# Welcome new affiliates

> Start from the Welcome New Affiliate template to email every new affiliate a welcome and first steps as soon as they join your programme.
>
> Source: https://docs.bcl.my/automation-affiliate-welcome/

A new affiliate is most motivated on the day they join. This automation sends them your own welcome email right away, with what to do first. BCL's **Welcome New Affiliate** template already contains the email; this recipe trims the template to it.

## What you need

The affiliate programme turned on, see [Enable affiliates](/enable-affiliates/). Mail Niaga is optional.

## Build it from the template

Use the template, then remove the part you do not need:

1. Go to **Automations** and click **Templates**.
2. Find **Welcome New Affiliate** and click **Use Template**. BCL opens the new automation, which starts inactive.
3. If you do not use Mail Niaga, click **Add to Mail Niaga**, click the bin icon under it and click **Delete Node**.
4. Double-click **Send Welcome Email**. Recipient, subject and message are filled in; reword them if you like, and click **Save Email**.

   | Field | Template value |
   | --- | --- |
   | **Recipient Email** | `{affiliate_email}` |
   | **Email Subject** | `Welcome to {business_name} Affiliate Program!` |
   | **Email Content** | A welcome with tips: share your link on social media, add it to your website, send it to friends |

   *(Screenshot: Email Action Settings of Send Welcome Email with the template's subject and message)*

5. Click **Rename** to give it your own name, click **Update Automation**, then **Activate** and confirm.

The finished workflow:

*(Screenshot: The workflow canvas with Affiliate Joined connected to Send Welcome Email)*

The template's trigger is labelled **Affiliate Joined**. It is the same trigger as **New Affiliate Registered** in the trigger list.

Useful variables for this trigger:

| Variable | Shows |
| --- | --- |
| `{affiliate_name}` | The affiliate's name |
| `{affiliate_email}` | The affiliate's email |
| `{affiliate_phone}` | The affiliate's phone |
| `{business_name}` | Your business name |

## Test it

Check the recipe with a test run before you rely on it:

1. Join your own programme as an affiliate with a second email address, see [Join an affiliate programme](/affiliate-sign-up/).
2. Open the automation and click **Overview**. The sign-up shows as a run in **Execution History**; a delivered email shows as **Completed**.

## Tips

A few ways to get more from this recipe:

- **Add your promotion material.** Link your media kit or [marketing media](/affiliate-marketing-media/) page so new affiliates can post the same day.
- **Welcome them on WhatsApp.** A **Send Wabot** or **Send WasapBot** step with `{affiliate_phone}` feels more personal than email.
- **Say so in the email if you approve affiliates by hand.** The trigger fires when they sign up, before you approve them.

## Common issues

### The template has an Add to Mail Niaga step. Do I need it?

Only if you use Mail Niaga. Without a connected Mail Niaga account, that step fails on every run. Delete it, or connect Mail Niaga and pick a Mailing List in it.

### Does BCL already email new affiliates?

Yes, two short ones: Welcome to Our Affiliate Program when they create their affiliate account, and Welcome to the Merchant Program when they join your programme, with a link to their dashboard. This automation adds your own welcome, in your words, with tips and links.