Affiliate Marketing
Definition
A performance-based marketing strategy where businesses pay affiliates a commission for driving sales through referral links. Common platforms include ShareASale and CJ Affiliate.
Example Use Case
A marketing blogger writes a review of an email automation tool and includes an affiliate link. They earn a commission when readers purchase through that link.
Affiliate marketing shifts the cost of acquisition from upfront advertising to a commission paid after a sale. The merchant gains reach without paying for impressions that never convert; the affiliate does the work of producing content and building an audience, and is paid only on results.
Disclosure is the part that is easy to get wrong. Readers need to know when a link is monetised, and regulators in most major markets require that to be clear and close to the link rather than buried in a footer. Trust is the affiliate’s real asset, so obscuring the commercial relationship works against the model.
The economics depend on commission rates, cookie windows, and how well the content matches buying intent. Comparison and review content generally converts better than broad informational content, because the reader is already choosing between options.
