The world of affiliate marketing is full of unique terms, acronyms, and industry jargon that can be tricky to navigate. That’s why we’ve created this complete affiliate marketing glossary with 172 essential terms explained in simple, clear language.
From beginner-friendly concepts like “Affiliate Link” to advanced topics like “Auto-tier Commission” and “Lifetime Value,” this resource is designed to help you understand the language of the industry and apply it to your work with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or managing large-scale campaigns, this glossary will be your go-to reference.
170 Terms about Affiliate Marketing You Should Know
Above the fold
The term “above the fold” originated in the newspaper industry, referring to the visible area when a newspaper is folded. In the digital realm, it now represents the section of a web page that is immediately visible without scrolling. This prime real estate plays a crucial role in making a solid first impression and showcasing essential information.
Ad Exchange
An Ad Exchange in affiliate marketing is a digital marketplace that enables advertisers and publishers to buy and sell advertising space, often through real-time bidding. It’s like a stock exchange for ads, where the ‘stocks’ are advertising space on websites. Advertisers bid for the ad space publishers offer, with the highest bidder displaying their ad. In the context of affiliate marketing, advertisers might use an Ad Exchange to display ads that lead potential customers to their products or services. In contrast, affiliates (as publishers) could use it to monetize their website or blog traffic.
Ad network
An ad network is an intermediary platform connecting advertisers with publishers. Ad networks aggregate available ad inventory from publishers and match it with advertiser demand.
Advertiser
The advertiser is the company or inpidual that owns or promotes the product or service. They’re looking to increase their market reach, sales, or user base. The advertiser creates an affiliate program. Then, provide affiliates with marketing materials and tracking tools. They pay commissions to affiliates who bring them successful leads or sales.
Adware
Adware is software automatically displaying or downloading advertising material (often unwanted). Some adware can replace or manipulate legitimate affiliate tracking cookies. If a user purchases, the adware triggers its affiliate code instead. Hence, the original affiliates don’t get the commission for their successful referral.
Affiliate
An affiliate, also known as a publisher or partner, is an inpidual or company that promotes products or services in exchange for a commission. The affiliate uses specific tracking links to promote these products or services on their website, Blog, social media channels, or other platforms. The affiliate earns a commission when a customer purchases or completes a desired action through this link. Affiliates can be bloggers, influencers, review sites, or any entity that can reach potential customers.
Affiliate agreement
An affiliate agreement is a contract between the advertiser and the affiliate. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions of the affiliate program, including: commission rates, payment terms, obligations of each party, and rules regarding promotional methods. It also details tracking and reporting, intellectual property rights, and termination conditions. It’s essential for both parties to understand and agree to these terms. It’s a must-do before initiating their business relationship.
Affiliate data feed
An affiliate data feed is a file that contains detailed information about their products or services. This could include product names, descriptions, images, prices, URLs, and other relevant details. Affiliates use these feeds to update their websites with accurate and current information. There is no need to enter each detail manually. This is particularly useful for affiliates who promote many products. They must regularly update product information to keep their content relevant and accurate.
Affiliate link
An affiliate link in affiliate marketing is a unique URL that contains the affiliate’s ID or username. This link is used to track the traffic sent to the advertiser’s website from the affiliate’s promotional efforts. When a visitor clicks on an affiliate link, makes a purchase or completes a desired action, the affiliate receives a commission. The affiliate program or network typically generates the link and gives it to the affiliate to use in their content. It’s an essential tool for tracking and attributing sales in affiliate marketing.
Affiliate manager
An affiliate manager runs an affiliate program. They get affiliates, share materials, and talk to affiliates. They also watch how affiliates do, make sure affiliates follow the rules, and handle payments. Their main goal is to make the program do well. To do that, they must advise to and negotiate with top affiliates.
Affiliate marketing forum
An Affiliate Marketing Forum is an online community. Affiliates, advertisers, and others in affiliate marketing join it. They share knowledge, experiences, and advice. These forums let people discuss different affiliate marketing topics. Like strategies, best practices, industry trends, and solving problems.
Affiliate network
An affiliate network is a platform that acts as an intermediary between affiliates (publishers) and affiliate programs (advertisers). It provides a centralized place for affiliates to find and join affiliate programs suitable for their niche. The network manages:
Affiliate software
Affiliate software is a tool companies use to run affiliate programs. It does many jobs, like: watching affiliate links, figuring out commissions, handling payments, and giving performance reports.
