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Affiliate guide

How referral tracking works, what you earn, how you get paid, and how to pitch Slappcard to artists. Written for managers, promoters, A&Rs, playlisters, studio folks — anyone who refers artists to tools.

Where things live: program page at /affiliate-program, dashboard at /affiliate, referral links look like https://slappcard.amberprotocol.org/?ref=YOURCODE (or /r/YOURCODE).

1. Program overview​

Slappcard sells physical NFC/QR cards that unlock a private listening/download page. Fans tap or scan, land on the artist's page, and their email flows back to the artist. It's an upgrade over CD duplication at a fraction of the cost.

The program is first-party — no Impact, ShareASale, or Rewardful in the middle. Slappcard owns tracking, the commission ledger, and payouts directly; you deal with Slappcard, not a network.

What you get as an affiliate:

  • A unique referral code and link — every sale you generate is attributed to you.
  • 10% commission on each referred artist's first Slapp Pack purchase.
  • A live dashboard with clicks, referrals, and money owed vs. paid.
  • Full credit for your work — attribution follows the artist from click to checkout, no last-click theft by a network.

Who this is for: managers promoting clients, promoters and venue folks who talk to dozens of artists a month, music industry connectors whose recommendations artists actually act on. There's no fee to join, and no minimum sales requirement.

How to join: Go to /affiliate-program and submit the free signup form, or email slapcardz@gmail.com with the subject "Affiliate program signup." Slappcard sets up your affiliate profile and unique code, then links it to your account so your dashboard unlocks.

2. How it works​

Every affiliate gets a unique, URL-safe code. Your link comes in two interchangeable forms:

  • https://slappcard.amberprotocol.org/?ref=YOURCODE
  • https://slappcard.amberprotocol.org/r/YOURCODE

Both do the same job. Use whichever is easier to paste into a bio, a DM, or a flyer.

  1. The click is validated. Slappcard checks your code against the affiliates table. If your code is unknown or your status isn't active, the click doesn't count.
  2. The click is recorded. A affiliateClicks row is written with the landing page and timestamp, so you can see exactly which links pull traffic.
  3. The attribution code is saved on the visitor's device. The code is persisted in both a cookie and localStorage for 30 days (slappcard_affiliateCode). No account needed, no signup needed — the code just rides along with the browser.

Important: The visitor does not need to create an account to "get attributed." The code is saved on their device the moment they land, so the attribution is in place before they ever decide to become an artist.

2.3 Attribution — how a click becomes a commission​

Attribution is first-touch (the first affiliate link someone clicks is the one that gets credit) with a 30-day window:

StepWhat happens
ClickVisitor hits /r/YOURCODE or /?ref=YOURCODE → click recorded → code saved on device for 30 days
Artist signupIf the artist signs up with your code present, referredByAffiliateId is set on their artist profile — once, first-touch
First pack purchaseThe affiliate code rides through Stripe Checkout as metadata on the order
FulfillmentThe payment webhook resolves the code, creates a referral, and — if this is the first converted pack for that artist and affiliate — writes a commission entry as owed

2.4 Rules of the road​

  • One commission per artist. You earn on the referred artist's first completed pack purchase. Repeat purchases by the same artist don't stack additional commissions (today — Slappcard may add recurring models later).
  • Self-referral is forbidden. You cannot earn commission on an artist account you own or control.
  • Inactive links don't track. If your status is paused or disabled, clicks on your links are not recorded and no commission accrues.
  • 30-day window. A visitor's device keeps your code for 30 days. If the artist's checkout happens after that window (and no other affiliate code was saved in between), the attribution may not stick — the same reason first-touch matters: get them to click and act while you're top of mind.

3. Commission structure​

3.1 The rate​

10% of the referred artist's first completed pack purchase — a one-time commission (affiliateCommissionBps = 1000, mode percent_first_pack). The rate is set in Slappcard's app settings, can be overridden per-affiliate by Slappcard ops, and is shown on your dashboard.

3.2 What 10% looks like​

PackCardsArtist paysYour commission (10%)
QR Pack100$100$10.00
Metallic Pack100$125$12.50
Boss Pack100$150$15.00

Every pack is 100 custom printed cards with hosting, the private fan gate, a branded artist page, and email capture on every scan.

