Quick Overview
Two revenue streams for your community:
1. Membership subscriptions (primary)
Members pay monthly/yearly for access
Recurring revenue from LaunchPass
Your main income source
2. Affiliate commissions (bonus)
Recommend tools your members need
Earn commission when they buy
Extra revenue on top of subscriptions
This article shows you how to add affiliate revenue to your existing community business.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Simple Explanation
Affiliate marketing means:
You recommend products or services
Your members buy through your link
You earn a commission
Company pays you for the referral
Example:
You recommend Notion for team organization
Share your affiliate link
Member signs up through your link
Notion pays you 20% recurring commission
Think of it as: Getting paid for helpful recommendations you'd make anyway.
Why This Works for Communities
Your members trust you:
You've built relationship
They value your recommendations
They're actively engaged
Natural trust exists
You know their needs:
See what tools they use
Hear their problems
Know what would help them
Can recommend strategically
You have access:
Direct communication channel (Slack)
Regular engagement opportunities
Community where people help each other
Perfect environment for recommendations
Getting Started with Affiliate Programs
Finding Good Affiliate Programs
Where to look:
1. Tools you already use
Software you recommend
Services you mention
Products you love
Check if they have affiliate program
2. LaunchPass partner platforms
Rewardful (Recommended - LaunchPass partner)
Refersion (LaunchPass partner)
Easy integration with your community
Built for SaaS and subscription businesses
3. Direct company programs
Go to company website
Look for "Affiliates" or "Partners" in footer
Many SaaS companies have programs
Often better commissions than networks
4. Your industry specific
Tools common in your niche
Services your members ask about
Products they already buy
Natural fits for your community
What Makes a Good Affiliate Program
Look for:
✅ Relevant to your members
Actually solves their problems
You genuinely recommend it
Members will find valuable
Natural fit for community
✅ Good commission structure
20-30% recurring (best for SaaS)
30-50% one-time (okay for products)
Long cookie duration (30-90 days)
Fair terms and conditions
✅ Reliable tracking
Clear dashboard
Accurate reporting
On-time payments
Good support
✅ Quality product
Actually works well
Good customer support
Fair pricing
Won't hurt your reputation
❌ Avoid:
Products you don't use or believe in
Scammy or low-quality offers
Terrible commission structures
Competing with your own paid community
Affiliate Programs for Communities
Popular Options for Slack Communities
Productivity & Collaboration:
Notion (Team wikis and docs)
Commission: 20% recurring
Why recommend: Great for team organization
Members often need: Documentation tools
Your pitch: "We use this for our resources"
Airtable (Databases and project management)
Commission: Varies by plan
Why recommend: Powerful organization
Members often need: Project tracking
Your pitch: "Better than spreadsheets"
Loom (Video messages)
Commission: 20% recurring
Why recommend: Async communication
Members often need: Video explanations
Your pitch: "Record quick updates"
Communication Tools:
Zoom (Video conferencing)
Commission: 20% first year
Why recommend: Community calls
Members often need: Meeting platform
Your pitch: "For our weekly calls"
Calendly (Scheduling)
Commission: 20% recurring
Why recommend: Easy scheduling
Members often need: Booking tool
Your pitch: "Schedule office hours"
Business Tools:
Stripe (Payments)
Commission: Referral bonus
Why recommend: If members run businesses
Members often need: Payment processing
Your pitch: "What we use for payments"
QuickBooks (Accounting)
Commission: Varies
Why recommend: Business finance
Members often need: Bookkeeping
Your pitch: "Track your business money"
Learning & Content:
Skillshare (Online courses)
Commission: $7-10 per trial
Why recommend: Skill development
Members often need: Learning resources
Your pitch: "Great courses for [skill]"
Teachable (Course creation)
Commission: 30% recurring
Why recommend: If members create courses
Members often need: Course platform
Your pitch: "Create your own courses"
How to Integrate Affiliates into Your Community
Natural Recommendation Methods
1. Resource channels
Create dedicated channel: #resources or #recommended-tools
Post format:
🛠 Tool Recommendation: Notion What it is: Team workspace for docs, wikis, and projects Why we love it: Perfect for organizing community knowledge Who it's for: Anyone managing projects or teams Special offer: Get [deal] through our link [Your affiliate link] Questions? Ask in thread!
