Opting in to the affiliate program
The opt-in flow, the terms you accept, what changes for your shop the moment you opt in, and how to step out of it later.
Opting in takes 5 minutes
The opt-in is just a switch — you're not committing to do anything specific. Once you're in, you can submit affiliate products at your own pace.
Before you opt in
A short checklist to confirm you're ready:
- [ ] You're a verified seller (the affiliate program is verified-only).
- [ ] Your shop has had at least one completed order (we verify that you can actually fulfill).
- [ ] You have no open disputes (opt-out also requires this; in general the program assumes a healthy shop).
- [ ] You have at least one product worth submitting (otherwise opt-in is pointless until you do).
- [ ] You understand the commission model — read Setting commission rates if you haven't.
If all five are green, opt in. Otherwise, fix the gaps first.
The opt-in flow
Step 1 — Open the affiliate settings
Seller Hub → Edit → Affiliate program.
You see a screen explaining what the program is (similar to the overview guide) and the Opt In button.
Step 2 — Read the terms
A short terms-of-participation document appears. Key points:
- You agree to honor any affiliate commissions earned on sales driven by creators while you're opted in.
- You agree to a 30-day lock window on existing approved listings if you opt out later.
- You agree that admin can remove your products from the program for policy violations.
- You agree to the commission rate range (2-30%) and to honor any pending approved rate changes.
The full terms are linked. Read or skim, but the bullets above are the substance.
Step 3 — Set your default commission rate
A field at the bottom of the opt-in screen asks for a default commission percentage.
This is the rate that gets pre-filled on every product you submit to the catalog. You can override per product, but the default is the starting point.
Most sellers set this between 8% and 15%. Some go higher (20%+) to incentivize creators on a new program; some stay lower (5%) on thin-margin items.
If you're not sure, start at 10% — a middle-of-the-road number that works for most categories. You can change the default anytime.
Step 4 — Tap "Opt In"
That's it. Your shop is now in the program.
What changes the moment you opt in
On your shop
- A small "Affiliate seller" badge appears on your shop page.
- You can now submit products with the "Affiliate-list" option (vs the self-listed option that already exists for verified sellers).
- The Affiliate analytics tab unlocks in your Insights.
What does NOT change
- No products are auto-enrolled in the program. You have to submit them.
- No existing self-listed products are converted.
- No fees are charged. The affiliate program is included in your verification subscription.
- Your shop's basic catalog and shop-page sales continue exactly as before.
What "opting in" means versus "submitting products"
These are two separate things.
- Opting in turns on your ability to submit products to the affiliate program.
- Submitting products is the per-product action that actually puts items in front of creators.
So opting in is the prerequisite — but it doesn't do anything visible to creators or buyers until you submit at least one product.
Submitting your first products
After opting in, your next move is to submit 2-3 products to the program to test the workflow. See Submitting products for the form and review process.
Pick products that are:
- Visually strong — good photos, popular on your shop.
- Mid-priced (30,000-200,000 UGX range works best for first attempts).
- In stock with healthy buffer (creator traffic spikes can be sudden).
- Already proving demand on your shop (recently selling well).
Start with 2-3, see what gets approved and how creators react, then expand from there.
What to do AFTER opt-in
A few moves that pay off:
1. Set your shop bio to mention affiliate
A line in your bio: "Affiliate program open — creators welcome to promote." Signals to scouting creators that you're approachable.
2. Pick your top 3 products to submit
See the criteria above. Submit them through the catalog flow.
3. Watch the review queue
Submissions go to admin for review (1-3 days). You'll get notifications when each is approved, requires changes, or rejected. Be ready to revise quickly if asked.
4. Pay attention to your commission insights
After your first creator-driven sales come in, check Affiliate analytics to see who promoted what. This is gold for understanding who your champions are.
Opt-out — how to leave the program
You can opt out anytime. Seller Hub → Edit → Affiliate program → Opt out.
The opt-out has consequences (the 30-day lock window on approved listings, etc.). Read Opting out before you do this so you're not surprised.
For most sellers, opting out is rare. The program either fits your business (and you stay) or you never opted in (and don't have to).
Common questions
Can I opt in, submit products, and opt out the same day?
Technically yes, but it would be pointless — your products would have no time to go through review, attract creators, or generate sales. The opt-out also doesn't reverse the lock window if any products got approved during the window.
Treat opt-in as a serious commitment for at least 1-2 months.
Can I opt in if my shop has been suspended in the past?
Depends on the suspension reason. Recent suspensions (within 90 days) usually block opt-in. Older suspensions don't. Admin can review case-by-case if you ask.
Can I opt in for multiple shops if I own multiple?
Each shop opts in separately. Multi-shop owners (rare) would opt each one in. But most accounts have only one shop.
If I opt in and never submit any products, am I incurring any cost?
No. Opt-in by itself does nothing. Submission is the action that unlocks creator promotion. An opted-in shop with zero submitted products is in the same state as a non-opted-in shop, just with the badge visible.
Can creators message me directly after I opt in?
Creators can see your shop page including the WhatsApp button. They might message you asking about specific products, sample requests, or commission rates. Many sellers respond to these — it's how creator relationships form.
You're not required to respond, but engaged sellers often see much better creator coverage than passive ones.
What if I opt in but only want certain products visible to creators?
Submit only the products you want creators promoting. Don't submit the ones you want to keep just for your own shop. The program is opt-in per product, not all-or-nothing.
Will my existing self-listed products auto-convert to affiliate?
No. They stay self-listed unless you explicitly convert them. To convert: open the product → Edit → toggle to Affiliate-list → re-submit for review.
What's next
- Submitting products — the per-product flow after opting in.
- Setting commission rates — what to put in the rate field.