The Iris affiliate programme
A referral programme for people who genuinely use Iris and have somewhere trusted to talk about it.
Membership is by application, and we approve a small number on purpose. A recommendation from someone who knows the product carries weight precisely because not everyone gets in.
Every application is read by a person.
Who gets approved
We are looking for people whose recommendation actually means something. That mostly comes down to three things:
You know Iris from the inside
You have used it yourself. You have read the briefings it produces, and you can describe honestly what they are good for and what they are not.
You have somewhere trusted to mention it
A lab, a department, a class, a newsletter, a subreddit, a LinkedIn network, a Slack community. Trust beats reach: fifty people who believe you beat five thousand who scroll past.
You would recommend it anyway
The reward is our thank-you, not the pitch. If £5 a month is the only reason you would bring Iris up, this will feel like work rather than sharing something useful.
Researchers, PhD students, engineers, industry scientists, technical writers, newsletter authors, and community organisers all get approved. What gets an application declined is never having used the product, or wanting a fee without anywhere genuine to refer from.
How it works
Apply
Fill in the short application below. Two questions matter most: where you would share Iris, and how well you know it.
Review
A person reads every application and replies either way. We approve a small number on purpose, so membership keeps meaning something.
Refer
Approved members receive a referral link to share. Anyone subscribing through it gets 50% off their first two months, and you earn £5 for every month they stay subscribed.
How rewards work
One offer for your audience, one for you.
For your audience
Half price for two months
Anyone subscribing through your link gets their first two months at 50% off. It makes trying Iris an easy yes, which is what makes your recommendation land.
For you
£5, every month, per subscriber
For each person who subscribes through your link, you earn £5 every month they stay subscribed. It adds up quietly: ten steady subscribers is £50 a month.
Also for you
Your own Iris, free
While you are a member, full access to Iris is on us. You should never pay for the thing you are recommending.
What membership pays
£5 a month, for every subscriber you refer, while they stay subscribed.
Rewards are counted monthly and paid by bank transfer. The full mechanics are in the affiliate programme terms.
One rule about honesty
In the UK, recommending something for reward counts as advertising under the CAP Code, so it has to be identifiable as advertising. That is not a problem for this programme; it just needs a label.
“Ad / affiliate: I've been using Iris Briefings and it's really useful for keeping up with research. You can try it here: [link]. I receive £5 a month if you subscribe through my link.”
Disclose the link, describe Iris accurately, and that is all we ask. We would rather have ten honest mentions than a hundred disguised ones.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply?
Anyone who uses Iris and has somewhere relevant to mention it: researchers, PhD students, engineers, industry scientists, technical writers, newsletter authors, community organisers. There is no minimum audience. Trust matters more than size.
Why do applications get declined?
Almost always for the same reason: no real connection to the product. We approve people who know Iris and can explain it, and we decline people looking for a fee with nowhere genuine to refer from.
How much do I earn?
£5 per month for each active referred subscriber, for as long as they stay subscribed. There is no cap and there are no tiers.
Do I have to post regularly, hit targets, or follow scripts?
No. Whether, where, and how often you mention Iris is entirely up to you. There are no quotas, no hours, no reporting lines, no required wording, and you can stop whenever you like.
Is this a pyramid or MLM scheme?
No. Joining is free, there is nothing to buy, and there is exactly one tier: you earn from subscriptions you refer yourself. Recruiting other affiliates earns nothing, because recruiting is not part of the programme.
Do members get free access to Iris?
Yes. Membership includes full access to Iris for as long as you remain a member. You should never have to pay for the thing you are recommending.
When do I get paid?
Rewards are counted monthly and paid by bank transfer in the same cycle. The full mechanics are in the affiliate programme terms.
Apply for membership
Short on purpose. Tell us where you would share Iris and how you know it; those two answers decide almost everything.
Prefer email? Write to us at hello@irisbriefings.com with the same two answers.
Know people who should be reading Iris?
Then this programme was built for you. Applications take about five minutes to write.
Apply for membership