2. Welcome message
In your onboarding:
Welcome to the community! 👋 To get the most value, we recommend: - Notion for taking notes [link] - Loom for sharing updates [link] - Calendly for scheduling [link] These are tools we actually use and love.
3. Answer questions naturally
When members ask:
Member: "What's a good project management tool?" You: "I use Airtable for everything. It's like a spreadsheet on steroids. Here's my affiliate link if you want to try it: [link] Happy to show you how I set mine up!"
4. Case studies and tutorials
Share how you use tools:
📊 How I organize community feedback in Airtable [Tutorial content...] Want to try Airtable? Use our link for [benefit]: [link]
5. Weekly recommendations
Regular feature:
🌟 Tool Tuesday This week: Loom for async video updates Why it's great: [benefits] How we use it: [examples] Try it: [affiliate link]
Where to Share Affiliate Links
In Slack:
Pinned messages in #resources
Channel descriptions
Welcome message
Regular recommendations
Answer to questions
Outside Slack:
Welcome email sequence
Newsletter to members
Blog posts
Video tutorials
Community resources page
Best practices:
Always disclose it's an affiliate link
Only recommend what you actually use
Explain why you recommend it
Offer help with setup
Don't spam or oversell
Disclosure Requirements
Legal Requirements
FTC requires disclosure:
Must tell people it's an affiliate link
Before they click
Clear and conspicuous
Can't hide it
Good disclosure examples:
"This is an affiliate link - we earn commission if you buy" "Full disclosure: We get paid if you sign up through this link" "Affiliate link - helps support our community at no cost to you" "We earn a commission when you use this link (doesn't cost you extra!)"
Bad disclosures:
"aff link" (too vague) Hidden in terms of service After the link In tiny text
Ethical Guidelines
✅ Do:
Disclose every time
Only recommend what you use
Be honest about pros and cons
Help members even if they don't use your link
Put member benefit first
❌ Don't:
Hide affiliate relationships
Recommend junk for commission
Pressure members to buy
Make false claims
Prioritize commission over member benefit
Your reputation matters more than any commission.
LaunchPass Partner: Rewardful
Why We Recommend Rewardful
Rewardful is LaunchPass's preferred affiliate platform partner.
Built for communities like yours:
Designed for SaaS and subscriptions
Tracks recurring commissions automatically
Integrates with Stripe (what LaunchPass uses)
Perfect for membership businesses
Easy setup:
Connect in minutes
No coding required
Works with your existing setup
Start earning right away
What you can do with Rewardful:
Create your own affiliate program
Let members refer others and earn commission
Track all referrals in one dashboard
Pay affiliates automatically
Custom commission structures
Why this matters: Your community members can become affiliates for YOUR community, creating a powerful referral system.
Setting Up Your Affiliate Program with Rewardful
Step 1: Sign up for Rewardful
Go to getrewardful.com
Create account
Connect to Stripe (already using for LaunchPass)
Set up takes 10 minutes
Step 2: Configure commission structure
Options:
Recurring commission (recommended)
Example: 20% of every payment forever
Affiliates earn as long as member stays
Incentivizes quality referrals
One-time commission
Example: $50 per signup
Single payment per referral
Simpler but less motivating
Tiered commissions
More referrals = higher percentage
Rewards top performers
Encourages growth
Recommended for communities: 15-30% recurring commission on first year
Step 3: Create affiliate signup page
Rewardful provides hosted page
Your members can sign up to be affiliates
Get their unique referral link
Track their earnings
Step 4: Announce to your community
In your Slack:
🎉 New: Refer friends and earn commission! Love our community? Get paid to share it! - Earn 20% recurring commission - Get your unique referral link - Track your earnings in real-time - Payments via PayPal or Stripe Sign up: [Your Rewardful affiliate page] Turn your network into income!