3.3 How commissions are calculated and tracked​

Every commission is a row in a commission ledger with the amount in cents, the referral and purchase it came from, and a status:

  • owed — earned, waiting for payout.
  • paid — paid out (with timestamp and which admin marked it).
  • void — canceled (e.g., the artist's purchase was refunded).

Your dashboard shows exactly two numbers that matter: Owed (money sitting in the ledger for you) and Paid (what you've collected to date).

3.4 Payouts​

  • MVP (current): Payouts are manual — Slappcard transfers funds (check or bank transfer, on a regular schedule) and marks the ledger rows paid. Payment instructions (PayPal/Venmo, etc.) can be noted on your affiliate profile.
  • Phase 2 (roadmap): Automated payouts via Stripe Connect, plus self-serve payout requests from your dashboard.

A commission is only paid after the artist's purchase is completed and fulfilled — a pending or refunded order never generates a payout.

4. Your affiliate dashboard (/affiliate)​

Sign in with your account and open /affiliate. The dashboard unlocks once Slappcard has linked your affiliate code to your account — until then it shows a friendly "no code linked yet" state pointing you to the program page.

Overview​

Four numbers up top:

StatWhat it means
ClicksHow many times your links have been hit (capped view of your most recent activity)
ReferralsHow many artists have been attributed to you
OwedCommission earned and sitting in the ledger
PaidCommission paid out to you to date

Plus:

  • Your link — your /?ref=YOURCODE URL and /r/YOURCODE short form, with a Copy referral URL button. One click and you're ready to paste into any bio, DM, or post.
  • Your status — active / paused / disabled badge, so you always know whether your link is live.
  • Recent clicks — your last 10 attributed clicks with landing page and timestamp. This is the best self-check tool in the program: click your own link, and watch it appear.

The same link and copy controls, plus the recent-clicks feed — share, copy, and verify in one place.

Earnings​

  • Outstanding — your current owed total, the number that matters most.
  • Paid to date — lifetime payouts.
  • A note on where the detailed ledger rows live (managed by Slappcard ops in Admin → Affiliates → Commissions) and that self-serve payouts are phase 2.

5. Promoting Slappcard to artists​

5.1 Know the pitch​

Slappcard sells against CD duplication: a typical run of ~500 pressed CDs costs $500+ (plastic, freight, no fan emails). A Slapp Pack starts at $100 for 100 cards and includes:

  • A private, card-only listening/download page — no algorithm, no public storefront.
  • Email capture on every scan — fans' emails land in the artist's own mailing list.
  • Live QR within 24 hours of ordering.
  • A 30-day money-back guarantee (defective or multiple non-working cards, returned in full).

The one-line pitch: "A hundred physical download cards for $100, and every single person who scans it joins your email list."

  • Direct recommendations — artists you manage, mentor, or regularly advise. A personal DM beats any ad.
  • Shows and industry events — put /r/YOURCODE on business cards, flyers, or just tell artists face-to-face. QR-friendly.
  • Artist communities — Discord servers, Facebook groups, Reddit communities for indie musicians (respect each community's promo rules — relationships outlast individual posts).
  • Email lists — if you have a newsletter or industry mailer, a dedicated mention with your link converts.
  • Social bios and posts — Instagram, TikTok, X bios are the cheapest real estate you own.
  • Studio and production circles — engineers, producers, and studios who see artists spend money every week.

5.3 Message templates that work​

For a manager (1:1):

"Hey — have you seen Slappcard? It's physical NFC/QR music cards instead of CDs. A hundred cards run you $100, and every fan who scans one lands on a private page and joins your email list. Your next single drop could hand out something people actually keep. Worth a look: https://slappcard.amberprotocol.org/?ref=YOURCODE"

For a group / community:

"For any artist still pricing out CD duplication: Slappcard does 100 NFC/QR download cards from $100, with a private listening page and email capture on every scan. I'm an affiliate so my code is in my profile — happy to answer questions either way."

Keep it honest: disclose your affiliate link when a platform expects it, and don't spam.

