Launch your affiliate program with Shopify Collabs

Why talk about Shopify Collabs in 2025?

At Maze, we support Shopify brands on a daily basis in their growth, and one of the strategies we're increasingly implementing is collaborations with creators. Not just to "create buzz" on Instagram, but to build a network of ambassadors capable of generating sales, authentic reviews, and reusable visuals in your marketing campaigns.

But when it comes to managing these relationships, one tool has completely changed the game: Shopify Collabs.

Where most businesses hesitate to get started due to lack of time or structure, Shopify has released an application directly integrated into its platform, which allows you to centralize all the steps: search for creators, send gifts, track commissions, analyze revenue, and more.

It's not a revolution, but it's a massive simplification. And in a context where social platforms are evolving rapidly, where affiliate marketing is making a strong comeback, and where brands are looking to diversify their acquisition channels, Shopify Collabs is becoming a powerful ally.

Shopify Collabs: What is it exactly?

Shopify Collabs is a free app available to Shopify merchants who want to work with creators, influencers, or ambassadors in a structured and measurable framework.

In short, the platform allows brands and influencers to connect through a seamless interface, without having to leave Shopify.

Here's what the tool allows you to do:

Create an affiliate program with custom commissions per creator
Publish a registration page on your store to receive applications
Access a database of creators ready to collaborate (according to your criteria: niche, audience, language, etc.)
Send products for free for launches or media initiatives
Track purchases generated by each collaboration (using a unique link or promo code)
Manage remuneration automatically from the platform

Everything is designed for Shopify merchants: no need to connect a thousand tools and especially no need for an external CRM to manage your influencer relationships.

And at Maze, what we particularly like is that the data is centralized in the same place as your other marketing levers. This means you can track at a glance which creators are generating the most clicks, content, or sales, and adjust your strategies in real time.

Who is Shopify Collabs for?

If you're a business selling products online with Shopify, you're probably already aware of the power of digital word of mouth. But Shopify Collabs isn't just for giants or established brands.

On the contrary, this tool was designed for different merchant profiles:

1. Growing stores

Do you have a Shopify store, a loyal customer base, and are you looking to activate new acquisition channels without breaking the bank on advertising? Shopify Collabs allows you to test affiliate and influencer marketing without a huge budget. You offer a code, a link, a small gift, and you only pay when it converts.

2. Established brands that want to structure their collaborations

If you're already receiving messages from influencers or content creators who want to work with you, Collabs is an efficient way to centralize requests, manage collaboration terms, and measure performance. It's also a time-saver for your marketing team.

3. Creators and influencers looking for partnerships

Shopify Collabs also offers a creator-side interface (Collabs Network), where influencers can discover brands they want to collaborate with.

In other words, it is a solution that simplifies the connection between creators and brands, which, historically, has always been long, unclear and often manual.

How does Shopify Collabs work (merchant side)?

One of the best things about Shopify Collabs is its ultra-simplified user experience. Here's how everything works once you've installed the app:

Step 1 – Create a collaboration program

You start by configuring your program's parameters: types of creators sought, remuneration offered (in % or $), collaboration conditions, choice of products to send for free, etc.

You can also create multiple programs: one for your VIP ambassadors, one for micro-influencers, another for one-off collaborations.

Step 2 – Launch your registration page

Shopify Collabs automatically generates an application page that you can embed on your site. Interested influencers can apply with their profile, social media, and stats.

Once you receive the registration, you can accept, decline or chat with the creator directly from the interface.

Step 3 – Recruit via the platform

You can also use Shopify's Collabs database to search for relevant creators, filtering by niche, language, audience, engagement rate, and more.

This is ideal for finding profiles that complement your existing audience, or for launching a targeted campaign (e.g., mom influencers, skincare, coffee, etc.).

Step 4 – Send products and manage integrations

You select the products to offer, which you can ship for free through Shopify. Each creator can then test your product and create and share their affiliate link.

At the same time, you can connect your tools (like Klaviyo, Google Analytics, or your marketing applications) to track the overall impact on your campaigns.

Step 5 – Track performance and pay installments

Each creator has a unique code or link. Collabs measures all conversions generated, and you can see the ROI of each collaboration in real time.

All payments are handled between Shopify and the collaborator at the location of their choice.

Why we love Shopify Collabs at Maze

We've often seen brands interested in influencer marketing, but held back by a lack of structure. Too many scattered tools, too many DMs, no clear performance tracking, and often, a feeling of wasted time and money.

Shopify Collabs structures, professionalizes, and automates a part of marketing that was previously too intuitive.

