{"id":3355,"date":"2024-07-01T13:52:49","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T11:52:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/?p=3355"},"modified":"2026-07-28T13:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:53:33","slug":"customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Customers Referring Customers: Why an In-House Affiliate System Is the Answer to Rising Marketing Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone running an online shop today knows the dilemma: the products are right, the shop runs smoothly \u2013 but acquiring new customers gets more expensive every year. This article looks at why classic performance marketing is increasingly becoming a cost trap for shop owners, how an affiliate or partner program solves this problem, and how the&nbsp;<strong>PremsAffiliate plugin for Shopware 6<\/strong>&nbsp;makes it possible to build a fully-fledged partner program directly inside the shop in no time \u2013 with no network fees and no external dependencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#The_Problem_New_Customers_Keep_Getting_More_Expensive\" >The Problem: New Customers Keep Getting More Expensive<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Advertising_costs_rise_%E2%80%93_margins_dont\" >Advertising costs rise \u2013 margins don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Payment_is_made_up_front_%E2%80%93_the_merchant_carries_the_risk\" >Payment is made up front \u2013 the merchant carries the risk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Advertising_is_losing_credibility\" >Advertising is losing credibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Dependence_on_the_big_platforms\" >Dependence on the big platforms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#The_untapped_potential_the_shops_own_customers\" >The untapped potential: the shop&#8217;s own customers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#The_Solution_An_Affiliate_System_%E2%80%93_Marketing_That_Only_Costs_Money_on_Success\" >The Solution: An Affiliate System \u2013 Marketing That Only Costs Money on Success<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#What_is_an_affiliate_or_partner_program\" >What is an affiliate or partner program?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Why_this_solves_the_problems_described_above\" >Why this solves the problems described above<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Why_an_in-house_program_instead_of_an_affiliate_network\" >Why an in-house program instead of an affiliate network?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#PremsAffiliate_The_Complete_Partner_Program_for_Shopware_6\" >PremsAffiliate: The Complete Partner Program for Shopware 6<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Partner_acquisition_turning_customers_into_ambassadors\" >Partner acquisition: turning customers into ambassadors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Reliable_tracking_link_and_voucher_code\" >Reliable tracking: link and voucher code<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Flexible_commission_models_with_partner_groups\" >Flexible commission models with partner groups<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Commission_only_for_real_revenue_automatic_activation_and_protection_rules\" >Commission only for real revenue: automatic activation and protection rules<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Tailor-made_payouts_voucher_bonus_points_or_cash\" >Tailor-made payouts: voucher, bonus points or cash<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Transparency_for_partners_the_storefront_dashboard\" >Transparency for partners: the storefront dashboard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Full_control_in_the_admin\" >Full control in the admin<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Automated_communication_Flow_Builder_and_e-mail_templates\" >Automated communication: Flow Builder and e-mail templates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Cleanly_integrated_into_Shopware_6\" >Cleanly integrated into Shopware 6<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/customers-referring-customers-why-an-in-house-affiliate-system-is-the-answer-to-rising-marketing-costs\/#Conclusion_From_Cost_Factor_to_Growth_Engine\" >Conclusion: From Cost Factor to Growth Engine<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Problem_New_Customers_Keep_Getting_More_Expensive\"><\/span>The Problem: New Customers Keep Getting More Expensive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Advertising_costs_rise_%E2%80%93_margins_dont\"><\/span>Advertising costs rise \u2013 margins don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days when a few Google Ads campaigns could buy new customers cheaply are over. Click prices in competitive industries have been rising steadily for years, and on Meta, Google and Amazon an ever-growing number of merchants compete for the same audiences. The result: the&nbsp;<strong>customer acquisition cost (CAC)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 the money it takes to win a single new customer \u2013 eats up a substantial share of the first order&#8217;s margin in many shops. Quite often, the first order of a customer acquired through ads is actually a loss that only pays off through repeat purchases \u2013 if those ever happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Payment_is_made_up_front_%E2%80%93_the_merchant_carries_the_risk\"><\/span>Payment is made up front \u2013 the merchant carries the risk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fundamental problem of classic advertising:&nbsp;<strong>shop owners pay for the chance of getting a customer, not for the customer themselves.