A Small Business Owners’ Guide to Artificial Intelligence

When I first started exploring artificial intelligence (AI) tools, I was overwhelmed by all the technical jargon and complex explanations. However, I knew there had to be a simpler way to understand and use AI without getting lost in the technical details.

What I’ve discovered is that AI can be incredibly powerful for small businesses – but only if you know which tools actually matter and how to use them practically. 💡

Through testing dozens of AI solutions, I have identified the approaches that truly work for small business operations.

In this straightforward guide, I will break down AI in simple terms that make sense for small business owners. No technical jargon, no complicated concepts – just practical ways to use AI to grow your business and save time.

How AI Can Transform Small Businesses

Running a small business means wearing many hats. You have to handle marketing, customer service, sales, and operations all at the same time.

It can feel overwhelming, but AI is here to help.

Instead of replacing jobs, AI acts like an extra set of hands, taking care of repetitive tasks so you can focus on what matters most.

Here’s how AI can make your daily work easier:

• Saves Time and Increases Efficiency: AI can handle repetitive tasks like email responses, appointment scheduling, and data entry. That is why over 40% of small businesses use AI to automate tasks. It frees up time so you can focus on your business.
• Better Business Insights: You can use AI to analyze data, view trends, and make smarter decisions.
• Improves Customer Experience: According to statistics, around 56% of businesses use AI for customer service. AI chatbots can give instant responses, while smart recommendations personalize the shopping experience. Happier customers mean repeat business.
• Reduces Costs: AI automates operations. Fewer manual tasks mean lower costs and higher profits. In fact, small businesses can potentially save up to $35,000 per year by using AI.
• Boosts Sales and Marketing: AI tools can help you optimize ad targeting, generate content, and analyze customer behavior. This enables you to attract the right audience and convert more leads.
• Improves Security: Popular AI tools can detect unusual patterns, helping you prevent fraud and protect customer data. This keeps your business and customers safe.

As a small business owner, you must remember that AI isn’t here to replace you—it’s here to help. The right tools can save you time, cut costs, and grow your business faster.

Having said that, let’s look at a few powerful ways to use AI for your small businesses:

• Powerful Ways to Use AI in Your Small Business
• AI for Customer Service & Communication 🤖
• AI for Marketing & Social Media📱
• Use AI for Sales & eCommerce 🚀
• Using AI for Customer Insights📈
• AI for Security & Fraud Prevention🔒
• Create AI-Powered Workflows
• Getting Started with AI in Your Small Business
• Finding the Right AI Tools for Your Business
• The Best AI-Powered WordPress Plugins for Your Business
• Final Thoughts: Avoiding Common Mistakes by Using AI the Right Way
• Frequently Asked Questions About Using AI
• Related Guides to AI and Small Businesses

Powerful Ways to Use AI in Your Small Business

Running a small business is like managing a busy restaurant. You’re taking orders, serving customers, handling the books, and keeping everything running smoothly. AI acts like a reliable sous-chef, handling repetitive tasks, analyzing data, and keeping things efficient.

It won’t take over your business, but it will free up your time so you can focus on what really matters. Let’s look at some of the best ways AI can help your small business:

1. AI for Customer Service & Communication 🤖

Good communication is the heart of any successful business. With AI, you can respond faster, give 24/7 support, and even personalize messages for your customers.

For instance, AI chatbots can handle common customer questions, freeing you up to focus on more important tasks. They can answer questions like ‘Do you offer free shipping?’ or ‘How do I reset my password?’ instantly, without you having to type a response.

You can use a tool like Chatbot.com to answer FAQs, help customers find products, and even schedule appointments.

It also integrates with social media platforms like Facebook Messenger, so your bot can instantly respond to customer inquiries, even when you’re offline.

To learn how to do this, just see our tutorial on how to add a chatbot in WordPress.

I also recommend using an AI-powered business phone service to power your customer and team communication. This can help you respond to customers faster, better understand users, and improve your overall customer service.

For example, we use Nextiva across our business, and it comes with AI-powered features like call analytics, automated call transcriptions, and real-time suggestions to call agents.

For more recommendations of AI-friendly phone systems, just see our list of the best business phone services.

Other than that, AI can really level up your email game, especially when it comes to writing professional, personalized messages at scale.

At WPBeginner, our writers often use tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to draft engaging email newsletters. It helps speed up the process while still keeping that friendly, human tone our audience appreciates.

💡 Want to try it yourself? Check out our ChatGPT prompts for marketers to get a head start on writing emails, subject lines, follow-ups, and more.

For more details on how to get started, see our beginner’s guide on how to use AI for customer service.

2. AI for Marketing & Social Media 📱

Creating engaging content on your business website and posting on social media are necessary for reaching people online, but these tasks can take up a lot of your time. Luckily, AI can help by generating written and visual content, suggesting the best times to post, and optimizing your content for SEO.

For example, AI writing assistants can help businesses create blog posts, social media captions, and product descriptions in minutes.

I personally use All in One SEO for content generation because of its built-in SEO title and meta description generator that uses AI to help create optimized titles and descriptions quickly.

To get started, just see our tutorial on how to write powerful headlines using AI.

AIOSEO also includes a Link Assistant feature with built-in AI capabilities. It scans your site for internal link opportunities, suggests relevant anchor text, and even lets you add links in bulk without manually editing each post.

I have discussed this in greater detail in our tutorial on how to use AI for SEO.

Related Post: Learn how to automatically generate image alt text in WordPress using AI.

But if you need visuals for your social media content, then I recommend Canva AI. It can generate images and short videos for your marketing campaigns, making your content more engaging.

AI also simplifies social media management. For content marketing, you can use AI to generate compelling email copy, create summaries for social media posts, and develop ideas to keep your audience engaged.

For more details on how to do all of this, simply head to our tutorial on using AI to boost your marketing.

3. Use AI for Sales & eCommerce 🚀

When you are selling products online, creating a smooth and engaging shopping experience is essential for convincing shoppers to complete their purchases. AI can also help here.

One powerful tool is StoreAgent.ai. This WooCommerce plugin allows you to add AI agents to your store to help with tasks like generating product descriptions, summarizing customer reviews, answering product-related questions, generating product tags, and optimizing your product pages.

These AI agents work behind the scenes by analyzing customer behavior and product data, helping you create a better shopping experience without doing all the work manually.

You will also need an attractive and easy-to-navigate online store if you want to get more sales.

If you’re working with WordPress, then you can use SeedProd’s AI builder. Simply provide a short prompt about your niche, and SeedProd will generate stunning landing pages, checkout flows, product pages, and more, all tailored to your eCommerce business.

This is perfect for quickly building high-converting pages without needing to touch a line of code. For details, see our tutorial on how to make a WordPress website with AI.

When it comes to customer support, ChatBot.com allows you to create AI-powered chatbots that guide your visitors throughout the shopping journey.

From answering questions to helping customers during checkout and capturing leads for future marketing, these chatbots are available 24/7 to boost customer satisfaction and sales.

You can also manage your leads and follow-ups more effectively with AI-powered CRM tools like HubSpot.

Its AI features track customer interactions, suggest the best time to follow up, and automate personalized emails, helping you close more sales without manual guesswork.

To learn some more tricks, see our article on using AI to skyrocket your lead generation campaign.

4. Using AI for Customer Insights 📈

Understanding your customers is key to growing a successful business. Analytics data can help you learn where your customers come from, how they behave on your website, and the content that they most engage with.

Instead of sorting through complicated analytics reports in the Google Analytics dashboard, I recommend using MonsterInsights with its AI Insights feature to get clear answers from your data.

It works with Google Analytics and gives you summaries, highlights, and smart recommendations directly inside WordPress, without needing to be an analytics expert.

Plus, with the new Conversations AI tool, you can chat directly with your website’s data.

