Affiliate Marketing Glossary
Your comprehensive guide to affiliate marketing terminology
Glossary
A
A/B Testing
A method of comparing two versions of content to determine which performs better.
Affiliate
An individual or company that promotes products or services in exchange for commission-based compensation.
Affiliate Dashboard
A centralized control panel where affiliates can monitor their performance, manage campaigns, and access marketing resources.
Affiliate Link
A unique URL that tracks referrals and attributes sales to specific affiliates.
Affiliate Marketing
A performance-based marketing model where partners earn commissions for promoting products or services.
Affiliate Network
A platform connecting merchants with affiliates, managing tracking, reporting, and payments.
Affiliate Portal
A dedicated platform where affiliates access program resources, track performance, and manage campaigns.
Affiliate Program
A structured marketing program where businesses reward partners for driving sales or leads.
Affiliate Recruitment
The process of finding, vetting, and onboarding new affiliate partners for a program.
Affiliate Tracking
System and methods used to monitor and attribute affiliate-driven sales and actions.
Analytics
Data collection and analysis of affiliate program performance and user behavior.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of protocols and tools that allow different software applications to communicate and share data.
Attribution
The process of identifying and assigning credit for sales or conversions to specific marketing channels or affiliates.
Auto-approval
Automated system for accepting new affiliates into a program based on predetermined criteria.
B
B2B (Business-to-Business)
Business model focusing on products and services sold between companies rather than to individual consumers.
B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
Business model focusing on selling products and services directly to individual consumers.
Backlinks
Incoming links from other websites to your content or affiliate offers.
Bandwidth
The amount of data that can be transmitted over an internet connection in a given time period.
Banner
Visual advertising elements used to promote products or services in affiliate marketing.
Bounce Rate
Percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page.
Brand Guidelines
Official rules and standards governing how a brand's assets and identity should be used in marketing materials.
Branding
The process of creating and maintaining a unique brand identity and perception in the marketplace.
Bulk Upload
The ability to upload multiple files, products, or data entries simultaneously to a system.
C
Call-to-Action (CTA)
A prompt that encourages visitors to take a specific desired action.
Campaign Tracking
The process of monitoring and measuring the performance of marketing campaigns.
Channel Marketing
Marketing strategy that uses different distribution channels to reach target audiences.
Call-to-Action (CTA)
A prompt that encourages visitors to take a specific desired action.
Campaign Tracking
The process of monitoring and measuring the performance of marketing campaigns.
Channel Marketing
Marketing strategy that uses different distribution channels to reach target audiences.
Conversion
The successful completion of a desired action by a visitor or potential customer.
Conversion Funnel
The step-by-step journey that visitors take toward completing a desired conversion action.
Conversion Rate
The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action out of the total number of visitors.
Cookie Duration
The length of time an affiliate tracking cookie remains active to attribute sales to affiliates.
Cost Per Action (CPA)
A pricing model where advertisers pay for specific completed actions rather than impressions or clicks.
Cost Per Click (CPC)
A pricing model where advertisers pay for each click on their promotional content.
Cost Per Lead (CPL)
A pricing model where advertisers pay for qualified lead submissions rather than sales or clicks.
Cost Per Sale (CPS)
A commission model where affiliates earn a fee for each completed sale they generate.
Creatives
Marketing assets provided to affiliates for promotional use, including banners, images, text, and other content.
Cross-selling
The practice of promoting complementary products or services to existing customers.
Custom Domain
A personalized web address used for affiliate marketing activities instead of generic platform URLs.
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
The total cost associated with acquiring a new customer, including marketing and affiliate commissions.
Customer Journey
The complete path a customer takes from initial awareness to purchase and beyond, including all touchpoints and interactions.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
The total revenue a business can expect from a customer account throughout the business relationship.
D
Dashboard
A centralized interface displaying key performance metrics, analytics, and program management tools.
Data Analytics
The process of analyzing raw data to extract meaningful insights for optimizing affiliate marketing performance.
Deep Linking
The practice of creating affiliate links that direct users to specific product pages or content rather than homepage URLs.
Digital Marketing
Marketing of products or services using digital technologies and channels across the internet.
Direct Linking
Practice of sending traffic directly to merchant offers without using an intermediary landing page.
Domain Authority
A search engine ranking score that predicts a website's ability to rank in search results.
E
E-Commerce
The buying and selling of products or services over the internet, including digital transactions and online shopping.
Email Marketing
The use of email to promote products or services and build relationships with potential and existing customers.
Engagement Rate
The level of interaction audiences have with content or promotional materials, measured through various metrics.
EPC (Earnings Per Click)
Average earnings generated per click on affiliate links, calculated by dividing total earnings by total clicks.
