’ll likely need more automation and fraud prevention.

Options to scale:

Use Zapier or native integrations to automate onboarding, create CRM records, and trigger welcome sequences.
Integrate a third-party affiliate platform for advanced features like multi-tier programs, deep link creation, and split commissions.
Build partner tiers with graduated commissions and benefits for higher performers.
Use analytics to identify top-performing partners and offer exclusive creative tests.

Consider an affiliate-specific platform when you need:

Multi-currency automated payouts.
Sophisticated attribution windows and multi-touch models.
Advanced fraud detection and anti-cheating measures.

Compliance and legal considerations

Protect your business and comply with local laws and advertising policies.

Essential compliance steps:

Create clear affiliate terms that specify prohibited activity, commission structure, grounds for termination, and dispute resolution.
Require FTC disclosure: affiliates must disclose their relationships in posts that include paid links or promotions.
Collect required tax documentation (W-9 for U.S. payees or W-8BEN for foreign payees) before payment.
Comply with GDPR/CCPA where applicable: obtain consent for tracking and allow affiliates/customers to exercise data rights.

Consult legal counsel to ensure your affiliate terms match your business model and applicable regulations.

FAQ

What payout frequency should I choose?

Choose what your cash flow supports. Monthly is standard for many programs; smaller programs often use quarterly payouts until affiliates reach a threshold.

Can I pay affiliates for recurring subscription payments?

LearnWorlds may calculate recurring commissions depending on your setup. If native recurring affiliate credit isn’t available, track recurring revenue and pay manually or integrate with an external service.

How should I handle affiliates who generate refunds?

Define refund and chargeback policies in your affiliate agreement. You can withhold commissions until refund windows elapse or recover paid commissions via adjustments to future payouts.

What if an affiliate promotes in disallowed places (e.g., trademark bidding)?

Enforce your terms: issue warnings, suspend or terminate accounts, and require removal of offending ads. Document infractions.

Checklist — Launch-ready affiliate program

Use this quick checklist to confirm readiness:

Item	Status
Affiliate feature enabled in LearnWorlds	☐
Commission structure defined (global & per-product)	☐
Affiliate terms & legal reviewed	☐
Affiliate signup page created	☐
Creative asset pack prepared	☐
Onboarding emails & automation in place	☐
Payout process and tax collection method defined	☐
Test transactions executed and verified	☐
Reporting & reconciliation process documented	☐

Sample affiliate terms extracts (short)

Include short, clear clauses in your affiliate agreement to avoid disputes. These are examples; adapt them with legal counsel.

Commission: “Commission equals X% of net sale price after discounts, taxes, and refunds. Net sale excludes payment fees and chargebacks.”
Payment: “Commissions are paid monthly to affiliates with a minimum balance of $Y. Payments are made within Z days of month-end via [PayPal/Wire].”
Termination: “The company may suspend or terminate an affiliate at any time for breach of these terms, fraud, or prohibited marketing activities.”
Disclosure: “Affiliates must disclose material connections to purchasers in accordance with applicable law (e.g., ‘I may earn a commission if you purchase using this link’).”

Conclusion

By enabling and configuring LearnWorlds’ affiliate capabilities, you can recruit partners to amplify your marketing with performance-based rewards. Plan your commission structure, provide excellent onboarding and promotional assets, test thoroughly, and maintain clear reporting and payment processes. As the program grows, iterate on creatives and consider integrating third-party tools for advanced features and automated payouts. With clear policies and consistent communication, your affiliate program can become one of your most scalable marketing channels.

If you need templates for welcome emails, affiliate agreements, or a sample report CSV structure, tell me which one you want and I’ll provide a ready-to-use version.