Just ask plain-English questions like ‘How did my product page perform last week?’ or ‘Where are most of my conversions coming from?’ and get instant, human-friendly answers.

At WPBeginner, we also use MonsterInsights to track website traffic and create our content strategy. For more details, see our MonsterInsights review.

Additionally, you can use ChatGPT to perform sentiment analysis. The tool will analyze your customer reviews, social media comments, and surveys, and tell you how your customers felt when writing the review.

You can then use this information to draft an appropriate response and improve relationships with your visitors and customers.

To find out how to do this, see our guide on the best ways to use OpenAI on your website.

If you have a small business website with WordPress, then you can also install UserFeedback. This powerful user feedback plugin offers AI summaries that analyze responses from your website surveys and turn them into easy-to-read reports.

You’ll be able to see key trends, feature requests, and recurring customer concerns without reading every response manually.

This makes it easier to understand how users feel and what they expect, so you can respond faster and make smarter improvements.

For more details on how it works, just see our complete UserFeedback review.

5. AI for Security & Fraud Prevention 🔒

Keeping your business safe online is more important than ever. AI can help you detect threats, prevent fraud, and secure customer data. It works in the background, spotting risks before they become real problems.

For instance, you can use Cloudflare to improve your website security. It utilizes AI to protect sites from cyberattacks, malware, and suspicious activity by monitoring for malicious JavaScript, potential threats, and other anomalies.

At WPBeginner, we use Cloudflare to protect our website, and it has given us great peace of mind. For details, see our article on why we switched from Sucuri to Cloudflare.

You will also need to provide secure payments to protect both you and your customers’ data. The good news is that many reputable payment processors have in-built AI features to safeguard their transactions.

For example, both Stripe Radar and PayPal Fraud Protection use machine learning to detect and prevent suspicious payments. They analyze transactions to detect unusual patterns and stop fraudulent purchases before they go through.

If you’re using WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads, then you are in luck because both platforms integrate seamlessly with both Stripe and PayPal.

To find out how to integrate these payment options with your website, see our ultimate WordPress guide on payment processing.

Related Post🔍: To learn more about each payment gateway’s security features, see our comparison on Stripe vs. PayPal.

6. Create AI-Powered Automated Workflows 👷

Running a small business often means handling multiple tasks at once. Luckily, AI-powered automation can help you streamline your workflows by handling repetitive tasks automatically.

This lets you focus on growing your business instead of getting caught up in day-to-day operations.

For automated workflows, I recommend using Uncanny Automator. It’s like having an AI-powered digital assistant that connects different tools and automates tasks based on specific triggers.

Its OpenAI integration allows you to set up all kinds of automated workflows, such as the ability to:

• Generate content using AI.
• Create social media posts with AI whenever a new post is published on your blog.
• Translate content using AI.
• Send personalized welcome emails when someone subscribes to your newsletter.
• Respond to customer queries using AI.

For full details on how to set this up, please see our guide on how to create automated workflows in WordPress with Uncanny Automator and our list of the best ways to use OpenAI.

Getting Started with AI in Your Small Business

Getting started with AI might seem overwhelming, but you don’t need to be a tech expert to use it. The key is to start small and focus on tools that solve real problems in your business.

Whether that means automating tasks, improving customer service, or boosting sales, AI can help you work smarter, not harder.

Let’s look at some best practices for integrating AI tools into your business:

• Identify Business Pain Points: You need to first look at your business and identify any pain points that AI can solve. Try to find tasks that slow you down, like customer support, content creation, or data analysis. AI can take over repetitive work so you can focus on your business.
• Start With Low-Cost AI Tools: Test budget-friendly AI tools before committing to premium solutions. Many AI tools offer free trials or basic plans, so you can try them before making a big investment to see what fits your needs.
• Test AI tools Before Full Implementation: Don’t automate everything at once. Start by using AI for specific tasks, like creating content or responding to FAQs, and you can expand as you see results.
• Balance Automation With a Human Touch: When using AI for customer support, make sure that your customers can easily contact an agent if they want. I recommend using AI to assist and not to replace genuine engagement.
• Regularly Review AI Performance: AI tools improve over time, but they do need monitoring. Check your results, tweak settings, and make sure AI is helping not hurting, your workflow.

By following these best practices, you will make AI work for your business without feeling overwhelmed. The next step is choosing the right AI tools that fit your needs and help you grow.

Finding the Right AI Tools for Your Business

With so many AI tools available, it can be tough to narrow down the ones you may actually need to grow your small business. Whether you need help with content, marketing, or customer service, there are some great options:

• ChatGPT: Perfect for answering customer questions, generating content ideas, and writing emails. Many small businesses also use it for chatbot automation and quick content creation.
• Jasper AI: Great for writing blog posts, email campaigns, and social media captions. It helps businesses create high-quality content faster and with less effort.
• Canva AI: Makes designing visuals easy with AI-powered templates and image generation. A great tool for social media graphics, ads, and branding.
• Gemini: Google’s AI assistant for content creation, research, and brainstorming. Helpful for businesses looking for AI-powered insights and writing assistance.

I recommend starting small by choosing one or two AI tools that match your current business goals. As you begin to see results, you can gradually add more to your workflow.

Want more options to explore? Check out our curated list of the best ChatGPT alternatives for bloggers and marketers.

The Best AI-Powered WordPress Plugins for Your Business

AI tools can help with content creation, marketing, and automation, but AI plugins bring these benefits directly into your WordPress site.

Instead of switching between multiple platforms, you can use AI within WordPress to optimize SEO, generate leads, and improve customer engagement.

Here are some top AI plugins that can make running your site easier and more effective:

• AIOSEO – Uses AI to optimize your website for search engines, helping you rank higher and attract more visitors.
• SeedProd – An AI-powered landing page builder. Simply provide a prompt, and it can generate an entire website layout for you using ChatGPT.
• WPForms – Features an AI form builder that can generate entire forms based on the prompt you provide.
• MonsterInsights – Integrates with Google Analytics and uses AI to provide insights into website traffic and visitor behavior.
• OptinMonster – Uses AI to improve popup targeting, exit-intent campaigns, and personalized marketing for better conversions.
• Uncanny Automator – Lets you create automated workflows and connect ChatGPT with third-party plugins and tools.
• Thrive Ovation – Uses AI to display positive testimonials across your social channels.

For more options, see our expert pick of the best WordPress ChatGPT plugins.

Final Thoughts: Avoiding Common Mistakes by Using AI the Right Way

AI is an amazing tool, but it works best when you are in control. Think of it as a helpful assistant who can help you save time, boost efficiency, and even spark new ideas, but it still needs your guidance.

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is trusting AI without double-checking. Instead, you should use AI to support your decisions, not replace them.

You must remember that AI-generated content, whether it’s a blog post, an email, or a customer response, isn’t always perfect. Take a moment to review and tweak what it creates. Maybe it needs a little polish, a personal touch, or just a quick fact check.

Similarly, if you’re automating tasks, keep an eye on how things are running and make adjustments as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using AI

Here are some questions that are frequently asked by our readers about using AI for small businesses.

Is AI expensive for small businesses to get started with?

Not necessarily! A lot of AI tools are actually quite affordable and some even offer free plans.

If you use AI to automate repetitive tasks or speed up your workflow, it can save you both time and money in the long run. The best approach is to start small, experiment with a few tools, and scale up as you see results.

Do I need technical expertise to add AI in my business?

While having technical knowledge can be beneficial, you don’t actually need it to use AI in your business.

Many AI solutions like ChatGPT are designed with user-friendly interfaces, allowing business owners without a technical background to integrate and utilize them effectively.

Additionally, resources and support services are available to guide you.

Is it safe to use AI for customer data?

Yes, AI can be safe for customer data, as long as you use the right tools and practices. Many AI platforms follow privacy standards like GDPR, which helps ensure customer data is protected.

