BuzzLinks give every ambassador a unique trackable link that auto-generates a one-time use discount code at checkout. This guide walks you through what BuzzLinks are, why they protect your commissions, and how to turn them on for your program.
What are BuzzLinks?
A BuzzLink is a special affiliate link that does two things at once:
Tracks the visit through UTM parameters, so you always know which ambassador drove the traffic.
Generates a unique discount code for each customer through a popup on your store, then auto-applies it at checkout.
Because every code is one-time use and tied to a single customer session, coupon extensions like Honey, RetailMeNot, and Capital One Shopping cannot scrape, share, or reuse them. Your commissions go to the ambassador who actually drove the sale.
[SCREENSHOT 1: Side-by-side graphic showing a traditional referral code (SARAH15) leaking to coupon sites vs. a BuzzLink with a session-locked code]
Why use BuzzLinks instead of regular referral codes?
Traditional referral codes have one big problem: once an ambassador shares "SARAH15" publicly, that code lives forever on coupon aggregator sites. Random shoppers find it, use it, and you pay commission on sales your ambassador never drove.
BuzzLinks fix this:
Each code is single use. Once redeemed, it expires. There is nothing left to leak.
Codes are session-locked. A new visitor gets a brand new code. Browser extensions cannot inject an old one.
Attribution is double-locked. Even if the code never gets used, UTM parameters on the link still track the sale back to your ambassador.
The customer experience is smoother. No typing, no copy-paste. The code applies automatically.
Plan requirements
BuzzLinks is available on plans that include the BuzzLink feature. If you do not see BuzzLink as an option when configuring your program, you may need to upgrade your plan. You can check your current plan under Settings > Billing.
[SCREENSHOT 2: Settings > Billing page showing the user's current plan and BuzzLink feature status]
How to enable BuzzLinks for a new program
If you are setting up a brand new program through the onboarding wizard:
Start the program creation flow at Programs > Create New Program or finish your initial onboarding.
Fill in your general program info (title, description) and continue.
Configure your Ambassador Discount and Referral settings as normal.
When you reach the Affiliate Links step, you will see three options: Referral Code Links, BuzzLink, and UTM Parameters.
Select BuzzLink.
Fill in the BuzzLink configuration fields (covered below).
Continue to Rewards and finish setup.
[SCREENSHOT 3: Onboarding "Affiliate Links" step showing the three radio button options with BuzzLink selected]
How to enable BuzzLinks for an existing program
If you already have a program running and want to switch it to BuzzLinks:
Go to Programs in your dashboard.
Click into the program you want to update.
Scroll to the Affiliate Links section.
Make sure the Enable Affiliate Links toggle is ON.
Select the BuzzLink radio option.
Fill in the configuration fields (see next section).
Click Save Program.
Your ambassadors' affiliate links will automatically update to the new BuzzLink format. Their old /discount/CODE links will switch to a clean ?buzz_ref= format.
[SCREENSHOT 4: Program edit page showing the Affiliate Links section with BuzzLink mode selected and all configuration fields filled in]
BuzzLink configuration fields
When you select BuzzLink mode, you will need to fill out:
Field | What it does |
Referral Rule Title | An internal label for the price rule that gets created in Shopify (e.g., "BuzzLink 20% Off") |
Discount Type | Percentage or fixed amount off |
Discount Value | The amount of the discount (e.g., 20 for 20% off) |
Product Eligibility | Apply to all products or only certain products and collections |
Cookie Duration | How long the attribution window stays open after a customer clicks the link (e.g., 30 days) |
If you choose "Certain Products," you will see a search field where you can pick the eligible products one by one.
[SCREENSHOT 5: BuzzLink configuration form with all fields visible, including the product selector showing tagged products]
What customers see (the popup experience)
When a shopper clicks an ambassador's BuzzLink, they land on your store and a popup appears within a few seconds. The popup shows:
Your ambassador's name and photo (if uploaded)
The discount they are offering (e.g., "20% OFF")
A clickable list of the ambassador's social profiles (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) if they have filled those in
A prominent "Redeem Code" button
When the shopper clicks "Redeem Code," a unique discount code is generated and displayed (something like BUZZ-ABC123-12AB34CD). They can copy it manually or click "Apply & Shop Now," which adds the code to their cart automatically.