<\/strong>&nbsp;Every click costs money \u2013 regardless of whether it turns into a purchase, an abandoned cart or a return. The entrepreneurial risk lies entirely with the merchant. Especially smaller and mid-sized shops with limited budgets can hardly afford this kind of wastage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Advertising_is_losing_credibility\"><\/span>Advertising is losing credibility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On top of that comes a soft but weighty factor:&nbsp;<strong>trust.<\/strong>&nbsp;Consumers are tired of ads. Banners get blocked, ads get skipped, sponsored posts are viewed with suspicion. What demonstrably works instead is the&nbsp;<strong>personal recommendation<\/strong>: studies on referral marketing have shown for years that people trust recommendations from friends, acquaintances or credible content creators far more than any form of paid advertising. A recommendation doesn&#8217;t just deliver a click \u2013 it delivers a pre-qualified, purchase-ready visitor with a head start in trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dependence_on_the_big_platforms\"><\/span>Dependence on the big platforms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A shop that relies exclusively on Google and Meta for customer acquisition makes itself dependent: one algorithm update, one change to tracking policies (think cookie consent and iOS tracking restrictions) or simply a price increase \u2013 and the stream of customers dries up. Independent, platform-agnostic acquisition channels are more important for a shop&#8217;s resilience today than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_untapped_potential_the_shops_own_customers\"><\/span>The untapped potential: the shop&#8217;s own customers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And here lies the real irony: most shops already own their most valuable marketing resource \u2013&nbsp;<strong>their satisfied existing customers<\/strong>. People who know the products, use them and would recommend them. But without a system, without an incentive and without an easy way to do it, they rarely do. This is exactly the potential an affiliate system unlocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Solution_An_Affiliate_System_%E2%80%93_Marketing_That_Only_Costs_Money_on_Success\"><\/span>The Solution: An Affiliate System \u2013 Marketing That Only Costs Money on Success<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_an_affiliate_or_partner_program\"><\/span>What is an affiliate or partner program?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The principle is simple: customers, bloggers, influencers or business partners register as&nbsp;<strong>partners<\/strong>&nbsp;of the shop. Each partner receives a personal&nbsp;<strong>affiliate link<\/strong>&nbsp;(and optionally a personal voucher code) to share \u2013 among friends, on a blog, in social media profiles, in newsletters. When a visitor arrives through that link and places an order, the partner earns a&nbsp;<strong>commission<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 and the shop gains a new customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_this_solves_the_problems_described_above\"><\/span>Why this solves the problems described above<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Payment is only made for actual revenue.<\/strong>&nbsp;The fundamental difference to ads: the commission is only due once an order has actually been placed \u2013 and with the right rules, only once it has been paid and not returned. &#8220;Ad budget with wastage&#8221; turns into a&nbsp;<strong>variable, revenue-based sales commission<\/strong>. Acquisition costs become precisely predictable: the shop owner defines the commission rate and knows to the cent what a new customer costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Trust is earned instead of reach being bought.<\/strong>&nbsp;Every partner referral is referral marketing. The new customer doesn&#8217;t arrive via an anonymous ad but via a person they trust. Such customers convert better, return goods less often and frequently have a higher customer lifetime value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. An independent, owned channel is created.<\/strong>&nbsp;The partner network belongs to the shop. No platform algorithm can switch it off, no ad network price increase can devalue it. With every partner gained, organic reach grows \u2013 permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Existing customers become more loyal.<\/strong>&nbsp;A customer who collects commission as a partner has a double reason to come back: they shop themselves&nbsp;<em>and<\/em>&nbsp;earn from the shop. This becomes especially powerful when the commission can be redeemed as a voucher or bonus points in the shop \u2013 then the &#8220;marketing budget&#8221; even flows straight back into new revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_an_in-house_program_instead_of_an_affiliate_network\"><\/span>Why an in-house program instead of an affiliate network?