What is Affiliate Program?
A structured arrangement where a business offers commissions to external partners (affiliates) who promote their products or services. Programs define commission rates, cookie durations, terms of service, and payment schedules.
Related Terms
Affiliate Network
A platform that acts as an intermediary between merchants (advertisers) and affiliates (publishers). Networks like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, and Impact provide tracking technology, payment processing, and access to multiple affiliate programs in one place.
Affiliate Marketing
A performance-based marketing model where businesses reward affiliates (partners) for each customer or sale generated through the affiliate's marketing efforts. Affiliates promote products using unique tracking links and earn commissions on resulting conversions.
Commission
The payment an affiliate earns for generating a sale, lead, or action. Commissions can be a percentage of the sale price, a flat fee per action, or a recurring payment for subscription products. Commission structures vary widely across affiliate programs.