With Promoters, you can bring on partners who promote your products and help you drive more sales. You can individually define which products a promoter is allowed to promote, how sales are tracked, and what commission you pay for successful sales.
In this article, you'll learn how Promoters works, how to invite partners, and what options are available for your collaboration.
What is Promoters?
Promoters is Cope's new built-in affiliate program. It lets you work with promoters and affiliates who promote your products in exchange for a commission.
You can work with content creators, business partners, existing customers, or other vendors - and you decide individually which products they're allowed to promote and what commission terms apply to them.
Who can become a Promoter?
In general, anyone with an email address can become a promoter. This includes:
Existing customers
Other vendors on Cope
External business partners
Content creators and other collaboration partners
Depending on how the commission is paid out, different requirements apply: If Cope handles the payout, the promoter needs a registered business and must complete a KYC verification. If you as the vendor handle the payout yourself, this requirement does not apply. You can find more details in the "How do payouts work?" section.
Where do you find your Promoters and their data?
Promoters is located in the Cope app in the left menu under Scale → Growth Hub. The areas are separated by function:
Growth Hub → Promoters: Your area as the seller of your products.
Growth Hub → Promotions: The area for promoters who promote other sellers' products.
Both areas are part of the same app and use the same login.
How do you set up Promoters?
Currently, you can only add promoters by sending an invitation via the button in the top right corner. A public partner directory and the ability for partners to apply directly are also planned.
1. Invite your promoter
Choose the partner you want to work with and invite them through Promoters. The next steps vary depending on whether it's an internal or external promoter:
Internal promoters don't need additional approval.
External promoters must confirm the connection on their end.
2. Define the collaboration
You can individually determine which products each promoter is allowed to promote. You're not required to share your entire product catalog. You can adjust the product selection for individual partnerships and add or remove products at any time.
3. Set the commission terms
Define what commission your promoter receives for successful sales. It's best to clarify the terms before the collaboration begins so both parties know what compensation applies.
How are sales attributed?
Promoters support sales attribution via links and promo codes. Which options are available for a given partnership depends on the respective settings. Attribution is based on the conditions configured for the connection - make sure the tracking options for your promoter are set up correctly before you get started.
A phone-based offer feature is also planned as an additional option but is not yet available.
What commission models are available?
Currently, the percentage-based commission is the only available model: you set a fixed percentage that your promoter receives per referred sale.
Affiliate Link: When creating a link, you enter the commission rate in % and can optionally assign a specific product.
Affiliate's Promo Code: When creating a promo code, you have additional options:
Commission rate in % for the promoter
Discount in % for the buyer (with an optional maximum usage limit)
Applicability: Per Product or Per Order
First payment only: Relevant for subscriptions or installment payments - the discount then applies only to the first transaction
Commissions for subscriptions and installment payments
For subscriptions and installment payments, you can define how the commission is calculated. Depending on the setting, compensation can be limited to the first payment or extended to subsequent payments as well. Make sure you choose the model that fits your product and your agreement with the promoter.
What happens with refunds and chargebacks?
If a sale is refunded or a chargeback occurs, the commission is adjusted according to the relevant reconciliation logic. The promoters bear their share of the reversal. Keep this in mind when structuring your agreements, especially if you work with products where refunds or disputes are more likely.
How do payouts work?
For each promoter, you can define how their commission is paid out. There are two options:
Payout via Cope (Platform)
Cope handles the payout to the promoter. For this to work, an external promoter must have a registered business and successfully complete the required KYC verification. Payouts via Cope to private individuals are not possible. General Cope payout rules apply.
Payout by you as the Vendor
You pay your promoter yourself, outside of the Cope platform. You'll receive detailed payout information for promoters with this setting, giving you a basis to track outstanding commissions and handle the payout on your own.Important: Clarify with your promoter upfront how and when the payout will take place, and make sure to account for your own obligations regarding invoicing and taxes.
Can the payout method be changed later?
A promoter can change their setting from "Vendor" to "Platform." The reverse - from "Platform" to "Vendor" - is not possible for the promoter. If you need to change the payout method, check the currently available settings in advance.
Where do you find analytics and reporting?
A comprehensive dashboard with detailed promoter information and analytics is not yet available. Plan your reporting based on the information displayed in the currently available views.
What features are planned?
Promoters is actively being developed. Planned additions include:
A marketplace where promoters can discover relevant products
A registration option for promoters without a direct invitation
Expanded commission models with two or potentially multiple partner tiers
An enhanced dashboard for both promoters and vendors
There are no confirmed release dates for these features yet. This article will be updated as new features become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my existing CopeCart affiliate partners automatically transferred?
No. Promoters is a new development. Existing partners and settings are not automatically migrated - you'll need to set up your partnerships from scratch.
Can I work with other vendors or my own customers?
Yes. You can invite a variety of partners, including customers, other vendors, and external collaborators.
Does every promoter have to be allowed to promote all my products?
No. You can define and adjust the product selection for each promoter individually.
Can I set different commissions for different products?
Yes. You can set a different commission rate for each affiliate link or promo code and assign a link to a specific product. This lets you use different rates for different products. Currently, only percentage-based commissions are available.
Can Cope pay the commission directly to my promoter?
Yes, as long as the payout via Cope is set up and the external promoter meets the required business and KYC requirements.
Can I pay my promoter myself?
Yes. With the "Vendor" setting, you handle the payout outside of Cope yourself and receive detailed information on the relevant payouts.
Is there already a marketplace where promoters can find my products?
Not yet. Currently you can only invite promoters directly. A marketplace and a registration option without an invitation are planned as future additions.
Is there already a full reporting dashboard for promoters?
A comprehensive promoter dashboard is not yet available. The information available is based on the views and features currently implemented.
Still have questions?
If you have questions about setting up your promoters, commission terms, or payouts, reach out to our support team. We're happy to help.