How do agencies use Shopspotting?
When a client wants to sell digital products and Merchavio fits, the agency recommends it, labelled as advertising, and says openly that it receives commission. The client signs up through the agency’s Shopspotter link themselves; if they want, the agency bills the setup as a separate service, at the same price with or without the link. The commission runs for as long as the client pays and the agency takes part, and it grows with the client’s revenue.
When does the topic come up in projects?
Agencies are often the first to notice when a client wants more than a website. Three situations are common:
Web design
The client wants a course area, a members’ area or a shop for downloads on their new site.
Funnels
A webinar is meant to turn into a paid programme. That needs a sales page, checkout, access and emails.
Marketing
The client is launching a digital product and needs a place where campaigns land and purchases come through cleanly.
In each case, the offer needs a system for selling, access and customer data. If Merchavio fits, that is where your recommendation comes in. How to tell is explained in which sellers suit Merchavio.
How to build Merchavio into a project
Clarify the need
In the briefing, ask what the client wants to sell, how they want to charge (one-off, subscription, bundle) and which tools they use today.
Recommend and label
In the concept or proposal, suggest Merchavio with “Ad” at the point where you recommend it, plus a sentence saying that you receive commission.
The client signs up
The client creates their own account through your Shopspotter link, with their own email and their own Stripe account, and pays for the plan with their own payment method. That way everything belongs to them. If the agency pays for the plan with its own payment method, this can fall under the ban on self-referral, and no commission arises from it.
Set up for a fee
If they want, you help set up pages, products and checkout. You agree with the client how you work together; the account stays theirs. Your fee is a separate item and stays the same whether the client uses your link or not.
Ongoing support if wanted
After launch, you can offer ongoing services: new sales pages, campaigns, reports. You bill those yourself too.
How do you stay transparent with the client?
Your client relies on you to suggest what is best for their project. To keep it that way:
- Label the recommendation. “Ad” appears in the proposal or presentation right next to Merchavio and the link.
- Say that you receive commission. One sentence is enough: “We recommend Merchavio as a Shopspotter. If you sign up through our link, we receive a commission on what you pay Merchavio.”
- Keep your fee and the signup separate. No discount on the setup and no free service because the client uses your link. Benefits like that are only allowed with Merchavio’s prior consent in text form.
- Only recommend what fits. If the client needs something else, tell them.
- Handle data with care. Use the details about your sellers in the Shopspotter area only to check your statements, never for advertising.
How do the project and the commission fit together?
Your fee pays for your work on the project. The commission is paid by Merchavio, out of what the client pays Merchavio, with no extra work for the commission. At Merchavio, that is 25% of the fee on every sale the client makes, plus 25% of their monthly plan on top, a fixed base amount between €4.75 and €124.75 a month. Both are net, for as long as the client pays and you take part.
Two points matter for an agency. Each client counts separately, and the amounts add up. And the share of the fees grows with the client’s revenue: if you help them sell more after launch with pages and campaigns, that part grows too. A worked example is in supporting your sellers, the full calculation in how the commission is calculated.
The free trial itself does not earn commission. Commission arises as soon as the client pays Merchavio something, their plan or the fee on a sale. If they cancel, no new commission arises from them. The commission adds to your fees; it doesn’t replace them.
Taking part as an agency or company
Agencies and companies are explicitly welcome as businesses. Ideally, create the Shopspotter account in the agency’s name, with a company email address rather than one person’s. The tax and payout details then show the company name, address, country of registration, tax status and tax number or VAT ID, plus IBAN or PayPal address. You don’t write invoices: Merchavio creates a self-billing credit note in the company’s name for every payout.
If several of you work on it, you all use the agency’s one link. That way all sellers come together in one account. Who can take part is explained in who can become a Shopspotter.
The next step for your agency
Create the account, look at which current projects involve a client who wants to sell digital products, and put the sentence about commission into your proposal template. How to present Merchavio in conversation is shown in the guide to recommending it.
Know people who sell online?
Then create your free Shopspotter account with Merchavio and share your link. You receive 25% of everything your sellers pay, every month.