Step 5: Support your affiliates
Create #affiliates channel in Slack
Share marketing materials
Provide talking points
Celebrate top referrers
Help them succeed
Member-to-Member Referrals
This is powerful:
Your best members become your sales team
They authentically share with their networks
People trust peer recommendations
You only pay for results
Creates community evangelists
Example scenario:
Member A loves your community → Becomes affiliate through Rewardful → Shares with 5 friends → 3 join and pay $29/month → Member A earns: $17.40/month recurring (20%) → You gained: 3 new members ($87/month) → Win-win: Member earns, you grow
Refersion: Alternative LaunchPass Partner
When to Use Refersion
Refersion is another LaunchPass partner, good for:
Larger affiliate programs (100+ affiliates)
More complex tracking needs
Multiple product lines
Enterprise features needed
Key features:
Advanced tracking and attribution
Fraud detection
Multiple conversion tracking
Integration with many platforms
Robust reporting
Best for:
Growing communities (500+ members)
Multiple communities or products
Professional affiliate management
Scaling your affiliate program
Both Rewardful and Refersion integrate well with LaunchPass. Start with Rewardful for simplicity, move to Refersion if you need more features.
Setting Up Both Programs: Your Community + Others
Your Own Affiliate Program (via Rewardful)
Let members promote YOUR community:
Commission: 15-30% recurring
Target: Your existing members
Goal: Community growth
Platform: Rewardful
This is your PRIMARY affiliate focus.
Promote Other Tools (Traditional Affiliates)
Recommend complementary tools:
Commission: Varies by tool
Target: Your members' needs
Goal: Extra revenue + member value
Platform: Direct with each company
This is SECONDARY and bonus revenue.
Example Combined Strategy
Your community affiliate program (Rewardful):
Setup: Rewardful affiliate program for your $29/month community Members earn: 20% recurring = $5.80/month per referral Your goal: Grow community from 100 to 200 members Result: Member affiliates drive 50 new signups = $1,450/month new revenue Cost to you: $290/month in commissions (20%) Net new revenue: $1,160/month
Tool affiliate commissions (Bonus):
Recommend: Notion, Loom, Calendly to your members Your earnings: ~$300-500/month from their signups Platform: Direct affiliate programs with each tool Result: Extra revenue without competing with your main business
Total picture:
Community subscriptions: Growing via member referrals
Tool commissions: Bonus income
Rewardful: Powers your growth engine
Member value: Still the top priority
Your Revenue Strategy
Primary income: Subscriptions
$29/month × 100 members = $2,900/month
Recurring and predictable
Main focus of your business
What you optimize for
Bonus income: Affiliates
Variable based on recommendations
Extra $200-1,000+/month possible
Nice supplement
Not your main focus
Example month:
Subscription revenue: $2,900 - 100 members × $29/month Affiliate commissions: $450 - 10 Notion signups × $30/month = $300 - 5 Loom signups × $20/month = $100 - 2 Calendly signups × $25/month = $50 Total: $3,350/month
Don't Let Affiliates Hurt Your Community
Keep priorities straight:
First priority: Member value and experience Second priority: Community growth Third priority: Affiliate revenue
Bad:
Spam members with offers
Recommend products you don't use
Push sales constantly
Make community feel like sales channel
Good:
Genuinely helpful recommendations
Natural integration
Member asks, you answer
Tools that enhance experience
Remember: Members pay for community value, not product pitches. Keep focus on delivering value.
Tracking and Optimization
Measuring Success
Track these metrics:
Affiliate performance:
Click-through rate on links
Conversion rate (clicks to signups)
Average commission per member
Total affiliate revenue
Community health:
Member retention rate
Engagement levels
Member satisfaction
Churn rate
Important: If affiliates hurt community metrics, reduce them.