However, I recommend that you be transparent with your customers about what data you’re collecting and how it’s being used to build trust.

It’s also important to review the privacy policies of the AI tools you’re using to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Always collect only the data you need and take extra steps, such as encrypting sensitive information, to protect your customers’ privacy.

For more details, see our complete guide to GDPR compliance.

Related Guides to AI and Small Businesses

• How to Write Powerful Headlines Using AI (Explained)
• Best AI Content Detectors for Writers & Site Owners (Compared)
• Tips to Grow Your Business Online (Without a Lot of Money)
• Are AI Website Builders Worth The Hype? (Honest Review)
• How to Make Money Using AI
• Best AI Website Builders for WordPress

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From Freelancer to Founder: Ionut Neagu’s Journey to Building a Successful WordPress Business

From freelancer to successful co-founder, Ionut Neagu has worked with WordPress for 13+ years. Along the way, he has grown his company, Themeisle, into one of the most respected names in the WordPress ecosystem.

Their flagship products, including Neve and Hestia, are helping shape the future of website building and WordPress theme development.

Like many scrappy entrepreneurs, he started with little more than determination and a desire to learn. What makes Ionut’s story unique is his strong persistence and focus on creating genuine value.

In this interview with the WPBeginner team, Ionut shares his journey and offers valuable insights for anyone looking to build a lasting business in the WordPress space.

“I think intentions kind of matter… if you have the intention to create value through this process – for employees, for clients, for everyone that you work with… I think that also matters… my advice would be to be persistent, to try to focus on creating value and things will compound in time.”

Ionut Neagu – Co-Founder of Themeisle

Keep reading to learn how Ionut built and grew Themeisle into a household name. Whether you’re a brand-new WordPress freelancer or an experienced entrepreneur, his expert advice can help you grow.

This is our series, #MyWordPressStory, which brings you insights from leaders who use WordPress to make positive changes in the world.

If you’d like to be featured in our interview series – whether you’re a plugin developer, founder, or SEO expert – feel free to reach out and let us know through our contact form.

Video Interview with Ionut Neagu

If you’d like to watch the complete video interview with Ionut Neagu, then you can see it here:

Or you can use the links below to see what we covered in the interview (and more):

• 🙋 Meet Ionut Neagu: WordPress Pioneer and Themeisle Co-Founder
• 👨‍💻 The WordPress Journey: From Freelancing to Themeisle
• 🔍 Business Growth Strategies & Themisle Products
• 💡 Advice for Aspiring WordPress Entrepreneurs
• 🔮 Looking Ahead: The Future of Themeisle
• 💭 Final Thoughts
• 💥 Bonus Guides and Resources

🙋 Meet Ionut Neagu: WordPress Pioneer and Themeisle Co-Founder

Before we share Ionut Neagu’s valuable lessons, we have to revisit his beginnings as a web developer, before Themeisle existed.

Fresh out of college in 2010, armed with a computer science degree and a deep curiosity for learning, Ionut entered the tech world during an interesting time.

While the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis meant there were fewer traditional job opportunities, it also created space for innovative thinkers to create their own paths.

When chatting with Ryan Priddey from the WPBeginner team, Ionut reflected on these early days with his characteristic humility and a sense of humor.

“Someone took a chance on me and said, ‘Okay, we just need someone to help.’ I said, That’s me. I don’t know anything.”

This eagerness to learn and grow, even without immediate rewards or recognition, defined his early career. “I just knew I wanted to learn and prove myself,” he shared.

He even recalled how he once told a potential employer he didn’t need a salary—just the metro fare to come to work. That still didn’t get Ionut the job, but it also didn’t discourage him. He just laughed it off and kept on moving, which is an example of his persistence and resilience.

“What worked for me was curiosity and persistence and not thinking about necessarily the results.”

Ionut Neagu

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen many successful entrepreneurs start with this same combination of humility and determination.

Ionut’s story stands out because he has maintained this learning mindset throughout his 13+ year journey with WordPress, even as his company became a major force in the ecosystem.

Today, Themeisle’s WordPress themes and plugins power hundreds of thousands of websites worldwide.

As co-founder and product strategist, he’s involved in everything from theme development to exploring new acquisitions and future directions for the business.

His approach has never been about following a predetermined path or copying others’ success. Instead, he’s always focused on understanding problems and finding ways to solve them effectively.

Ionut’s story reveals how staying true to your core values can transform a simple freelance career into something much bigger.

👨‍💻 The WordPress Journey: From Freelancing to Themeisle

In his early days with web development, Ionut started by building one freelance project at a time. His first breakthrough came with a modest $30 jQuery slider project that took three days to complete.

Like many developers starting out, he was less driven by the money at this time, and more focused on building his portfolio and expertise.

Through persistence and dedication, he began to establish himself as a freelancer, although he knew there had to be a more sustainable path forward.

Around 2012, Ionut co-founded Themeisle, marking a shift from freelancing to product development. The early days brought important lessons about building a business.

“I had a lot of misconceptions because I thought by having a company, printing business cards, making the company website, we will get clients… but none of this contributed in any way.”

Ionut Neagu

These struggles are acknowledged outright on the ‘About Us’ page of the Themeisle website, which says they quickly learned to adapt because “three years without a sale will do that.”

In our opinion, Ionut’s humble and lighthearted attitude comes through here, as the team jokingly celebrates their early failures.

When asked about mistakes he’d learned from, Ionut acknowledged he has always been a bit risk-averse. He casually quoted one of his inspirations, Charlie Munger, who famously said, “All I want to know is where I’m going to die so I’ll never go there.”

But upon further reflection, Ionut also recognized that sometimes mistakes are just part of the learning process:

“A mistake, a little bit for me, is when you have all the information and you do some wrong judgment. I mean, for me back then, I had no information… I was just learning and yeah, finding my way.”

Ionut Neagu

The lesson here? It speaks to the importance of not being too hard on yourself when learning something new. Everyone has to start somewhere!

As the Themeisle team grew, they faced new challenges. After working on a lot of different projects, from SEO to Java and PHP, Ionut realized they needed to laser focus on something. And that something was WordPress development.

The timing proved perfect – soon after, they released Zerif, their first theme in the WordPress repository.

“When we released Zerif… we saw early signs of success. That was a pivotal moment because then we stopped worrying about money and could focus on how to grow the business.”

This financial stability allowed Ionut and his team to think strategically and make long-term investments. They began developing Themeisle’s blog, knowing it might take two years to see results. The focus shifted from immediate gains to building lasting value.

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen that this kind of patient, long-term thinking often separates successful WordPress businesses from those that struggle to gain traction.

By 2015, Themeisle had established itself as more than just another theme company. Instead, it was becoming a team dedicated to pushing WordPress innovation forward. Plus, the Themeisle blog started to earn a reputation as a valuable resource for WordPress tutorials, roundups, and more.

But transforming successful product launches into a thriving business required more than just good code. It also needed a solid business strategy.

🔍 Business Growth Strategies & Themisle Products

As Themeisle grew, Ionut realized that sustainable growth required more than just great products. He needed systematic approaches to running the business.

A significant milestone for the team came when Ionut started using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Our founder, Syed Balkhi, uses this model for all of his businesses, so we’re huge fans of it.

In our interview, Ionut even fondly recalled discussing EOS with Syed and how meaningful those conversations were.

After that, Ionut talked about the importance of learning how to manage while scaling. “It was another meaningful moment when we started to work with an implementer that actually showed me how I can have the team more involved and not me deciding and telling different things.”

Around this shift in management style, Themeisle also made major changes to its operations. It moved from gut-feel decision-making to data-driven strategies.

“Before that, it was a lot of guesswork. We knew like everything goes fine, we make more money than we spend, and it looks good. And that was basically all the knowledge that we had on the business.”

“Now we have quite detailed P&L (profit and loss) for the business, for the product. We understand very well where are our costs, where we invest, how that investment is working or not.”