Here's why we recommend it at Maze:

1. A native Shopify app

No need for an external tool or expensive affiliate solution: Collabs is integrated directly into your Shopify ecosystem. You retain control over your products, data, users, and integrations.

2. Accurate data to make decisions

Every shared link, every sale, and every payment is recorded and visible in your dashboard. You can analyze, optimize, and tailor collaborative campaigns based on results, just like you can with your Klaviyo or Google Ads campaigns.

3. A simple way to start influencer marketing

You don't need 100 influencers to make it work. With 5 or 10 well-chosen, good profiles, you can generate content, opinions, and results, while building long-term relationships with ambassadors.

4. A complementary lever to your overall strategy

Collabs doesn't replace your campaigns; it amplifies them. Influence fuels your email campaigns, product pages, and advertising visuals. It also allows you to stand out by creating authentic, human moments around your brand.

Concrete benefits for your business

Setting up Shopify Collabs is about more than just influencing. It's about creating a scalable, performance-based acquisition system. Here are the benefits our customers see in the first few months:

1. Directly traceable sales

With the affiliate link and promo code system, every sale generated by a creator is clearly attributed. You can therefore know who is actually converting and adjust your collaborations accordingly. No more unclear campaigns where you pay blindly.

2. An increase in authentic opinions

Partner influencers share their real-life experiences with your products: unboxings, tests, stories, videos, etc. This way, you collect honest content that you can use on your product pages, in your email campaigns, or in your advertisements.

3. Gifts to maximize engagement

You can offer your products for free in exchange for content, without incurring agency fees. It's easy to set up, you control the cost, and you build a trusting relationship with your partners.

4. Simplified management of confidentiality and payments

Creator data, collaboration agreements, payouts—everything is centralized and compliant. You define the rules from the start, which avoids misunderstandings or friction. It's a win-win.

5. Useful data for your analyses

Shopify Collabs integrates with your data ecosystem: Google Analytics, Klaviyo, etc. You can track the impact of collaborations on visits, transactions, conversion rate and even create buyer segments based on where they come from.

Features to watch out for

There are some key features of Shopify Collabs that are worth paying attention to if you want to build a strong program:

Multiple program management

You can create multiple collaboration programs tailored to different profiles: lifestyle influencers, specialist bloggers, long-term ambassadors, etc. This allows you to customize the conditions (commissions, products, duration) according to each type of relationship.

User experience for creators

The Collabs influencer platform is seamless, user-friendly, and intuitive. Users can easily apply, access their links, track their stats, and receive payments. The result: less friction, more engagement.

Powerful integrations

The app connects with your marketing tools for comprehensive tracking. For example, you can create a Klaviyo sequence that triggers when a creator generates a sale, or send an automatic reminder when a package is delivered.

Integrated analytics

You have access to a clear dashboard with performance indicators: clicks, sales, commissions, conversion rates. You can compare the performance of each collaboration, identify top contributors, and refine your campaigns.

What we recommend to our clients at Maze

Every brand is different, but there are some best practices we follow with our Shopify clients when rolling out a Collabs program.

Start small, but structured

Start with 5 to 10 creators who are relevant to your audience. Focus on quality and alignment with your values, not quantity.

Integrate collaborations into your marketing ecosystem

Reuse the generated material in your emails, on your product pages, or in your Meta or Google ads. Collabs isn't a silo: it's a complementary lever for your marketing strategy.

Track results, iterate quickly

Review data, measure performance by influencer, adjust your program terms as needed, and evolve your program based on results. Nothing is set in stone: Collabs lets you scale continuously.

Automate as soon as possible

Connect your favorite apps, create automated scenarios, and free up time to focus on what matters: human connection and value creation.

Conclusion: Shopify Collabs, a lever not to be underestimated

Today, successful brands no longer just buy traffic. They build ecosystems where buyers, creators, and advocates participate in their growth. Shopify Collabs helps structure this ecosystem with simplicity, clarity, and efficiency.

At Maze, we recommend Shopify Collabs to businesses that want to:

Generate more sales without increasing their advertising budget
Diversify their acquisition channels
Create authentic and engaging content
Strengthen their brand image with lasting collaborations

And above all: to those who want to do it with finesse, strategy and tools integrated into their Shopify store.

So if you're wondering how to start working with influencers, or how to turn fans into affiliates, Shopify Collabs is probably the easiest solution to set up.

Want help building your collaboration program? Contact us. We'll guide you from start to finish, from the initial strategy to launching your Collabs page.