This article will cover the following:
Overview
Affiliates can join your network in two ways: by completing your public signup form, or by being added manually by your team. Once an account exists, its status controls what the affiliate can access on your platform.
Signup Via Application Form
1
The affiliate visits your network's signup URL and completes the application form. You can customize what information you collect.
2
CAKE creates the account in Pending status and notifies your team that a new application is waiting.
3
Log in to CAKE, navigate to Affiliates, and filter by Pending status to review the application.
4
Approve or reject. Approved affiliates receive a welcome email with login credentials. Rejected applicants can receive a custom notification message.
Tip:
Review applications promptly — affiliates who wait too long may sign up with a competing network. Aim to review new applications within one business day.
Review applications promptly — affiliates who wait too long may sign up with a competing network. Aim to review new applications within one business day.
Manual Addition
For affiliates you've already vetted outside CAKE — such as partners you've spoken with directly — use the manual addition flow to set them up without a waiting period.
1
Go to Affiliates > Add New Affiliate.
2
Fill in their contact information, company name, payment details, and any internal notes.
3
Set their initial status to Active if they're ready to start immediately, or Pending if you want a review step.
4
Save the record. CAKE generates login credentials you can share directly with the affiliate.
Affiliate Status Reference
| Status | What it means | Platform access | Offer access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pending | Application submitted; awaiting review | None | None |
| Active | Approved and in good standing | Full affiliate portal | Offers you've granted access to |
| Inactive | Dormant account; affiliate cannot log in | None | None |
| Rejected | Application declined during review | None | None |
| Suspended | Temporarily blocked, usually for a policy violation | None | None |
Note:
Changing an affiliate from Active to Suspended immediately removes their access without deleting historical data. You can restore access at any time by changing the status back to Active.
Changing an affiliate from Active to Suspended immediately removes their access without deleting historical data. You can restore access at any time by changing the status back to Active.
Onboarding Best Practices
- Set clear application requirements. The more specific your signup form, the easier it is to evaluate applicants quickly and consistently.
- Use auto-approval selectively. Auto-approval speeds up onboarding but bypasses quality review. Consider it only for invite-only programs where you've already vetted the affiliate externally.
- Document your rejection criteria. Consistent, documented criteria protect you if an applicant asks why they were rejected.
- Send a welcome message. Include key resources in the welcome email — your network's offer list, traffic guidelines, and payment schedule — so affiliates can get started without needing to ask.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your dedicated CAKE Client Success Manager/Account Manager or contact the CAKE Support Team at support@getCAKE.com.