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How To Join BigCommerce Affiliate Program

July 26, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

Imagine earning a generous bounty on each referral with absolutely no commission caps! This is not a dream; it’s the reality of the BigCommerce Affiliate Program.

With BigCommerce’s robust platform, industry-leading commissions, and comprehensive marketing resources, you can boost your income while helping businesses succeed online.

This guide will walk you through everything about the affiliate program BigCommerce offers, highlighting the simple joining process, fantastic benefits, and insider tips to thrive as a BigCommerce affiliate partner.

What is Affiliate Marketing BigCommerce?

BigCommerce Affiliate Marketing (also known as BigCommerce referral program) is a performance marketing program where individuals or businesses (affiliates) promote BigCommerce to their audience. When someone signs up for a BigCommerce plan through the affiliate’s unique referral link, the affiliate earns a commission.

Here’s a simplified of how this works:

  1. Sign up: Individuals or businesses (affiliates) sign up for the BigCommerce Affiliate Program and get a unique referral link.
  2. Promote BigCommerce: Share the link with their audience through the website, blog, social media, or other channels.
  3. Earn commissions: When someone clicks the link and subscribes to a BigCommerce plan, they earn an affiliate commission.

Why Joining BigCommerce Affiliate Program?

Why Becoming BigCommerce Affiliate Partners

Joining the BigCommerce Affiliate Program can offer several benefits, especially if your platform or audience aligns with e-commerce solutions. Here are some reasons why it might be a good fit:

BigCommerce’s Market Leadership

BigCommerce is a well-established and reputable e-commerce platform, powering just under 50,000 active stores (2024 stats) and over 5,000 new ones (2022 stats). This makes it an incredibly easy sell to your audience, as it’s the online store platform they’re likely already familiar with and trust.

Top-Tier Commissions

In the BigCommerce affiliate program, you earn a 200% bounty for each referral and $1,500 for every Enterprise referral. There’s no limit to how much you can earn. As you refer more customers, your commission rate increases.

The best part is joining the program is free, with no required minimums or obligations.

Easy Promotion

You can easily promote BigCommerce using a referral link or marketing materials like ready-made banner ads and email templates. This saves you time and effort in creating content, as you can use pre-made content for blogs and webinars designed specifically for your audience.

Quality Product

BigCommerce is recognized for its robust, scalable, and easy-to-use ecommerce platform. It supports businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Promoting a high-quality product can increase conversion rates and enhance your reputation among your target audience.

Advanced Affiliate Tracking

BigCommerce provides a detailed view of your clicks, trials, affiliate sales, and commissions, allowing you to monitor your earnings and performance easily. You’ll also enjoy the convenience of receiving payments on a consistent monthly schedule.

Dedicated Support

BigCommerce offers specialized support and strategies to enhance your growth in the affiliate network, boost your website’s visibility, and increase sales.

You’ll get direct access to a dedicated account manager who is knowledgeable about your business and objectives. This manager will collaborate with you and BigCommerce’s conversion rate experts to optimize your commissions and earnings per click.

Opportunities for Strategic Growth

Using BigCommerce’s strategic insights and high-quality content can enhance your site’s visibility and drive more sales. This approach also streamlines your content creation and digital marketing efforts, allowing for strategic growth.

How To Join BigCommerce Affiliate Program

Before diving into the application process to become an affiliate BigCommerce partner, you must fully grasp what’s expected of you. Here’s a quick rundown of the must-haves:

  • A solid understanding of what BigCommerce offers. This includes their e-commerce features, target market, and how they stand out from competitors. An affiliate should be able to represent and promote BigCommerce effectively to potential customers.
  • An audience that would be interested in BigCommerce, which typically includes small to medium-sized businesses, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and online retailers. Your content should align with the interests and needs of this demographic.
  • Content creation skills to attract and engage their audience through blog posts, videos, social media posts, email marketing tools, or marketing campaigns.
  • Marketing and SEO knowledge to drive traffic to your content and reach a wider audience.
  • Technical setup or affiliate software to track and manage your Bigcommerce referrals, which usually involves integrating tracking codes into your content or using affiliate links provided by BigCommerce.