What to Optimize
Test these:
1. Which tools get most interest
Some will perform better
Double down on winners
Stop promoting losers
2. How you present recommendations
Tutorial vs simple link
In-depth review vs brief mention
Video vs text
3. When you share
Welcome message vs ongoing
Response to questions vs proactive
Regular schedule vs ad-hoc
4. Where you place links
Pinned message vs channel description
Slack vs email
Resources page vs inline
Keep what works, drop what doesn't.
Advanced Strategies
Create Exclusive Deals
Approach companies:
"I run a 500-person Slack community of [niche]"
"Many members would benefit from your tool"
"Can you offer special pricing for my community?"
"I'd happily promote it with my affiliate link"
Win-win:
Company gets qualified leads
Members get discount
You get higher conversions
Everyone benefits
Example: "Get 25% off Notion Pro - exclusive for our community members. Use code [CODE] or click: [affiliate link]"
Bundle Recommendations
Create resource packs:
"🎁 New Member Starter Kit"
Notion for organization [link]
Loom for communication [link]
Calendly for scheduling [link]
Bundle = higher perceived value = better conversion
Seasonal Promotions
Leverage timing:
Black Friday deals
New Year productivity push
Tax season (accounting tools)
Back to school
Industry-specific events
Example: "🎉 Black Friday: Our favorite tools are all on sale! Here's what we recommend: [list with affiliate links]"
Create Value-Add Content
Beyond just links:
Tutorials: "How to Set Up Notion for [Your Niche]"
Step-by-step guide
Screenshots and videos
Templates to download
Affiliate link at end
Comparison guides: "Notion vs Airtable vs Coda: Which is Best for [Use Case]?"
Honest comparison
Pros and cons of each
Recommendations for different needs
Affiliate links for each
Templates and resources: "Free Airtable Template for [Task]"
Useful template
Instructions for use
Link to sign up for Airtable (affiliate)
Helps members + drives conversions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Too Many Recommendations
Problem:
Recommending everything
Members get overwhelmed
Looks spammy
Nothing stands out
Solution:
Curate carefully
5-10 core recommendations
Only tools you actually use
Quality over quantity
Mistake 2: Focusing Only on Commission
Problem:
Recommending highest commission, not best fit
Pushing products
Members notice and lose trust
Solution:
Member benefit first
Commission is bonus
Recommend what's truly best
Build long-term trust
Mistake 3: Not Disclosing
Problem:
Hiding affiliate relationships
Illegal (FTC violation)
Members feel deceived
Destroys trust
Solution:
Always disclose
Be proud of partnerships
"We earn commission, helps support community"
Transparency builds trust
Mistake 4: Competing with Your Paid Community
Problem:
Promoting other communities
Promoting courses that replace your value
Recommending free alternatives to paid features
Solution:
Only promote complementary tools
Enhance, don't replace your offering
Think about member journey
Strengthen your position
Mistake 5: Inconsistent Quality
Problem:
Some recommendations great
Others poor quality
Members lose trust in all recommendations
Solution:
Test everything yourself
Only recommend what you'd use without commission
Maintain high standards
Your reputation = your brand
Real Examples
Example 1: Marketing Community (Using Rewardful)
Setup:
200 members paying $49/month
Slack community for marketing professionals
Base subscription revenue: $9,800/month
Affiliate strategy with Rewardful:
Set up community affiliate program
20% recurring commission to member affiliates
50 members signed up as affiliates
15 actively referring
Member referral results (via Rewardful):
40 new members from affiliate referrals
New revenue: $1,960/month ($49 × 40)
Paid to affiliates: $392/month (20% of $1,960)
Net new revenue: $1,568/month
Bonus tool affiliate commissions:
Also recommended: Notion, Airtable, Canva, Buffer