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joining a large affiliate network would of course be an option. But that means: setup fees, monthly base costs, a network commission&nbsp;<em>on top of<\/em>&nbsp;the partner commission \u2013 and the customer relationship runs through third parties. A partner program integrated directly into the shop, on the other hand, has no ongoing network fees, keeps all data in-house (an advantage from a data protection perspective, too), and partners \u2013 often the shop&#8217;s own customers \u2013 are served directly in the familiar customer account. This is exactly where PremsAffiliate comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PremsAffiliate_The_Complete_Partner_Program_for_Shopware_6\"><\/span>PremsAffiliate: The Complete Partner Program for Shopware 6<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;<strong>PremsAffiliate plugin<\/strong>&nbsp;turns a Shopware 6 shop into a fully-fledged affiliate system based on the &#8220;customers referring customers&#8221; principle. Customers register as partners, refer new buyers through their personal link or voucher code and collect commission \u2013 which they can redeem as a&nbsp;<strong>voucher, bonus points or cash payout<\/strong>. The following sections show how the plugin&#8217;s features specifically address the problems described above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Partner_acquisition_turning_customers_into_ambassadors\"><\/span>Partner acquisition: turning customers into ambassadors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Partner registration is seamlessly integrated into the Shopware customer account. Customers find the &#8220;Partner program&#8221; menu item there and can apply in just a few clicks. The shop owner keeps full control over&nbsp;<em>who<\/em>&nbsp;is allowed to become a partner:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Approval workflow:<\/strong>\u00a0If desired, every new partner must be confirmed by the shop owner \u2013 including an optional\u00a0<strong>application text<\/strong>\u00a0in which the applicant describes how they intend to promote the shop. Alternatively, partners are activated automatically right away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quality criteria:<\/strong>\u00a0It is configurable that a customer may only become a partner after a certain\u00a0<strong>number of days since registration<\/strong>, above a defined\u00a0<strong>minimum turnover<\/strong>, or only as a member of specific\u00a0<strong>customer groups<\/strong>. This ensures that only genuine, active customers do the referring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Partner terms:<\/strong>\u00a0Optionally, every partner must accept the program&#8217;s terms and conditions \u2013 legally clean and transparent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Custom partner code:<\/strong>\u00a0Partners can choose their own affiliate code (e.g. their name or channel name) \u2013 this increases identification and makes links more personal. Later code changes can be allowed, prohibited or made subject to admin approval.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reliable_tracking_link_and_voucher_code\"><\/span>Reliable tracking: link and voucher code<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The heart of every affiliate system is the correct attribution of orders to partners. PremsAffiliate offers two paths for this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Personal affiliate link<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g.\u00a0<code>shop.com\/?partner=max123<\/code>) with a configurable link parameter and adjustable\u00a0<strong>cookie lifetime<\/strong>\u00a0(365 days by default). When a visitor arrives via the link, the partner attribution persists for the entire cookie lifetime \u2013 even if the purchase only happens weeks later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Personal partner voucher:<\/strong>\u00a0In addition, every partner can receive their own\u00a0<strong>voucher code<\/strong>\u00a0(percentage or absolute, with usage limits and combination rules). This is invaluable for channels where links don&#8217;t work well \u2013 podcasts, print, Instagram stories, personal conversations. The new customer gets a discount, the partner gets the attribution: a win-win mechanic that also boosts conversion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Added to this are finely adjustable tracking rules that prevent disputes and abuse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>New-customer mode:<\/strong>\u00a0If desired, only customers who register a new account during their visit are attributed \u2013 existing customers remain unaffected. Perfect when the program is meant to focus specifically on new customer acquisition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Poaching protection:<\/strong>\u00a0It is configurable whether partners may &#8220;poach&#8221; customers from each other or whether the initial attribution remains protected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GDPR-aware:<\/strong>\u00a0The affiliate cookie is cleanly integrated into the Shopware cookie consent \u2013 either as a technically required or as an optional cookie.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Flexible_commission_models_with_partner_groups\"><\/span>Flexible commission models with partner groups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every partner is the same \u2013 a loyal regular customer, a high-reach blogger and a B2B intermediary need different conditions. PremsAffiliate solves this with&nbsp;<strong>partner groups<\/strong>, where the following can be defined per group:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Commission type and amount:<\/strong>\u00a0percentage of the order value or an absolute amount per order, including a\u00a0<strong>commission cap<\/strong>\u00a0per order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Extended commission per product group:<\/strong>\u00a0higher commissions for high-margin assortments, lower ones for low-margin categories \u2013 keeping the program profitable across the board.