Ionut Neagu

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen how this systematic approach to business management can transform a WordPress company. It’s not just about creating great products—it’s about building sustainable processes that support long-term growth.

This strategic approach also helped Themeisle maintain focus on their core mission: creating value for users. They concentrated on understanding and solving real problems for their customers.

The result? They developed and launched some of the most popular WordPress themes and plugins today, including Neve, Hestia, and Optimole.

But building a successful WordPress business isn’t just about strategy and systems. Ionut also has some valuable advice for others looking to follow a similar path.

💡 Advice for Aspiring WordPress Entrepreneurs

When asked what advice he’d give aspiring WordPress entrepreneurs, Ionut emphasized the importance of genuine value creation over surface-level business tactics.

His own experience taught him that traditional approaches, such as polishing resumes or printing business cards, often matter less than solving real problems.

“You need to reflect and try to think what are your skills and adjust the people you work with, adjust the industry you go to, adjust your product to suit your skills,” he explained. This self-awareness, he believes, is crucial for long-term success.

“My advice would be to be persistent, to try to focus on creating value and things will compound in time.”

Ionut Neagu

“The skills you gain, the people you meet, the clients you work with, the employees that grow with you – it all compounds over time,” he explained.

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen this compound effect in action. The most successful WordPress entrepreneurs aren’t usually those who chase quick wins, but those who focus on building value consistently over time.

When it comes to technology and tools, Ionut is particularly excited about AI’s potential. “I feel AI will bring monumental change to how we do things, how we live, and how we work,” he said.

His advice? “Just using it and trying to involve AI in everything that you do.”

He talked about how his team is experimenting with using AI tools like Cursor, but also about how every aspiring entrepreneur should focus on how to most effectively use AI.

“It’s more to build the mental models, right? So it’s not to kind of just see what’s the latest cool and trick and so on. I think just to rewire a little bit and to create mental models, because after a couple of weeks, for example, what I noticed is that I start to think differently.”

Ionut Neagu

“So when I get into a problem, I would say, okay, for that problem, I would need to use this deep research. For that problem… I need to create the flow with agents and et cetera to handle it… for this problem, I would need to ask a reasoning AI… because they work differently and are helpful in different ways.”

“I would say that people are not spending enough time on this… this is the one thing I would be focusing on.”

💥 Related Article: Surprising AI Statistics – Everything You Need to Know

This focus on creating genuine value while embracing new technologies has served Themeisle well in the past. But what does the future hold for the company and its co-founder?

🔮 Looking Ahead: The Future of Themeisle

Rather than making grand predictions about the future, Ionut prefers to focus on the fundamentals that stay constant regardless of how technology evolves. “I have a hard time to think and to plan in terms of what’s the goal in five years,” he admitted.

Instead, he said he always concentrates on two key areas: maintaining strong relationships with existing customers and nurturing a capable team.

“We have those clients that are paying their yearly subscriptions. What I can do for them? How I can make sure they are happy?”

“Now and even in five years, whatever, it would be important to have smart people around you and to grow yourself and grow as well as a team. To be able to tackle any opportunities or challenges or markets.”

Ionut Neagu

This approach of focusing on fundamentals while remaining adaptable has served Themeisle well. When Ionut spots something truly promising, he’s ready to invest fully. “When I spot something unusual, then I will go all in on that,” he explained.

His current focus is exploring how AI can enhance WordPress development and user experience. He sees it as a tool to deliver more value to users.

“I’m trying to use it for everything pretty much… trying to map it with real needs that people have or businesses have.”

As WordPress itself evolves, Themeisle’s commitment to both innovation and fundamentals positions them well for continued success. But for Ionut, success isn’t just about business metrics. It’s also about creating lasting value for the WordPress community.

💭 Final Thoughts

Ionut Neagu’s journey from a curious computer science graduate to co-founder of Themeisle offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a lasting WordPress business.

His story shows that success isn’t about following a predetermined path but staying true to core values while remaining adaptable.

What stands out most is his consistent focus on creating genuine value. From his early freelancing days to leading Themeisle today, Ionut says that business success follows naturally from helping others solve real problems.

We also appreciated how Ionut seems to strongly value the potential of each unique individual and how that should be embraced on any entrepreneurial journey.

“No entrepreneur is the same… all the stories are different… so I think in terms of skills, it’s a great opportunity to craft your own journey that suits your strengths.”

Ionut Neagu

At WPBeginner, we’ve watched ThemeIsle grow from its early days to become a significant force in the WordPress community. Their success story reminds us that in WordPress, sustainable growth comes from combining technical excellence with a genuine desire to serve users.

Through economic challenges, technological changes, and evolving market demands, Ionut’s approach has remained consistent: focus on fundamentals, invest in people, and create real value.

💥 Bonus Guides and Resources

Looking to learn more about building a business around WordPress? Here are some helpful WPBeginner resources:

• WordPress Career Options – How to Make a Living With WordPress
• How Ben Rojas Rose From a Developer to the President of AIOSEO
• How Zac McDonald Grew Into the Top-Rated WordPress Freelancer on Upwork
• Blogger Turned WordPress VIP Partner: How WordPress Continues to Inspire Rahul Bansal
• The Future of WordPress: What to Expect (Our Predictions)

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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How to Easily Do Visual Regression Testing in WordPress

Last week, a friend who manages multiple WordPress sites called me in a panic. A routine plugin update had broken his client’s navigation menu, but he didn’t notice until customers started complaining.

This is a common problem I’ve seen countless times, and it’s exactly why visual regression testing is so important for WordPress website owners.

Visual regression testing might sound complicated. However, it’s actually a simple solution that can save you hours of manual checking and prevent embarrassing layout issues.

Typically, it works by automatically comparing before-and-after screenshots of your pages. This helps catch even the smallest visual changes that might break your site’s appearance. 🔍

In this guide, I’ll show you how to do visual regression testing on your WordPress site. After testing numerous tools and methods, I’ve found the most reliable solution that won’t require any coding knowledge or technical expertise.

What Is Visual Regression Testing, and Why Is It Important? 🤔

Every time you update your site — whether it’s a WordPress core update, a new plugin, a theme change, or just a minor code tweak — there’s a chance that something on the front end might shift out of place.

For example, a button could disappear, your layout might break, or a product image could stop loading properly.

The problem? These visual bugs often go unnoticed until a visitor points them out through a contact form or design feedback survey.

By then, the damage to your site’s user experience might already be done.

That’s where visual regression testing comes in.

The process is simple: take snapshots of your pages before and after an update, then compare them to spot anything that’s changed.

And if you’re testing on a staging site (which we recommend), you can safely make updates and run comparisons to catch visual issues before anything goes live.

The good news? You don’t have to do it manually.

With visual regression testing tools like VRTs, Percy, or BackstopJS, you can automate screenshot comparisons and check how your site looks across different screen sizes — helping you catch layout issues on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Why is this important for WordPress users?

If you’re managing a WordPress website, visual regression testing is a time-saving safety net. Instead of clicking through every page after an update, this tool gives you a visual report of what changed — and whether it’s something you need to fix.

It’s especially helpful in many scenarios, such as agencies running updates across multiple WordPress sites, freelancers managing client websites, or online store owners who want to make sure the product and checkout pages stay intact.

In short, visual regression testing helps you avoid frustrating surprises, save time, and keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

With that said, I’ll share how to easily do visual regression testing in WordPress. Here’s a quick overview of all the steps I’ll cover in this guide:

• Step 1: Install and Activate the Visual Regression Testing Plugin
• Step 2: Configure the VRTs Plugin Settings
• Step 3: Add New Pages or Posts to Test
• Step 4: Check for Visual Differences
• Step 5: Review and Take Action
• FAQs for Running Visual Regression Testing in WordPress

🧑‍💻 Pro Tip: Before running visual regression tests or making design changes, I highly recommend using a staging site.