If you tick all these boxes, you’re up for a good start. Here’s your step-by-step guide to joining the BigCommerce Affiliate Program:

Step 1: Visit the BigCommerce Affiliate Program Portal and click “APPLY NOW

How To Join BigCommerce Affiliate Program

Step 2: Fill Out the Registration Form

Fill Out the Registration Form

Here, you’ll find an application form asking for details about you and your platform. Fill it out with accurate information to increase your chances of being approved. Here are some of our tips to make the process easier:

  • Your password must be at least eight characters long and include at least one number and one symbol.
  • Ensure your time zone is correct; it’s vital for scheduling and reporting. Remember, changing your time zone can affect the accuracy of reports for that day and possibly the day before or after.
  • Currency setting is crucial as all payments and financial details will be in this chosen currency. Once your account is approved, you can’t change this setting.
  • In the Promotion Methods section, select the most appropriate one from the 8 available Business Models.
  • Ensure you have carefully read, understood, acknowledged, and accepted the Program Terms.

Step 3: After filling in your information, click “SUBMIT APPLICATION.”

Step 4: Verify Your Email

After submitting your application, you’ll receive a verification email from BigCommerce. Check your inbox (and spam folder, just in case) for this email. Click on “Verify my email address” within the email to confirm your email address and complete your registration.

Verify Your Email

Step 5: Await Approval

BigCommerce will review your application to join the affiliate program, which may take up to one month. Once approved, you will be notified via email.

Step 6: Access Your Affiliate Dashboard

Once approved, log into your account. Here, you can access the Affiliate Dashboard through “Marketplace Status.” This is where you’ll find everything you need to promote BigCommerce, including your unique affiliate links, marketing materials, and performance-tracking tools.

Access Your Affiliate Dashboard

Step 6: Start Promoting

Click Create Media Property to create affiliate content through blog posts, emails, or social media; just make sure your links get the visibility they deserve. And you’re good to go!

Start Promoting

How Much Can You Earn With The Bigcommerce Affiliate Program?

With the BigCommerce Affiliate Program, you can earn from $300 to $1,500 for every sale made through your link. The program’s cookie is reported to last 90 days — three times longer than the standard 30 days offered by other competitors.

BigCommerce platform offers an appealing commission structure:

  • You can earn 200% of the subscription fee from your referrals.

For instance, if someone subscribes to BigCommerce via your link with a Plus plan (which costs $105 a month), you receive twice that amount. Although there are no recurring commissions for the same referral, the initial commission is significantly high.

  • For Enterprise plan referrals, you receive a flat rate of $1,500, regardless of the subscription cost.

There’s no limit to how much you can earn, offering you unlimited earning potential. Additionally, there is no minimum payout threshold; you can withdraw your earnings anytime through PayPal or direct deposit.

BigCommerce Affiliate Program Compare to Others

When considering affiliate programs, BigCommerce stands tall among giants like Shopify and Wix. But what sets it apart?

BigCommerce vs. Shopify

When it comes to affiliate programs, BigCommerce shines with its competitive commission structures and extensive support resources. Unlike Shopify, which emphasizes ease and intuitiveness, BigCommerce offers a more comprehensive approach, appealing to affiliates who prefer depth and detail in their campaigns.

BigCommerce also stands out with a 90-day cookie tracking period, compared to the 30-day period offered by Shopify. The longer window significantly increases the chances of earning from referrals.

BigCommerce vs. Wix

BigCommerce doesn’t require a minimum sales amount to withdraw your earnings, unlike Wix, where affiliates need to earn at least $300 each month to access their funds. Additionally, BigCommerce’s commission per sale can be significantly higher, especially when compared to Wix’s $100 per sale commission.

Strategies for A Successful Affiliate Program with BigCommerce

To boost your earnings through the BigCommerce affiliate program, try these marketing strategies:

Understand Your Audience

Before you start promoting BigCommerce, take the time to understand your audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points.

Tailoring your content and marketing campaigns to address your audience’s specific challenges and aspirations increases the relevance of your promotions and the likelihood of conversions.

Create Value-Driven Content

Content is the cornerstone of successful affiliate marketing. To capture your audience’s attention, you have to produce high-quality, informative, and engaging content that positions BigCommerce as the solution to your audience’s e-commerce challenges.

Whether through blog posts, videos, webinars, or case studies, your content should educate your audience about BigCommerce’s features, benefits, and success stories.

Highlight the BigCommerce Experience

Promote BigCommerce’s free trials to encourage people to see its benefits firsthand. This approach builds trust and lets potential customers see how BigCommerce could improve their business, smoothing the way from trying it out to buying it.

Leverage Influencer Partnerships

Grow your audience by partnering with influencers in the e-commerce world. Their support can make your message reach more people, especially those who trust their opinions. This can significantly increase the number of people checking out your affiliate links.