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limitation to the first n orders<\/strong>\u00a0of a referred customer \u2013 ideal when only new customer acquisition should be commissioned, not the entire lifetime revenue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Custom landing page and campaign code<\/strong>\u00a0per group: partner links can lead to a specific landing page, and the campaign code allows clean evaluation of campaigns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dedicated marketing page via Shopping Experiences:<\/strong>\u00a0Each partner group can be assigned a page designed with the Shopware CMS containing promotional material, banners and copy \u2013 partners find it directly in their account area under &#8220;Marketing&#8221;. Partners are professionally equipped without promotional material having to be sent out by e-mail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advisor display:<\/strong>\u00a0If desired, the referring partner is shown to the referred customer as their personal contact \u2013 on the registration page, in the customer account or in checkout. A strong feature for sales and consultant structures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Commission_only_for_real_revenue_automatic_activation_and_protection_rules\"><\/span>Commission only for real revenue: automatic activation and protection rules<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where the decisive cost advantage over classic advertising shows. The shop owner determines exactly&nbsp;<strong>when<\/strong>&nbsp;a commission is actually credited:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Activation by order status:<\/strong>\u00a0immediately after the order, only when &#8220;paid&#8221;, when &#8220;shipped&#8221; or when &#8220;completed&#8221; \u2013 or always manually via the admin module.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time-based activation:<\/strong>\u00a0Alternatively or additionally (AND\/OR condition), the commission can be activated automatically\u00a0<strong>n days after the order<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 for example, after the withdrawal period has expired. A scheduled task handles this fully automatically in the background.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automatic commission deduction:<\/strong>\u00a0If an order is\u00a0<strong>cancelled<\/strong>\u00a0or the delivery is marked as\u00a0<strong>returned or partially returned<\/strong>, the previously credited commission can be deducted again automatically.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bottom line:&nbsp;<strong>commission is only paid for revenue that actually reaches the shop.<\/strong>&nbsp;The return and cancellation risk, which the merchant always carries with paid advertising, is covered by the system here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tailor-made_payouts_voucher_bonus_points_or_cash\"><\/span>Tailor-made payouts: voucher, bonus points or cash<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How partners redeem their commission is controlled per partner group \u2013 and each variant has its own strategic charm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>As a voucher:<\/strong>\u00a0The commission is converted into an individual voucher code for the partner&#8217;s own purchases (with a configurable code pattern and minimum amounts per voucher tier). The clever part: the &#8220;payout&#8221; flows straight back into the shop as new revenue \u2013 marketing hardly gets cheaper than that.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>As bonus points:<\/strong>\u00a0Combined with a bonus point system, the commission is credited to the points account using a configurable conversion factor (points per euro, including rounding rules).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>As a cash payout:<\/strong>\u00a0For professional partners, there is the classic payout. Partners store their\u00a0<strong>bank details<\/strong>\u00a0in the customer account, request a payout once a defined minimum commission is reached, and the shop owner processes it in the admin \u2013 including a\u00a0<strong>PDF receipt<\/strong>\u00a0(optionally with a custom uploaded document) and automatic notification.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transparency_for_partners_the_storefront_dashboard\"><\/span>Transparency for partners: the storefront dashboard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A partner program thrives on motivated partners \u2013 and motivation needs transparency. Every partner sees in their account area:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>their\u00a0<strong>partner link<\/strong>\u00a0with a copy button and, where applicable, their personal voucher code,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>statistics<\/strong>\u00a0on referred customers, their orders, and the commission earned in the current month and year,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0<strong>last 10 referred orders<\/strong>\u00a0with their approval status,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>their