A staging site is a private clone of your live website where you can safely test updates, plugin changes, or design tweaks — without affecting your users. It helps you catch layout issues, missing buttons, or visual bugs before they go live.

Not sure how to set one up? Just see our step-by-step guide on creating a WordPress staging site for all the details.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Visual Regression Testing Plugin

In this tutorial, I’ll use the VRTs plugin because it’s beginner-friendly and offers a free version. Whether that is a shifted layout, a missing button, or a broken element after an update, VRTs helps you spot it early.

Here’s how it works: The plugin takes screenshots of the pages you select. You can then trigger comparisons manually or schedule them to run automatically after making changes to your site, such as updating a plugin or tweaking your theme.

The plugin then compares the ‘before’ and ‘after’ screenshots side-by-side and highlights any visual differences.

So, instead of manually checking every page, you get a quick visual report showing what changed, and whether anything looks off.

📝 Note: For this guide, I’ll be using the VRTs free version. It lets you run daily scans and set up to 3 visual tests — perfect for catching unexpected design issues if your WordPress site is updated often.

Need more testing options? The VRTs Pro plan lets you monitor more pages and websites. Plus, it lets you run tests after updates, trigger tests manually, and connect with your favorite tools using a simple API.

To install the plugin, you’ll first need to go to Plugins » Add New Plugin in your WordPress dashboard.

In the search bar, you can type in ‘Visual Regression Tests’ or ‘VRTs’.

Click ‘Install Now’ next to the plugin when it appears, and then click the ‘Activate’ button.

If you need help, please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Configure the VRTs Plugin Settings

Once you’ve activated the plugin, it’s time to set up when your visual regression tests should run.

Head over to VRTs » Settings in your WordPress admin menu.

Once inside, you can scroll down to the ‘Triggers’ section — this is where you tell the plugin when to automatically take and compare snapshots.

Here are the available options:

• Run Tests every 24 hours (Free) – This is the default setting. VRTs will automatically check your selected posts or pages once per day for visual changes.
• Run Tests after WordPress and plugin updates (Pro) – Great for catching layout issues caused by updates, right when they happen.
• Run Tests with your favorite apps (Pro) – Connect VRTs with external tools or workflows using webhooks.
• Run Tests on demand (Pro) – Manually trigger tests whenever you need them, directly from your WordPress dashboard.

Once you’ve selected the trigger that fits your workflow (or your license), simply click the ‘Save Changes’ button at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: Add New Pages or Posts to Test

Once you’ve configured the plugin settings, it’s time to choose which pages or posts you’d like to include in your visual regression tests.

Let’s now switch to the ‘Tests’ tab, which is where you’ll manage and run your visual tests.

From here, you can click the ‘Add New’ button. This will let you choose posts or pages to test.

In the popup that appears, you need to choose the pages or posts you want to perform the visual regression testing on.

Then, click ‘Add New Test’ to confirm your selections.

The VRTs plugin will take an initial snapshot of each selected page. This acts as your baseline — basically a “before” version of how your posts or pages look right now.

After setting up your test, you’ll see an instruction to refresh the page to load the initial snapshot. Go ahead and do just that.

With that done, you’ll find a link to the page or post snapshot you added for testing.

You will also see that the ‘Test Status’ is automatically set to ‘Scheduled’ for the next day. This is because the free version of VRTs runs tests on a 24-hour schedule.

You can click the ‘View Snapshot’ link to check the initial screenshot.

It will open in a new tab like this:

Now, you can make any changes you need to your site. Then, come back tomorrow to review the comparison and spot any unexpected visual issues.

Step 4: Check for Visual Differences

Once the test is complete and any visual bugs are detected, you should see a notification alert in the VRTs » Runs tab.

Once inside, you can hover over the run with changes detected.

Then, click the ‘Show Details’ link when it appears.

On the next screen, you’ll see a side-by-side comparison of your page, showing the before and after versions.

The plugin automatically highlights visual differences, so you can quickly spot:

• Layout Shifts and Misaligned Elements: If your design changes after a plugin update or theme change, like buttons moving out of place or text jumping around, VRTs will flag it.
• Missing or Broken Elements: Whether it’s a missing image, CTA button, or embedded form, VRTs make it easy to spot anything that disappears unexpectedly, which is especially useful for eCommerce or landing pages.
• Unexpected Content Changes: The plugin will also alert you to changes in text, links, or images, so you can catch unauthorized edits or publishing errors before users do.

You can use the drag handle in the center of the screen to slide between the old and new versions and visually confirm the exact changes.

Step 5: Review and Take Action

After running a visual regression test, you can take action based on the results. Here’s what you can do next:

• Manually edit the page: If the changes are small, you can fix the issues directly by editing the page, such as adjusting the layout, moving elements, or adding back missing features.
• Revert to a backup: If the changes are bigger or harder to fix, you can restore the page to a previous version using your website backup or version history. This helps avoid leaving issues on your site.

✋ Need a backup tool recommendation? Duplicator is an excellent choice. It’s easy to use and lets you clone your WordPress site in just a few clicks.

Some of our business websites currently use Duplicator for backups and site migrations, and I highly recommend checking it out. Read our full Duplicator review to learn more!

FAQs for Running Visual Regression Testing in WordPress

If you’re just getting started with visual regression testing, you’re not alone. Here are some quick answers to common questions I often hear from WordPress users and developers.

What is the difference between snapshot testing and visual regression testing?

Snapshot testing checks if your website’s code or content stays the same, kind of like saving a backup of how things are supposed to be.

Visual regression testing, on the other hand, focuses on the appearance of your site. It compares screenshots before and after updates to catch layout changes, missing elements, or visual bugs you might not notice right away.

What is the best tool for visual regression testing in WordPress?

The easiest option is the VRTs – Visual Regression Tests plugin. It’s beginner-friendly, doesn’t require any coding, and runs directly from your dashboard. Plus, it has a free version that’s super easy to use.

How can I do regression testing manually?

Manual regression testing means going through your site and checking key pages after you make changes, like installing a new plugin or updating your theme.

You’ll want to visit your homepage, contact page, checkout process (if you have one), and any custom layouts to make sure everything still looks and works as it should. It works, but it can be time-consuming if you manage a large or busy site.

How do you speed up regression testing?

The best way to save time is to automate it. Using a plugin like VRTs – Visual Regression Tests lets you create snapshots of your important pages and quickly compare them after an update.

No need to manually click through every page — the plugin does the visual check for you.

You can also test updates on a staging site first, so you’re not fixing issues on a live site.

What are the best ways to test WordPress website design?

Here are a few tips to test your WordPress design:

• Use a visual regression tool like VRTs – Visual Regression Tests to spot design changes.
• Preview your theme and plugin updates on a staging site.
• Test on multiple screen sizes (desktop, tablet, and mobile).
• Use browser dev tools to check how your site looks in different viewports.
• Ask for feedback from users or clients — they often notice things you might miss.

I hope this article has helped you learn how to do visual regression testing in WordPress. Next, you might want to check our article on creating chat rooms in WordPress for your users and the best user experience feedback questions to ask site visitors.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Easily Do Visual Regression Testing in WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

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8 Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins Compared (Tried and Tested)

How much time are you wasting manually tracking affiliate sales, calculating commissions, and managing payouts for your WooCommerce store?

Better yet, how many potential affiliates have you lost because your current plugin can’t handle their basic requirements?

These are questions I asked myself when I started managing affiliate programs. Since then, I’ve tested virtually every WooCommerce affiliate plugin on the market, learning the hard way which ones actually deliver results.