Capitalize on Seasonal and Promotional Peaks

Use the e-commerce calendar to your advantage. When there’s a surge in shopping or BigCommerce has special deals, share your affiliate links more. These times often bring more interest and sales. Aligning your content with these moments provides timely and relevant solutions.

Showcase the Latest from BigCommerce

Keep your followers up-to-date with BigCommerce’s newest features. Entrepreneurs want the latest tech to stay ahead. By focusing on what’s new with BigCommerce, you appeal to those looking for innovative solutions.

Stay Updated

The e-commerce industry is constantly evolving, and so is BigCommerce; you need to stay updated on the latest features, updates, and best practices for using the platform.

Also, sharing the latest insights and tips can position you as a knowledgeable source in the BigCommerce community.

Successful Bigcommerce Affiliates

Ecommerce CEO stands out as a successful BigCommerce affiliate due to its strategic approach and influential position within the e-commerce community:

E-commerce CEO

Target Audience:

Ecommerce CEO focuses on aspiring and established e-commerce entrepreneurs, a demographic highly aligned with BigCommerce’s target market. By catering to their specific needs and interests, Ecommerce CEO builds credibility and trust.

Content Strategy:

They create a wide array of high-quality content related to BigCommerce:

  • In-depth Reviews: Thoroughly assessing BigCommerce’s features, pricing, and overall value proposition, helping potential customers make informed decisions.
  • Tutorials and Guides: Offering step-by-step instructions on how to set up and utilize various BigCommerce features, demonstrating the platform’s ease of use and versatility.
  • Success Stories: Showcasing real-life examples of businesses thriving on BigCommerce, inspiring potential customers with tangible results.
  • Comparison Articles: Comparing BigCommerce with other e-commerce platforms, highlighting its strengths and unique advantages.

Promotional Channels:

Ecommerce CEO leverages multiple channels for customer acquisition and BigCommerce promotion:

  • Blog: Regularly publishing informative articles and reviews on their website.
  • Podcast: Featuring interviews with BigCommerce experts and successful merchants, further solidifying their authority in the e-commerce space.
  • Social Media: Sharing updates, tips, and promotional content across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
  • Email Marketing: Using email newsletters to reach their subscriber base with targeted BigCommerce promotions and updates.

By combining a targeted audience, a comprehensive content strategy, and a multi-channel promotional approach, Ecommerce CEO has successfully positioned itself as a leading BigCommerce affiliate, driving significant traffic and conversions to the platform.

Bottom Line

The BigCommerce affiliate program provides an easy way to earn income. Now that you’re informed on how to apply and become a BigCommerce affiliate partner, you can begin immediately.

FAQs

To increase conversion rates, ensure your content is informative, compelling, and action-oriented. Use clear calls-to-action (CTAs) that guide your audience on what to do next. Personalize your messages to resonate more deeply with your potential affiliates. Consider segmenting your audience to offer more tailored content and deals, and always emphasize the value BigCommerce brings to their business.

One common pitfall is promoting BigCommerce without a clear understanding of its features or ideal user base, which can lead to mismatched expectations. Another mistake is neglecting to disclose your affiliate relationship with BigCommerce, which is not only ethically important but also helps maintain trust with your audience.

Yes, you can use paid advertising, but it’s important to adhere to BigCommerce’s affiliate program terms and conditions as well as the advertising platform's policies. Paid search campaigns, social media ads, and display ads can be effective if targeted correctly. However, always make sure that your ads bring genuine value and are not misleading.

The e-commerce field is fast-paced, with frequent updates and changes. Regularly updating your content ensures it remains relevant, accurate, and valuable to your audience. Keep an eye on BigCommerce updates, industry trends, and the evolving needs of e-commerce businesses to keep your content fresh and engaging.

To stand out, you should focus on carving out a unique niche or angle in your BigCommerce content. Whether it’s specializing in a specific industry, offering unparalleled insights, or providing unmatched deals, find what makes your approach unique. Personal branding can also play a significant role in establishing yourself as a trustworthy, knowledgeable source in e-commerce.

Absolutely! Collaborating with other affiliates can open up new audiences and creative avenues for promotion. Consider co-creating content, hosting webinars, or even running joint social media campaigns. Such partnerships can enhance the value you offer and broaden your reach. However, ensure these collaborations are transparent and beneficial to all parties, including your audience.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.