current\u00a0<strong>commission balance<\/strong>\u00a0with all redemption options,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0<strong>history of all payouts<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Partners know at all times what their recommendations achieve \u2013 without a single support request reaching the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Full_control_in_the_admin\"><\/span>Full control in the admin<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the operator, the admin module bundles everything in one place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a\u00a0<strong>dashboard with statistics<\/strong>\u00a0per sales channel and time period (earned, spent and pending commissions) plus a\u00a0<strong>top 5 partners overview<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>waiting lists<\/strong>\u00a0for partner applications and code change requests with one-click approve\/decline,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>partner management<\/strong>\u00a0showing turnover, referred orders and balance per partner,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>an\u00a0<strong>order overview<\/strong>\u00a0of all affiliate orders with manual commission approval,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>complete\u00a0<strong>payout management<\/strong>\u00a0with filters, bank data display and PDF export.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Automated_communication_Flow_Builder_and_e-mail_templates\"><\/span>Automated communication: Flow Builder and e-mail templates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PremsAffiliate ships with ready-made&nbsp;<strong>e-mail templates<\/strong>&nbsp;(German and English) and integrates natively with the&nbsp;<strong>Shopware Flow Builder<\/strong>. Events such as&nbsp;<em>new partner application<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>partner approved\/declined<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>new payout request<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>payout approved<\/em>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<em>code change requested\/approved\/declined<\/em>&nbsp;are available as flow triggers. The matching flows are created directly during installation and can be adjusted, extended or enriched with custom actions at any time. Admin and partners stay informed automatically \u2013 without manually written e-mails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cleanly_integrated_into_Shopware_6\"><\/span>Cleanly integrated into Shopware 6<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technically, the plugin fits seamlessly into Shopware 6.7: it can be&nbsp;<strong>activated per sales channel<\/strong>, is&nbsp;<strong>headless-compatible<\/strong>&nbsp;(all functions are available via routes\/API \u2013 important for PWA and composable commerce setups), uses the standard Shopware mechanisms for promotions, CMS, flows and cookie consent, and is extensible for custom adjustments via template blocks and events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_From_Cost_Factor_to_Growth_Engine\"><\/span>Conclusion: From Cost Factor to Growth Engine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rising ad prices, wastage, platform dependence and ad-weary consumers \u2013 acquiring new customers through classic channels is becoming increasingly difficult for shop owners. An affiliate system reverses the logic:&nbsp;<strong>payment happens only on success, referrals are powered by trust, and the channel belongs to the shop itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With PremsAffiliate, a Shopware 6 shop brings this model into its own system without network fees and without external service providers: from controlled partner registration, reliable link and voucher tracking, flexible commission models with partner groups and automatic protection rules for cancellations and returns, all the way to payouts as vouchers, bonus points or cash \u2013 accompanied by statistics for partners and operators and automated communication via the Flow Builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result: predictable acquisition costs, motivated brand ambassadors from within the shop&#8217;s own customer base, and a marketing channel that grows by itself with every satisfied customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interested in an in-house partner program?<\/strong>\u00a0The PremsAffiliate plugin is available in the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.shopware.com\/en\/prems39666895348m\/affiliate-partner-program.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/store.shopware.com\/en\/prems39666895348m\/affiliate-partner-program.html\">Shopware Store<\/a>. For questions about setup or individual customizations, the PremSoft team is happy to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anyone running an online shop today knows the dilemma: the products are right, the shop runs smoothly \u2013 but acquiring new customers gets more expensive every year. This article looks at why classic performance marketing is increasingly becoming a cost trap for shop owners, how an affiliate or partner program solves this problem, and how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3355"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3357,"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3355\/revisions\/3357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/premsoft.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}