F
First-Click Attribution
Attribution model that gives credit to the first touchpoint in a customer's journey that led to a conversion.
Fraud Detection
Systems and processes used to identify and prevent fraudulent affiliate marketing activities.
Freemium
Business model offering basic features for free while charging for premium features or functionality.
G
Geotargeting
The practice of delivering different content or offers to users based on their geographical location.
Google Analytics
A web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic and user behavior.
Growth Hacking
A marketing approach focused on rapid experimentation across marketing channels to identify the most effective ways to grow a business.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
European Union law on data protection and privacy that affects how affiliate marketers collect and use personal data.
H
Heat Mapping
Visual representation of user behavior on a website showing where visitors click, scroll, and spend time.
HTML Templates
Pre-designed HTML structures used for creating consistent marketing materials and promotional content.
Hybrid Commission
A commission structure combining multiple payment models such as CPA, revenue share, and recurring commissions.
I
Impressions
The number of times content, advertisements, or affiliate links are displayed to users.
Inbound Marketing
Marketing strategy focused on attracting customers through valuable content and experiences tailored to them.
Incremental Sales
Additional sales generated through affiliate marketing efforts that wouldn't have occurred otherwise.
Integration
The process of connecting affiliate marketing systems with other platforms and tools for seamless operation.
IP Tracking
Method of tracking and analyzing visitor behavior based on their Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.
K
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Critical metrics used to measure the success and effectiveness of affiliate marketing efforts.
Keyword Optimization
The process of researching, analyzing, and implementing keywords to improve content visibility and search engine rankings.
Knowledge Base
A centralized repository of information and resources for affiliates to access program details, guides, and support materials.
L
Landing Page
A specialized webpage designed to convert visitors into leads or customers through focused content and clear calls-to-action.
Lead
A potential customer who has shown interest in a product or service by providing contact information or engaging with content.
Lead Generation
The process of attracting and converting prospects into leads who have shown interest in a product or service.
Lead Nurturing
The process of developing and maintaining relationships with leads through targeted content and communications until they're ready to purchase.
Lifetime Commission
A commission structure where affiliates earn ongoing commissions for the entire duration of a customer's relationship with the merchant.
Link Building
The process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to improve search engine rankings and drive referral traffic.
Link Tracking
The process of monitoring and analyzing affiliate link performance, including clicks, conversions, and user behavior.
Long-tail Keywords
Specific, niche search phrases typically containing three or more words that target more focused search intent.
M
Marketing Automation
Technology and software platforms that automatically manage marketing processes and campaigns across multiple channels.
Marketing Channels
Different platforms and methods used to reach and engage with target audiences in affiliate marketing.
Marketing Resources
Tools, materials, and assets provided to affiliates to support their promotional efforts.
Meta Tags
HTML elements that provide metadata about a webpage to search engines and website visitors.
Metrics
Quantifiable measurements used to track and assess the performance of affiliate marketing efforts.
Mobile Optimization
Process of ensuring affiliate marketing content and campaigns are optimized for mobile device users.
Multi-Channel Marketing
Strategy of promoting products or services across multiple marketing channels to reach target audiences effectively.
Multi-level Commission
Commission structure where affiliates earn from their direct sales and from sales made by sub-affiliates they recruit.
Multi-tier Program
Affiliate program structure that includes multiple levels of participation and commission earning potential.
N
O
Onboarding
The process of welcoming, training, and integrating new affiliates into a program.
One-time Commission
A single payment made to affiliates for generating a sale or lead, with no recurring payments.
Organic Traffic
Website visitors who find content through unpaid search results or natural discovery methods.
Outbound Marketing
Traditional marketing approach where businesses actively reach out to potential customers through advertising and promotion.
P
Page Views
The number of times a webpage is loaded or reloaded by visitors.
Partner Management
The process of managing relationships with affiliate partners, including recruitment, support, and optimization.
Pay Per Click (PPC)
Advertising model where advertisers pay when users click on their ads rather than for ad impressions.
Payment Gateway
Service that processes and authorizes electronic payments for affiliate commissions and transactions.
Payment Processing
The system and procedures for handling affiliate commission payments and related financial transactions.
Payment Schedule
The predetermined timing and frequency of affiliate commission payments.
Payment Threshold
The minimum commission amount that must be earned before an affiliate can receive payment.
Payout
The process and act of distributing earned commissions to affiliates.
Performance Marketing
Marketing approach where advertisers only pay for specific actions or results achieved.
Plugin
Software add-on that extends or adds specific functionality to existing platforms or websites.
Promotional Material
Marketing assets and resources provided to affiliates for promoting products or services.
Publisher
An individual or company that promotes affiliate products or services through their platforms and channels.