[SCREENSHOT 6: Storefront popup showing ambassador name, photo, social links, discount offer, and Redeem Code button (before redemption)]
[SCREENSHOT 7: Same popup after clicking Redeem, showing the unique generated code and Apply & Shop Now button]
Important: Enable the theme extension
For the popup to show up on your storefront, the Buzzbassador theme app extension must be enabled in your active Shopify theme. To verify:
Go to Online Store > Themes in your Shopify admin.
Click Customize on your active theme.
Open App embeds in the left sidebar.
Make sure the Buzzbassador embed is toggled ON.
Save your theme.
Without this step, the popup will not appear on your storefront, and BuzzLinks will not work for shoppers.
[SCREENSHOT 8: Shopify theme customizer showing the App embeds panel with the Buzzbassador embed enabled]
Choosing between the three affiliate link modes
When you turn on Affiliate Links, you have three options. Here is when to use each:
1. Referral Code Links
The traditional approach. The ambassador's referral code is embedded in the URL (e.g., yourstore.com/discount/SARAH15?buzz_ref=ABC). The discount auto-applies, but the code is also shareable, which means it can leak.
Best for: Brands that want simple, recognizable codes and are not worried about coupon site leaks.
2. BuzzLink
The leak-proof option. Customers see a popup and get a one-time use code generated just for them. No reusable code exists.
Best for: Brands that want full attribution control, especially those running larger programs where leaks would be costly.
3. UTM Parameters
Pure tracking. No discount is applied. The link simply attributes the visit through UTM parameters.
Best for: Programs where the ambassador is not offering a discount, or you want the cleanest possible link.
What your ambassadors see
When BuzzLink mode is active, your ambassadors will see their unique link in their dashboard under Your Affiliate Link. The link format will look like:
https://yourstore.com?buzz_ref=ABC123
Notice there is no discount code visible in the URL. That is intentional, the code only gets generated when a real customer clicks through.
Ambassadors can copy this link and share it on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, blog posts, or anywhere else they promote your brand.
[SCREENSHOT 9: Ambassador dashboard showing the "Your Affiliate Link" section with a BuzzLink-format URL and copy button]
How attribution works behind the scenes
Every BuzzLink click triggers two layers of tracking:
A unique Shopify discount code is minted and tied to that specific session. If the customer redeems and checks out, the sale is attributed through the code.
UTM parameters on the link track the session independently. If the customer never redeems the code but still buys something, the sale is still attributed through the UTM data.
This belt-and-suspenders setup means you almost never lose attribution, even if a customer closes the popup or shops on a different page first.
Switching modes later
You can change your affiliate link mode at any time by editing the program. A few things to know:
Switching from Referral Code Links to BuzzLink will not delete your ambassadors' existing referral codes. Their codes will still work for direct entry at checkout, but their shared link will switch to the BuzzLink format.
Switching to BuzzLink creates a new price rule in Shopify with single-use enforcement.
If your subscription is downgraded and you lose BuzzLink access, programs currently using BuzzLink mode will automatically switch to Referral Code Links or UTM Parameters.
Frequently asked questions
Can the same customer use BuzzLinks more than once?
Each generated code is one-time use. If a customer wants to shop again later, they can click the ambassador's link, see the popup, and generate a fresh code.
What happens if a customer clicks a BuzzLink but never checks out?
The generated code stays attached to their session. If they come back later through the same browser, they will see the same code. If they switch browsers or devices, they will get a new code.
Do BuzzLinks work on mobile?
Yes. The popup is fully responsive and works on Instagram in-app browser, TikTok in-app browser, mobile Safari, Chrome, and most other mobile browsers.
Can coupon sites still find and post my codes?
No. There is no static code to find. Each BuzzLink code is generated on demand, used once, then expired.
What if my ambassador wants a custom code instead?
You can run a program in Referral Code Links mode for ambassadors who want named codes, and BuzzLink mode for others. Mode is set per program, so you can run multiple programs side by side.
Need help?
If you run into any issues setting up BuzzLinks, reach out to [email protected] or message us through the chat in your dashboard. We are happy to walk you through it.