> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.impact.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.impact.com/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/creator-program/set-up-your-creator-program-with-the-self-serve-checklist.md).
# Set up your Creator program with the self-serve checklist
If your impact.com subscription includes Creator tools, you can launch an influencer marketing program yourself — at no additional cost — by following a short, guided setup checklist. No separate onboarding is required: the self-serve flow reuses the account you already have.
This article walks you through each step of the checklist, from opening it to publishing your program. For a high-level overview of everything included with Creator, see [Get Started with Included Creator & Advocate Features](/other/reference-documentation/get-started-with-included-creator-and-advocate-features.md).
{% hint style="info" %}
You can leave and return to the checklist at any time — your progress is saved automatically.
{% endhint %}
## Before you begin
* You need an existing impact.com Performance account. The Creator setup checklist is launched from inside your account.
* Your Creator program is a separate program — changes you make here won't affect any of your existing programs.
## Open the setup checklist
1. On your dashboard, find the **Grow your partner ecosystem with new included capabilities** widget.
2. On the **Drive incremental affiliate revenue with influencer marketing program** card, select **Start with Creator**. The Creator program landing page opens.
3. On the landing page, select **Get Started** to launch the setup checklist.
## Complete the checklist
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
### Welcome to Creator program
On the **Overview** screen, impact.com creates your creator-facing Marketplace profile from your Performance program:
* If you have one Performance program, your profile is copied across automatically.
* If you have more than one, select the Performance program you'd like to copy your profile from.
Select **Get Started** to continue.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### Set up your program
This step captures the details creators see and defines how you track and reward them.
#### Program Information
Review the creator-facing profile details carried over from your Performance program, and edit them if needed.
Field reference
| Field | Description |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Program Name** | The name creators will see for your program. |
| **Tell us about your brand** | A short description of your brand, using 250 characters or less. |
| **Logo** | Select **Choose File** or drag and drop an image to upload your logo. |
| **Service areas** | Select  **\[Drop-down menu]** to choose the region(s) your program operates in. |
#### Activate Recruitment Agent
The Recruitment Agent grows your program by automatically approving verified creators who match your brand — those in a curated creator collection, with a creator business model, and whose country matches one of your service areas. Choose the recruitment strategy that suits your program: for the most control over who joins, select the **Curated** strategy, which auto-approves the fewest, highest-quality creators. You can adjust these settings after you finish the checklist. To learn more, see [Recruitment Agent Explained](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/platform-features/review-partner-applications/automate-partner-application-processing/recruitment-workflows-explained.md).
#### Set up Website Tracking
If your account has more than one Performance program, choose a **Default landing page** from the  **\[Drop-down menu]**. Your landing page selection determines which events are set up and tracked for your program.
#### Define compensation types
Choose how you want to reward creators for delivering user-generated content (UGC) or social posts. You can combine options — e.g., pair a flat fee with product gifting or performance-based rewards to attract top creators.
Compensation types
| Type | Description |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Flat Fee** | Creators receive a set amount when they deliver UGC or a social post. |
| **Product Gifting** | Creators receive free products or services in exchange for UGC or social posts. |
| **Performance-based** | Creators earn a commission on the sales their posts generate. This option requires an integration. |
To learn more about compensation options and event types, see [Event Types Explained](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/platform-features/event-types/event-types-explained.md).
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### Set up your integration
#### Partner Crediting
This screen explains how partner crediting works: every partner who influences a conversion receives fair recognition — not just the partner responsible for the last click. Crediting all contributors keeps creators motivated to keep driving revenue, similar to how you allocate spend across pay-per-click (PPC) or other campaigns. No action is needed on this screen.
To learn more about how creators and performance partners share credit for a conversion, see [Understand Shared Credit Across Creator & Performance Programs](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/creator-program/understanding-shared-credit-between-creator-and-performance-programs.md).
#### Configure default payout
1. Under **Select an event**, choose the event you want to track, e.g., *Online Sale*. This tells impact.com when to pay your creators. If your Performance program has a single event, it's applied automatically; if it has more than one Online Sale or Online Lead event, select the event you want to use.
2. Under **Set default payout**, choose how much to pay when a conversion happens: select a **percentage** or **flat** payout, enter the amount, and choose the unit, e.g., per *item*.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Recommended:** Offer a higher cost-per-action (CPA) of 15–30% to creators. A higher CPA helps you attract top-tier talent, get stronger content and partnerships, and drive more conversions. You can fine-tune payout and contract settings later in the platform.
{% endhint %}
To learn more about payout rules, see [Set Up Campaign-Specific Payouts](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/platform-features/contracts-and-template-terms/template-terms/set-up-campaign-specific-payouts.md).
#### Shopify Integration
If you already use Shopify with your Performance program, connect it to your Creator program here. Select **Continue to Shopify app store** to add the impact.com app to your Shopify account and enable automated tracking, then return to the checklist.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### Select a billing group
If your account has more than one billing group, select the billing group for your Creator program, then select **Next** to continue. To learn more, see [Billing Groups Overview](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/platform-features/finance/finance-settings/beta-billing-groups-overview.md).
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### You're all set
When the checklist reaches 100%, your Creator program is live. From the final screen you can:
* **Recruit new creators to join your program** — select **Discover Marketplace** to find and invite creators.
* **Create your first campaign** — select **Create Campaign** to start building partnerships right away.
You can adjust event rules, payout amounts, crediting, and contract settings at any time from within the platform.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
## Next step
Your program is set up. To create your first campaign, invite creators, and start tracking performance, continue with [Introduction: Welcome to Creator!](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/creator-program/introduction-welcome-to-creator.md)
## Related resources
* [Get Started with Included Creator & Advocate Features](/other/reference-documentation/get-started-with-included-creator-and-advocate-features.md)
* [Included Creator & Advocate Features — FAQ](/other/reference-documentation/included-creator-and-advocate-features-faq.md)
* [Creator Program Explained](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/creator-program/creator-program-explained.md)
* [Introduction: Welcome to Creator!](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/creator-program/introduction-welcome-to-creator.md)
* [Manage Your Marketplace Profile for Brands](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/account-administration/program-settings/profile-and-branding/manage-your-marketplace-profile-for-brands.md)
---
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