Earned: ~$400/month from tool referrals
Total monthly:
Original: $9,800
New member referrals: +$1,568 net
Tool affiliates: +$400
Total: $11,768/month (20% increase)
Example 2: Developer Community (Rewardful Focus)
Setup:
150 members paying $29/month
Slack community for indie developers
Base subscription revenue: $4,350/month
Rewardful affiliate program:
25% recurring commission
Launched to existing members first
25 members became affiliates
8 actively referring
Results after 3 months:
30 new members from referrals
New revenue: $870/month ($29 × 30)
Paid to affiliates: $217.50/month (25%)
Net new revenue: $652.50/month
Bonus tool affiliates:
GitHub, hosting services
Earned: ~$200/month
Total monthly:
Original: $4,350
Member referrals: +$652.50 net
Tool affiliates: +$200
Total: $5,202.50/month (20% increase)
Example 3: Creator Community (Hybrid Approach)
Setup:
500 members paying $19/month
Slack community for content creators
Base subscription revenue: $9,500/month
Rewardful program + tool affiliates:
15% recurring for member referrals
Also promoted: Canva, Epidemic Sound, creation tools
100 members signed up as affiliates
30 actively referring
Member referral results:
75 new members from Rewardful affiliates
New revenue: $1,425/month ($19 × 75)
Paid to affiliates: $213.75/month (15%)
Net new revenue: $1,211.25/month
Tool affiliate results:
Canva, Epidemic Sound, others
Earned: ~$800/month
Total monthly:
Original: $9,500
Member referrals: +$1,211.25 net
Tool affiliates: +$800
Total: $11,511.25/month (21% increase)
Key insight: Member referrals (via Rewardful) drove more growth than tool affiliates in all three cases.
Getting Help
LaunchPass Support
We can help with:
Setting up your paid Slack community
Payment processing
Member management
Technical integration
Email: [email protected]
We cannot help with:
Finding affiliate programs
Affiliate marketing strategy
Tax implications of affiliate income
Individual affiliate program issues
Resources
LaunchPass Partners:
Rewardful - getrewardful.com (Recommended affiliate platform)
Refersion - refersion.com (Advanced affiliate management)
Learn more about affiliate marketing:
Pat Flynn's Affiliate Marketing guides
Smart Passive Income podcast
Authority Hacker blog
Income School YouTube channel
Find direct affiliate programs:
Company websites (look for "Affiliates" in footer)
Reach out directly to tools you use
Ask for partnership opportunities
Quick Reference
Affiliate Marketing Checklist
Set up YOUR affiliate program first (Rewardful):
✅ Sign up for Rewardful
✅ Connect to Stripe
✅ Set commission structure (15-30% recurring)
✅ Create affiliate signup page
✅ Announce to community members
✅ Create #affiliates channel for support
✅ Provide marketing materials
✅ Track and pay affiliates monthly
Then add complementary tool affiliates (optional):
✅ Choose 5-10 tools you actually use
✅ Apply to their affiliate programs
✅ Get approved and receive links
✅ Create #resources or #tools channel
✅ Add to welcome message
✅ Always disclose affiliate relationship
✅ Make recommendations naturally
✅ Track clicks and conversions
✅ Optimize based on results
✅ Keep member value as priority #1
Disclosure Template
"Full disclosure: This is an affiliate link. We earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. It helps support our community. We only recommend tools we actually use and love!"
Revenue Balance
Healthy community:
70-85% from member subscriptions
10-20% from member affiliate referrals (Rewardful)
5-10% from tool affiliate commissions
Member-first mentality
Natural recommendations
Community growth focus
Unhealthy community:
50%+ from any affiliate source
Aggressive promotion
Sales-focused
Member complaints
Growth stalls
Related Articles
How Much Does It Cost? - LaunchPass pricing
Getting Started with Slack - Set up your community
Which Platform Should I Choose? - Slack vs Discord vs Telegram
Do You Support My Country? - International availability