How to Pay Affiliates in Post Affiliate Pro

Problem definition

Post Affiliate Pro is a comprehensive affiliate tracking and management solution, but it does not act as a payment gateway. Many users wonder if affiliate payouts can be handled directly within the software or if they must rely on external systems.

This article explains how affiliate payouts are managed in Post Affiliate Pro, outlines the manual payout process, and provides best practices for ensuring smooth and accurate affiliate payments.

Payout Process in Post Affiliate Pro

Post Affiliate Pro handles the organization and tracking of affiliate commissions but does not transfer funds to affiliates. The standard payout process is as follows:

1. Verify Payout Settings: Make sure your payout balances and options are correctly set in Configuration. Define payout methods (e.g., PayPal, bank transfer) and ensure all required fields are included.
2. Review Eligible Affiliates: Go to Payouts > Pay affiliates to view affiliates who have earned commissions. Use advanced search to filter affiliates who have reached the minimum payout threshold.
3. Data Completeness: Confirm that all affiliates have set their payout method and provided necessary details. Missing information must be updated before proceeding.
4. Select Affiliates for Payment: Choose affiliates to pay—either individually or via mass payout. Mark their commissions as paid using the “Label as paid” option.
5. Export Payout Data: After marking payouts, go to Payouts > Overview > Payouts history and download the CSV file for your payment gateway.
6. Issue Payments Externally: Import the CSV into your preferred payment or accounting system (such as QuickBooks or PayPal) to process the actual payments.

Troubleshooting the Payout Process in Post Affiliate Pro

• Missing Affiliate Data: If an affiliate’s payout details are incomplete, contact them to update their information before processing payouts.
• CSV Export Issues: Ensure you select the correct payout period and affiliates before exporting the CSV file; check formatting requirements for your payment gateway.
• No Mass Payout Support: If your payment provider does not support mass payouts, you must pay each affiliate individually.

Best Practices for Managing Affiliate Payouts in Post Affiliate Pro

• Regularly review and update payout methods and minimum payout thresholds.
• Encourage affiliates to keep their payment information current.
• Always double-check exported CSV files for accuracy before importing into your payment gateway.
• Maintain clear communication with affiliates regarding payout schedules and requirements.
• Utilize the invoice generation features in Post Affiliate Pro for professional documentation.

How to Export and Use Payout Data from Post Affiliate Pro

1. After processing payouts, navigate to Payouts > Overview > Payouts history.
2. Download the CSV file for the payout batch.
3. Import this file into your external payment system or process payments manually.
4. Notify affiliates of successful payout via email (optional, can be automated inside Post Affiliate Pro).

Further Resources

• How to payout affiliates
• Invoices and VAT handling