Onboarding guide for new Retouching Academy affiliates: how to set up your account, access your dashboard, review the terms, use marketing resources, meet FTC disclosure requirements, and stay updated.
Back to the Affiliate ProgramOnboarding Guide
For Retouching Academy Affiliates
Welcome aboard. We're glad to have you in the program. This guide will help you get set up smoothly and start out strong as an RA affiliate partner.
Important Please read through this page carefully.
Your Affiliate Accounts
Your welcome email lists the sub-programs you were approved for and how to set each one up.
- RA Courses. You receive an invitation by email. Accept it to create your affiliate account on our course platform.
- RA Panels. You receive a registration link for Retouching Academy Lab. Complete the short form to create your affiliate account.
Use your formal name and business email on both, so your commissions and payouts match your Affiliate Program profile.
Access Your Affiliate Dashboards
Each sub-program has its own dashboard, because each runs on its own platform.
Your RA Courses dashboard hosts your course links, coupons and sales reports. Your RA Panels dashboard hosts your panel links, the custom link generator and your panel sales reports.
From either dashboard you can:
- Manage your unique affiliate links, coupons, and sales reports
- Track your performance
- View your earned commissions
Bookmark your dashboards, as each reports only the sales made on that platform. Your combined commission across both is calculated by us at payout.
Please note: your affiliate dashboard shows estimated commissions based on the full sale price. Final payouts are calculated on the net amount received (after payment-processing fees and refunds), per our Affiliate Program Terms & Conditions.
Review the Terms & Conditions
Transparency and mutual understanding keep the partnership working. Take a moment to review our Affiliate Program Terms & Conditions so you understand the program's guidelines, commission structure, and promotional policies.
Setting clear expectations helps us maintain a trustworthy and effective collaboration.
Use Our Marketing Resources
To support your promotions, use our official product images and marketing materials — they keep your content on brand and help it resonate with your audience.
You'll find promotional images for each course, retouching panel, and bundle on their respective pages via our Store.
Understand FTC Disclosure Requirements
Being transparent with your audience is both ethical and a legal requirement. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires affiliates to disclose their relationship with the brands they promote. Key guidelines:
Clear disclosure. Use straightforward language to inform your audience about your affiliate relationship. For example:
- "As a Retouching Academy affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you."
- "This post includes affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you."
Prominent placement. Make disclosures easy to notice — they should appear before any affiliate links or recommendations.
Platform-specific guidelines. Adapt disclosures to each platform. On social media, use tags like #ad, #affiliate, or #sponsored; in videos, include both verbal and written disclosures within the content itself.
For more detail, see the FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking.
Stay Updated
Whenever we have an important announcement, we'll contact you at your business email. Please read and respond when a reply is needed.
We'll also share new product launches, promotions, and other relevant news. Keep an eye on your email and dashboard notifications to stay informed and make the most of the program.
We're Here To Help
Thank you for partnering with Retouching Academy. Together, we can help more freelancers worldwide develop market-relevant, high-end creative, technical, and business skills.
Questions or need a hand? Email us at [email protected].