How Shopify Referral Tracking & Attribution Works

eCommerce Programs Only

When an affiliate joins your referral program, Kickbooster automatically creates a unique referral link for them to share with their audience. Depending on your program settings, affiliates may also receive a unique discount code to share with customers.

Kickbooster uses multiple tracking methods to ensure eligible orders are properly attributed to the correct affiliate.

Referral Link Tracking

Each affiliate receives a unique referral link that directs customers to your Shopify store.

When a customer clicks an affiliate’s referral link, Kickbooster captures the visit and stores tracking information in the customer’s browser. This allows us to attribute a future purchase back to that affiliate if the customer completes their order within your cookie duration window.

Cookie Duration

Your cookie duration determines how long a customer has to complete their purchase after clicking an affiliate’s referral link for the affiliate to receive credit.

For example, if your cookie duration is set to 30 days:

A customer clicks an affiliate’s referral link
The customer browses your store but does not purchase right away
The customer returns 2 weeks later and completes their order
The affiliate can still receive credit for that order

You can set your cookie duration anywhere from 30–365 days.

Discount Code Tracking

If you offer customers a discount through your referral program, Kickbooster automatically generates a unique affiliate discount code for each affiliate to share.

If a customer uses an affiliate’s discount code at checkout, the affiliate assigned to that discount code will receive credit for the order.

How Does Kickbooster Decide Which Affiliate Gets Credit?

There may be situations where a customer interacts with multiple affiliates before completing their purchase. Kickbooster uses the following attribution rules to determine which affiliate receives credit.

Discount Code Attribution

Affiliate discount codes take priority over referral link tracking.

For example:

A customer clicks Affiliate A’s referral link
The customer later uses Affiliate B’s discount code at checkout
Affiliate B receives credit for the order

Since the customer used Affiliate B’s unique discount code, this indicates that Affiliate B influenced the final purchase.

Referral Link Attribution

If no affiliate discount code is used, Kickbooster uses last-click attribution.

This means the affiliate whose referral link was clicked most recently before the purchase will receive credit, as long as the order takes place within your cookie duration window.

For example:

A customer clicks Affiliate A’s referral link
A few days later, they click Affiliate B’s referral link
The customer completes their purchase

Affiliate B receives credit for the order because they were the most recent affiliate referral before the purchase.

Why Does Kickbooster Use Multiple Tracking Methods?

Customers don’t always purchase immediately after clicking an affiliate’s link. They may browse your store, leave, return later, or enter an affiliate discount code they received elsewhere.

Using both referral links and discount codes helps provide more accurate attribution and ensures affiliates are rewarded for the sales they help generate.

I’d also consider renaming the old “All About Cookies” article because cookies are now just one part of the system. Something like “How Shopify Referral Tracking & Attribution Works” would be more accurate and easier for merchants to find.