Today, I’m sharing my findings. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your existing affiliate program, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins: My Favorite Picks

In a hurry? No problem! I have summarized the best affiliate plugins you can use for WooCommerce in the table below:

Rank	Plugin Name	Best For…	Starting Price	Free Version/Trial?
🥇	AffiliateWP	Overall affiliate management	$149.60/year	❌
🥈	RewardsWP	Refer-a-friend programs	$79.60/ year	❌
🥉	Easy Affiliate	Subscription products	$99.60/year	❌
4	Advanced Coupons	Coupon campaigns	$59.50/year	✅
5	YITH WooCommerce Affiliates	Flexible affiliate rules	$179.99/year	✅
6	ShareASale	Finding established affiliates	$750 + fees	❌
7	Coupon Affiliates	Small business owners	$19.99/month	✅
8	SliceWP	Simple affiliate programs	$169/year	✅

Want more information? Just keep reading to learn more about each plugin.

My WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin Review Process

I’ve been on both ends of affiliate marketing programs. On the one hand, I am very familiar with best practices for managing affiliate links because we use ThirstyAffiliates to manage our affiliate content on WPBeginner.

On the other hand, seeing how we run affiliate programs for our WordPress businesses has also taught me that success goes beyond just getting people to promote products. It’s about creating sustainable partnerships and providing the right tools for both merchants and affiliates.

For most of the WooCommerce plugins on this list, I tested them thoroughly by setting up demo sites. This hands-on approach gives much better insights than simply reading feature lists or user reviews.

While I tested most plugins on demo sites, we’ve used tools like AffiliateWP in our own business for years, which has given me deep familiarity.

For each tool, the first thing I checked was how easy it was to get started. For example, AffiliateWP automatically creates registration forms and affiliate dashboards when it is activated. This reduces the amount of setup you need to do.

I also paid close attention to commission flexibility. Can you set different rates for products? How about recurring commissions for subscriptions? The best plugins, like Easy Affiliate, let you create various commission structures to match your business model.

On top of that, a good plugin should offer accurate performance reports. This will allow you to see how successful your marketing efforts are and which affiliates are bringing the best results.

Next, I also looked at how each plugin handles affiliate payments. Some plugins like YITH WooCommerce Affiliates provide multiple payment methods, automated payouts, and flexible payment schedules.

Finally, I looked at pricing structures and what you get for your money. While most affiliate plugins require an investment, I made sure to highlight which essential features are available in free versions and which are locked behind premium tiers. 

For example, the free version of Coupon Affiliates offers an auto-apply coupon code via affiliate URLs. This feature is rarely available in free plugins.

📣 Why Trust WPBeginner?

At WPBeginner, we’re a team of WordPress experts with in-depth knowledge of WordPress, eCommerce, online marketing, and more.

We don’t just test these plugins. We use many of them in our own businesses, including running successful affiliate programs for our software and plugins.

Our recommendations come from extensive hands-on testing and real-world experience. We understand what WooCommerce store owners need because we work with these tools every day and regularly hear feedback from our community of users.

Want to learn more about our testing process? Check out our editorial guidelines.

Now, let’s look at the best WooCommerce affiliate plugins I’ve tested and reviewed.

1. AffiliateWP – Best Overall WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin

AffiliateWP is the best plugin for starting and running an affiliate program in your WooCommerce store. Many of our partner brands have used it on their websites because it’s easy to set up and works well for managing affiliate partners.

What’s more, AffiliateWP offers a ton of features for online stores. You can create special affiliate landing pages, set up fraud protection, and customize your affiliate dashboard. I’ve covered the plugin more extensively in my detailed AffiliateWP review.

Getting started with AffiliateWP is super easy. Once the plugin is active, it automatically adds a sign-up form and creates a dashboard for your affiliate partners.

This beginner-friendly setup is one of the reasons why I put AffiliateWP at the top of my list.

I especially love the AI feature that helps review affiliate applications. It can look at each application and tell you whether to accept or reject it, along with clear reasons why.

Another thing that makes AffiliateWP really useful is its flexibility with payments. You can choose to pay your affiliates once, set up regular payments, or create different payment levels.

Plus, it sends automatic emails to keep you and your partners updated about sales and important changes.

Pros of AffiliateWP:

• The plugin setup process takes less than 5 minutes, with the registration form and dashboard created automatically.
• Affiliates can create their own affiliate links right away through their dashboard, so they can start promoting your business.
• I love the AI Affiliate Review feature, which screens applications and accepts or rejects recommendations automatically.
• I’ve found the custom commission rules to be incredibly flexible. You can easily switch between one-time, recurring, or tiered payments, depending on what works best for your business.
• The automated email system keeps both you and your affiliates updated about new sales, payments, and important changes.
• The affiliate leaderboard feature has been great for encouraging partners to stay active.
• The fraud detection system protects you from fake sales by automatically blocking self-referrals.
• You can enable reCAPTCHA on your registration form to prevent spambots and scripts from signing up for your affiliate program.
• The reporting dashboard shows clear statistics about your total earnings, average referral amount, and paid or unpaid referrals.
• No matter which plan you use, you get multiple payout options, including one-click payouts and store credits.

Cons of AffiliateWP:

• You’ll need to pay to use the plugin, as there’s no free version available.
• Some useful features, like multi-currency support, are only available in higher-priced plans. So, you need to choose a plan based on the features you need, not the number of websites the plugin will be used for.

Why I recommend AffiliateWP: I picked AffiliateWP as my top choice because it’s powerful enough to handle big affiliate programs. But it’s still easy enough for beginners to use, making it perfect for most WooCommerce store owners.

Pricing: AffiliateWP has 3 main plans, ranging from $149.60 to $299.60 per year. The cheapest plan works great if you only have 1 website. You will get all the basic features you need: unlimited affiliates, 30 AI reviews, and tools to track sales.

I totally understand if this pricing seems steep for new small business owners. That’s why I am happy to share that WPBeginner readers can get up to 50% off their first purchase with our AffiliateWP coupon code!

2. RewardsWP – Best for Refer-a-Friend Programs

RewardsWP is a beginner-friendly plugin for setting up and running a refer-a-friend program in your WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads store. It rewards your existing customers for recommending your online store, which is a low-effort way to drive more sales and conversions.

It’s incredibly easy to get started. The plugin automatically enrolls customers into the referral program right after they make a purchase, making the entire process hands-off for store owners.

One feature I like is the customizable Rewards Widget, which appears automatically when a user logs in to your site. It displays a unique discount code that the customer can share with their friends, making it super easy for them to start referring right away.

You can personalize the widget by choosing your brand colors with a color picker, adjusting the launcher display settings, and selecting which social networks customers can use to share.

It’s a simple but highly effective way to boost customer engagement and word-of-mouth referrals.

With RewardsWP, I like that you’re not limited to offering just one reward or focusing on a single audience. It gives incentives to both the referring customer and the friend they invite.

This double-sided reward system is built right in, which boosts participation and encourages faster conversions. The referring customer gets rewarded for each successful referral, while the invited friend gets rewarded on their first purchase.

I was also really impressed with how the plugin automatically connects guest purchases to customer accounts. This ensures customers don’t lose their referral history or earned rewards if they later decide to create an account.

Pros of RewardsWP

• It includes built-in email notifications, which let you automatically send a welcome email, notify advocates when their friends make a purchase, and alert referred friends once they claim their rewards.
• You can easily track rewards and referrals right inside your WordPress dashboard.
• RewardsWP comes with powerful fraud protection features like duplicate detection, IP filtering, and email validation.
• It pairs effortlessly with AffiliateWP, which makes it simple to run both an affiliate and refer-a-friend program together.
• The plugin has a smart self-referral detection system that blocks users who try to refer themselves using the same or modified email addresses.

Cons of RewardsWP

• The plugin does not have a free plan.

Why I recommend RewardsWP: If you’re looking to create a refer-a-friend program for your WooCommerce or EDD store, then I recommend RewardsWP. It’s secure, beginner-friendly, and packed with powerful features that make running a referral program super easy.