5.4 What actually works​

  • Test your own link first. Open /?ref=YOURCODE and confirm the click shows up in Recent clicks. If you can't see it, neither can your attribution.
  • Always use your link, not a screenshot. A homepage screenshot without your code earns nothing.
  • Follow up inside the window. The 30-day clock starts at the click — a nudge while the code is still live is the difference between a click and a commission.
  • Time it to artist moments. Album announcements, tour planning, merch discussions, "how do I monetize my fans" conversations.
  • Lead with a specific example, not a generic pitch — "my last three clients switched from CDs" over "check this out."

6. FAQ​

Who can join the affiliate program? Anyone — managers, promoters, A&Rs, playlist curators, studio owners, or just fans of the product. Apply free at /affiliate-program or email slapcardz@gmail.com.

Does it cost anything to join? No. Joining, your code, and your dashboard are free. You earn when artists you refer buy packs.

How much can I earn? 10% of each referred artist's first pack purchase: $10 on the $100 QR Pack, $12.50 on the $125 Metallic Pack, $15 on the $150 Boss Pack. There's no cap on how many artists you refer.

Do I earn on an artist's repeat purchases? Not currently. The model is one commission per referred artist (first completed pack only). Recurring and bounty models are on the roadmap — the system is settings-driven, so rates and modes can change.

How is a sale attributed to me? First-touch, 30-day window. When someone clicks your link, your code is saved on their device for 30 days (cookie + localStorage) and rides through their artist signup and pack checkout. The first affiliate link they clicked is the one that gets credit.

What if the artist checks out more than 30 days after clicking my link? The code has a 30-day lifespan on their device. If it expires before checkout — and no other affiliate code was saved — the sale may not be attributed to you. Follow up with interested artists inside the window.

When do I get paid? Commissions accrue as owed when the artist's first pack purchase completes. Payouts happen on a regular schedule via check or bank transfer (PayPal/Venmo can be noted on your profile), and your ledger is marked paid after transfer. Automated payouts are phase 2.

What happens if an artist's purchase is refunded? Commission on refunded or unfulfilled orders is not paid; if already earned, it's voided from the ledger.

Can I refer myself or my own artist project? No. Self-referrals are forbidden — your own artist account can't generate commission for you. This is reviewed and enforced by Slappcard ops.

What if someone else shares my link? Your code is yours — any click on a link containing your code attributes to you, first-touch. If someone else's code was saved on the device first (or yours expired), the later one wins. Share your own link to be sure.

Can my rate change? Your default rate is 10%. Slappcard ops can set a per-affiliate rate override, and program settings can be adjusted — your dashboard always shows your current rate ("default 10% first pack").

What does paused or disabled status mean? active links track and earn. paused means tracking is off (e.g., during a review). disabled means the code is shut down — no clicks recorded, no commissions. Slappcard will tell you before your status changes.

Is there a minimum sales threshold? No minimum to join and no quota. Payouts run on Slappcard's regular schedule.

7. Terms summary​

The short version — the affiliate terms in plain words:

  1. Commission: 10% of the referred artist's first completed (paid and fulfilled) pack purchase, one-time. Set in app settings; per-affiliate overrides possible; rates can change with notice.
  2. Attribution: First-touch, 30-day window, tracked via cookie + localStorage and Stripe Checkout metadata. One code per visitor's device at a time.
  3. Eligible activity: Only completed, fulfilled pack purchases by artists you referred. Refunded orders void unpaid commissions.
  4. Prohibited: Self-referrals (referring your own artist account), incentivizing clicks with fake traffic, cookie stuffing, or anything designed to manufacture attribution. Fraud review is manual today and heuristics are on the roadmap.
  5. Status: Codes are active, paused, or disabled; only active codes record clicks and accrue commissions.
  6. Payouts: Manual, on Slappcard's regular schedule (check or bank transfer; PayPal/Venmo by arrangement), recorded in your ledger as owed → paid. Automated payouts are phase 2.
  7. Program changes: Slappcard may adjust rates, attribution rules, or terms with reasonable notice. Your dashboard reflects your current rate and status at all times.

Questions not covered here? Email slapcardz@gmail.com — same inbox the signup flow uses.