Previously, I was sharing about how I was earning a sideline income through Shopee Affiliate Marketing in this post:
I Tried Shopee Affiliate Marketing As A Side Hustle For 6 Months | Sharing My Experience, Thoughts & How You Can Get Started Too
Shopee Affiliate Marketing is a great side hustle idea because Shopee is the Number 1 shopping platform in Singapore and people love to go Shopee to buy things. However, they changed their policy sometime in last year to not award any commission for indirect orders, i.e. someone clicks on your affiliate link and go buy something else, instead of the products that you are promoting.
If you’ve been using Shopee Affiliate links to monetize your content, you’ve likely felt the sting of “lost commissions.” You recommend a great product, your follower clicks the link, but then they wander off to a different shop to buy a similar item.
In the past, that effort earned you exactly $0.
But as of January 2026, the game has changed. Shopee has officially updated its Affiliate Marketing Solution (AMS) to include commissions for Indirect Orders.
What are Indirect Orders?
Previously, Shopee only paid for “Direct Orders”—purchases made from the specific shop you linked. Now, the platform recognizes your value as a “traffic driver.”
- Direct Order: They buy the exact item from the shop you linked. (You get 100% of the commission).
- Indirect Order: They click your link, but buy a different item from a different shop. (You now get 30% of that shop’s commission rate!)
Why This is a Game-Changer for Your Side Hustle
For those of us focused on financial growth and smart side hustles, this update is a massive boost to our “Return on Effort.”
- Lower “Leakage”: You no longer lose out just because a follower found a cheaper alternative or a different seller. If your link brought them to Shopee, you get rewarded for the sale.
- Reward for Discovery: If you share a “Tech Setup” or “Home Office” guide, you are essentially acting as a consultant for your followers. Shopee is finally paying “consultation fees” for the traffic you provide.
- Compounding Earnings: While 30% of a commission might seem smaller, these “indirect” sales happen far more often than direct ones. Over a month, these small wins add up to a significant bump in your total payout.
Pro-Tip: To make the most of this, don’t just post links. Create value-driven content. Whether it’s a review of the latest semiconductor-related tech or home organization tips, focus on getting the “click.” Once they are on the platform via your link, the 7-day tracking window works in your favor.
The Bottom Line: Shopee is finally acknowledging the power of the creator ecosystem. If you haven’t updated your links or checked your Affiliate Dashboard lately, now is the time to dive back in.
Concluding Thoughts
I discovered this new policy accidentally as I saw some commission in my account though I was not actively promoting these products.
If you are looking for a side hustle that does not require much for your brainpower or a huge time commitment or even need to commit some kind of capital upfront and that you can do it anytime, anywhere, with whatever pockets of time you have, e.g. while commuting on public transport on the way to work or back home, then this is an excellent choice. The new commission structure will help you bring in some income through direct and indirect orders.
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