Pricing: RewardsWP offers three paid plans, starting at $79.60 and going up to $159.60. The Basic plan is a great option if you simply want to create a refer-a-friend program on one website.

It includes unlimited members, unlimited rewards, and no monthly fees, making it an affordable way to get your referral program up and running.

3. Easy Affiliate – Best for Subscription-Based Products

Easy Affiliate is the ideal WooCommerce affiliate plugin for subscription-based businesses. It stands out because it offers a one-time commission option when affiliates drive new customers, as well as a commission option for all sales.

This way, you can create a commission structure that encourages affiliates to bring in quality, long-term customers. You can learn more about its features and capabilities in my complete Easy Affiliate review.

The affiliate dashboard is another standout feature. Unlike other plugins that can feel cluttered, Easy Affiliate organizes everything neatly in tabs.

Your partners can easily check their earnings, track their performance, and access marketing materials without getting overwhelmed.

What’s more, affiliates can generate their own tracking links and monitor how well each campaign performs. The dashboard shows everything from conversion rates to estimated payouts, keeping your partners engaged and motivated to promote your subscription products.

Easy Affiliate also integrates smoothly with popular email marketing services like Kit and ActiveCampaign. You can automatically add new affiliates to your email list and keep them updated about your products.

This helps you maintain good communication with your partners without extra work.

Pros of Easy Affiliate:

• The setup process automatically detects your eCommerce platform and helps you integrate it in minutes.
• During testing, I found that you can migrate your data from another affiliate plugin to Easy Affiliate in a few clicks. This way, you don’t need to set up your program from scratch.
• The affiliate registration system lets you choose between public signups, manual approvals, or invitation-only access.
• The Commission Levels add-on is useful for creating tiered rewards that keep top affiliates motivated.
• The PayPal Mass Payment feature makes it easy to pay multiple affiliates at once without manual processing.
• The plugin sends automatic email notifications whenever someone applies or earns a commission.
• The affiliate reporting system clearly shows your program’s performance, including subscription metrics and conversion rates.
• You can track affiliate campaign performance in Google Analytics by enabling UTM parameters with one click.

Cons of Easy Affiliate:

• You need to purchase an additional add-on to get protection against self-referrals.
• The plugin only supports PayPal or manual payments, which might limit your payout options.

Why I recommend Easy Affiliate: I recommend Easy Affiliate for subscription-based businesses because it offers the most comprehensive tracking and commission options for recurring payments.

Pricing: Easy Affiliate offers three pricing tiers from $99.60 to $199.60 per year. The cheapest Basic plan includes everything you need to start: unlimited affiliates, secure tracking, WooCommerce integration, and PayPal payments.

4. Advanced Coupons – Best Affiliate Coupon Builder

Advanced Coupons is primarily designed for managing online store coupons. But its integration with affiliate plugins makes it an essential tool for running successful WooCommerce coupon campaigns through your partners.

For a complete breakdown of its features, take a look at my in-depth Advanced Coupons review.

The timing of affiliate promotions can make or break their success. That’s why I love how Advanced Coupons lets you schedule campaigns in advance. Your partners can plan their promotions better when they know precisely when coupons will go live.

I was also very impressed with the auto-apply URL feature (since nobody likes typing in complicated codes, especially on mobile devices).

Your affiliates simply share a link, and when customers click it, the discount applies automatically. No copying and pasting is required.

The plugin also gives you a lot of control over your promotional strategy through its detailed rule system. This helps protect your profit margins while running affiliate campaigns.

Whether you want to set minimum purchase thresholds or limit usage per customer, Advanced Coupons lets you fine-tune every aspect of your affiliate coupon campaigns.

Pros of Advanced Coupons:

• You can create new coupons in just a few clicks through the simple dashboard interface.
• Instead of typing codes, customers can apply discounts by clicking a special URL link.
• You can set exact rules, such as minimum spending amounts or limiting coupons to specific products.
• Cart conditions let you create offers like “spend $50 to get free shipping” or “buy 3 items to get 20% off.”
• The coupon scheduling system automatically activates and deactivates coupons at preset times.
• The plugin offers multiple coupon types, including BOGO deals, percentage discounts, and free gifts.
• You can start with the free version to test basic coupon features before upgrading.
• The plugin works seamlessly with AffiliateWP and other major affiliate plugins, without any conflicts.

Cons of Advanced Coupons:

• You’ll need to purchase a separate affiliate plugin to access affiliate-focused settings.

Why I recommend Advanced Coupons: It’s my favorite pick for affiliate coupon management because it makes creating and managing affiliate coupon campaigns simple.

Pricing: Premium plans start at $59.50 and go up to $149.50 per year. The cheapest plan, Growth, includes essential features such as auto-apply coupons, URL sharing, and campaign scheduling tools.

I also have a special Advanced Coupons discount code for WPBeginner readers.

5. YITH WooCommerce Affiliates – Highly Flexible Affiliate Plugin

YITH WooCommerce Affiliates gives you complete control over how your affiliate program runs. I’ve tested many YITH plugins before, and they’ve always been reliable and user-friendly, and this one is no exception.

The reason I call it the most flexible is simple. There’s just one paid plan that includes all the features. Unlike other plugins that spread features across different tiers or add-ons, YITH gives you everything in one package.

Plus, you can add other YITH plugins if you need extra functionality for your WooCommerce store. For example, you can install a YITH plugin for creating a multi-vendor marketplace.

Creating affiliate forms is also super simple. You can ask for any information you need, from basic contact details to social media profiles.

Simply add these forms to any page on your site using a shortcode, and then review the applications from your dashboard.

Managing commissions is straightforward, too. You can set a basic commission rate for everyone and then create special rates for specific products or affiliates.

For instance, you could offer 10% on most products but give 15% on your premium items.

I also love the plugin’s payment system. You can choose to pay affiliates manually or automatically, set minimum payout amounts, and use PayPal, Stripe, or bank transfers.

You can even schedule payments for specific days of the month or when affiliates reach certain earnings.

Pros of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates:

• You can build registration forms that ask exactly what you want to know about potential affiliates, like their social media profiles, website URLs, or marketing experience.
• The dashboard clearly shows all affiliate activity, including clicks and sales, to help you identify which marketing channels are most effective.
• There is a feature that lets you decide whether the first or last affiliate click gets the commission. This way, you can fairly reward either the affiliate who initially introduced the customer or the one who made the final sale.
• During my tests, I found that you can use this plugin together with WooCommerce’s built-in coupon feature. Then, you can assign each coupon to different affiliates.
• The plugin handles payments automatically based on your rules, like paying affiliates monthly or when they reach $100 in earnings.
• You get clear WooCommerce reports showing which affiliates bring in the most sales.
• The plugin sends automatic updates to affiliates about their earnings through email notifications.

Cons of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates:

• The plugin doesn’t support multiple currencies.

Why I recommend YITH WooCommerce Affiliates: It offers an all-in-one solution that gives you complete control over your affiliate program without the complexity of multiple plans or add-ons.

Pricing: There’s a free version of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates that you can use to get started. But it lacks features like coupon assignment and commission notifications. You can also get the premium version for $179.99 per year, which includes all the features I mentioned in this review.

6. ShareASale WooCommerce Tracker – Best for Reaching Established Affiliates

ShareASale, now part of the Awin network, is one of the largest affiliate marketplaces in the world. This platform helps you connect your WooCommerce store with ShareASale’s vast network of pre-screened, professional affiliates.

The platform also handles everything from affiliate screening to payment processing, saving you countless hours of management work. This is why some of our partner brands use ShareASale and are satisfied with its performance.

One thing to note is that ShareASale is not a WooCommerce affiliate plugin. It is a third-party platform. However, it has a ShareASale WooCommerce Tracker plugin that lets you connect the platform with your website. The plugin makes integration surprisingly straightforward.

Once installed, you just need to enter your ShareASale Merchant ID in the WooCommerce Tracker settings. After that, the plugin automatically tracks all sales and commissions without any extra work on your part.

ShareASale’s reporting system gives you a clear view of your program’s performance. You can see which affiliates drive the most sales, track conversion rates, and monitor commission payouts, all from one dashboard.

Pros of ShareASale:

• You get instant access to thousands of professional affiliates looking for products to promote. Based on my research, this benefit is not offered by many affiliate plugins.
• The platform handles all the technical aspects, from hosting to tracking to payments.
• I found the analytics dashboard extremely detailed, showing everything from click data to conversion rates.
• ShareASale manages all affiliate payments automatically, saving you from having to process them manually.
• The platform screens all affiliates before they join, ensuring quality partnerships.
• The integration with WooCommerce works well with the official plugin.
• You can use the attribution tool to reward top-performing affiliates.

Cons of ShareASale:

• The initial setup cost of $750 and a 20% transaction fee on affiliate commissions paid might be steep for small businesses.

Why I recommend ShareASale: For businesses ready to scale their affiliate program, ShareASale’s established network and automated management system can make it worth the investment.

Pricing: ShareASale typically requires an upfront payment around $650 to $750, plus a deposit and monthly platform fee. There’s also a 20% transaction fee on affiliate commissions paid.

While these costs are significant, they give you access to one of the largest affiliate networks available.

7. Coupon Affiliates – Best Freemium Affiliate Plugin

Coupon Affiliates offers powerful affiliate features in its free version that you’d typically have to pay for in other plugins. Plus, you get 7 days to try all the premium features before deciding if you need them.

The free version gives you more than you’d expect. For example, you can create affiliate dashboards where your partners can view their stats, track the commission they’ve earned, and manage their own registration forms.

You can also choose how to pay them (either a percentage of sales or a fixed amount) and even set up recurring payments for subscription products.

I liked the referral link system that comes with the free version. Your affiliates can create their own tracking links, and when customers click these links, their coupon codes are automatically applied at checkout.

You can also view the most recent website visits via the affiliate coupon code URLs.

If you upgrade to the premium version, you get more special features. For instance, you can create groups of affiliates and assign them special commission rates.

This will be helpful if you want to reward your top performers with higher commissions or set up different rates for influencers versus regular affiliates. 

Pros of Coupon Affiliates:

• The free version displays important stats, such as total sales, clicks, and conversion rates.
• Affiliates can check their referral orders and filter them by date to track their performance.
• When affiliates share their referral links, their coupon codes are automatically applied at checkout.
• The premium version lets affiliates earn commissions from other affiliates they recruit. In my research, I’ve only seen a handful of plugins that have this feature.
• You can create different affiliate groups with their own commission rates and rules.
• The affiliate leaderboard feature helps motivate partners to sell more.

Cons of Coupon Affiliates:

• In my opinion, the dashboard design feels outdated and could use a modern refresh.

Why I recommend Coupon Affiliates: This WooCommerce affiliate plugin is perfect for businesses that want to start an affiliate program without a significant upfront investment.

Pricing: The free version of Coupon Affiliates includes core features like affiliate dashboards and commission tracking. Premium plans start at $19.99 per month or $12.99 per month with annual billing. There’s also a lifetime option at $599.99.

8. SliceWP – Simple, Easy-to-Use Affiliate Plugin

SliceWP makes managing affiliate programs feel effortless with its clean, modern dashboard design. During my tests of various affiliate plugins, I found SliceWP’s interface to be the most intuitive and easy to navigate.

The dashboard’s straightforward layout helps you evaluate your affiliate marketing performance without getting overwhelmed. You can see an overview of important statistics, including total referral revenue, the latest registered affiliates, and the latest commissions, among others.

The plugin strikes a good balance between simplicity and functionality. In the free version, you get essential features like unlimited affiliates, customizable tracking links, and basic commission management.

If you need more, the premium version adds powerful tools like custom commission rates and social sharing from the affiliate’s account page.

What I particularly like is how SliceWP handles add-ons. Instead of making you buy them separately, all add-ons with 24+ options are included with the premium plans. This means you get everything from PayPal mass payouts to multi-level affiliate systems in one package.

Pros of SliceWP:

• The affiliate dashboard shows clear statistics about clicks and sales.
• You can add unlimited affiliates, even in the free version.
• The affiliate plugin lets you review applications before accepting partners.
• The premium version includes all 24+ add-ons at no extra cost.
• You can set different commission rates for specific product pages or affiliates.
• Email notifications keep affiliates updated about their earnings automatically.

Cons of SliceWP:

• Based on my testing, I feel that the free version’s manual payout system could lead to errors since you have to select affiliates and amounts individually.
• Compared to other affiliate plugins, SliceWP’s core plugin doesn’t have as many features.

Why I recommend SliceWP: This plugin is great for businesses that want a clean, professional-looking affiliate program that’s easy to manage.

Pricing: There’s a free version of SliceWP to get you started. Premium plans range from $169 to $259 per year, and both include access to all add-ons.

What Is the Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin?

After testing numerous WooCommerce affiliate plugins, AffiliateWP is my top overall recommendation. Its combination of powerful features and a user-friendly interface makes it perfect for both beginners and experienced users alike.

Plus, the AI feature that helps you review applications is a game-changer for saving time on program management.

On the other hand, if you want to create a refer-a-friend program in just a few minutes, then RewardsWP is the ideal choice. It is powerful, beginner-friendly, and secure.

If you run a subscription-based business, then Easy Affiliate might be a better choice. It’s specifically designed to handle both one-time and recurring commissions, helping you reward affiliates for bringing in long-term customers.

For businesses focusing on coupon-based affiliate marketing, Advanced Coupons works great alongside these plugins. While it’s primarily a coupon management tool, its scheduling features and auto-apply URLs make running affiliate coupon campaigns much easier.

WooCommerce Affiliates: Frequently Asked Questions

After reviewing the best WooCommerce affiliate plugins, let’s answer some common questions about running an affiliate program on WordPress.

Does WordPress allow affiliate links?

Yes, WordPress fully supports affiliate links. You can add them to your posts, pages, or anywhere else on your website. Just make sure to follow proper disclosure guidelines and mark affiliate links as ‘nofollow’ for SEO best practices.

Can I use WooCommerce for affiliate marketing?

Yes, you can create an affiliate marketing program with WooCommerce. However, you’ll need a dedicated affiliate plugin because WooCommerce doesn’t include affiliate tracking features by default.

The best plugins are AffiliateWP for overall management, Easy Affiliate for subscription products, or Advanced Coupons if you want to run coupon-based campaigns.

How do you create affiliate links in WooCommerce?

The process depends on which plugin you use. With AffiliateWP, affiliates get access to a dashboard where they can generate their own referral links instantly.

They don’t need to wait for you to create links. Instead, they can start promoting your products right after being approved. Other plugins like Easy Affiliate also offer similar features.

Discover More WooCommerce Tips and Tricks

Looking to learn more tips and tricks for managing your WooCommerce store? Check out these beginner-friendly guides:

• How to Create a Loyalty Program in WooCommerce (Step by Step)
• How to Send a Coupon After a WooCommerce Product Review
• How to Schedule Coupons in WooCommerce (and Save Time)
• How to Offer a Shipping Discount in WooCommerce
• How to Create Smart Coupons in WooCommerce
• How to Add Advanced Gift Cards in WooCommerce (Easy Way)
• How to Create One-Time Personalized Coupon Codes in WooCommerce

I hope this article has helped you choose the best WooCommerce affiliate plugin for your business. You may also want to check out our ultimate guide to WooCommerce SEO and our expert picks of the best WooCommerce product grid plugins.

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The post 8 Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins Compared (Tried and Tested) first appeared on WPBeginner.

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