Affiliate tracking
Affiliate tracking is a way to watch what affiliate referrals do. This includes clicks, sales, leads, and more. It usually uses special URLs or codes for each affiliate. When a user clicks these, the action gets noted and tied to the right affiliate. This tracking helps figure out how much to pay the affiliate. Good affiliate tracking is very important. It makes sure the program is clear and successful, and affiliates get credit for their work.
API
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It refers to a set of protocols that allow different software to communicate with each other. Affiliates and merchants use APIs to seamlessly integrate their systems and exchange data.
Auto-approve
Auto-approve means applications are automatically accepted. Instead of manually reviewing every application, auto-approve allows affiliates to join immediately. Auto-approve helps programs grow but may lead to low-quality affiliates without screening.
Autoresponder
An autoresponder in affiliate marketing sends pre-written emails automatically. It’s useful for managing campaigns, delivering lead magnets, and following up with customers.
Banner
A banner is a widely used advertising material that promotes products, services, or websites. It is an integral part of a company’s marketing strategy and can be presented in various formats, including animated GIFs, images, or short videos. Banners are typically found on affiliate websites; their primary goal is to redirect visitors to the merchant’s website.
Blacklist
A blacklist refers to a list of affiliates or publishers who are prohibited from participating in an affiliate program or promoting specific offers. Affiliates may be added to a blacklist for various reasons, such as engaging in fraudulent activities, violating program policies, or consistently generating low-quality leads or sales. Blacklists help merchants protect their brand reputation, minimize fraudulent activities, and ensure the quality of their affiliate network.
Bum marketing
Bum marketing presents an effortless approach to earning money online, particularly suited for beginners in affiliate marketing. It offers a simple strategy that doesn’t demand significant time, monetary investment, or extensive work.
Chargeback
A chargeback refers to a situation where a product is returned or a sale is unsuccessful, impacting an affiliate’s earnings. In affiliate marketing, affiliates typically earn money for each successful sale or lead they generate. However, when a chargeback occurs, the merchant deducts the amount the affiliate earned from their commission.
Click Fraud
Click fraud refers to the deceptive practice of generating fraudulent clicks on advertisements or affiliate links within affiliate marketing. It involves intentionally clicking on ads without genuine interest or intent, often to manipulate advertising costs or earn illegitimate commissions.
Click through
Clickthrough in affiliate marketing refers to the action of a visitor clicking on an affiliate’s promotional material, such as a banner or text link, and being redirected to the merchant’s website. It is a vital metric that measures the effectiveness of an affiliate’s marketing efforts.
Click-through rate (CTR)
Click-through rate (CTR) is a metric commonly used in affiliate marketing to measure the effectiveness of an advertisement or affiliate link. It is calculated by piding the number of clicks an ad or link receives by the number of impressions it generates and expressing it as a percentage. CTR provides insights into the engagement and attractiveness of an ad or link to the target audience.
Commission
Commission in affiliate marketing refers to the compensation that affiliates receive for generating sales, leads, or other desired actions for a merchant. It is a percentage or fixed amount of the sale value that affiliates earn as a reward for their promotional efforts.
Content Farm
A content farm, within the realm of affiliate marketing, refers to a website or platform that produces a large volume of low-quality or shallow content to generate traffic and revenue through affiliate marketing links or advertisements. These sites often prioritize quantity over quality and focus on popular search engine keywords to attract visitors.
Conversion rate
The term “conversion rate” refers to the percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action, such as purchasing, subscribing to a newsletter, or filling out a form. A high conversion rate indicates that many visitors are successfully transitioning from passive observers to active participants.
Cookie
A cookie in affiliate marketing is a small text file that is stored on a user’s device when they interact with an affiliate link or visit an affiliate website. Cookies play a crucial role in tracking and attributing conversions to the appropriate affiliate, allowing them to earn commissions for their referrals.
Cost Per Action
Cost Per Action (CPA) in affiliate marketing is a pricing model where affiliates earn a commission when the wanted action happens. Instead of earning a commission for generating a sale, affiliates receive compensation for actions such as: form submissions, app downloads, or trial sign-ups. CPA offers provide flexibility and potentially higher earnings for affiliates.
Cost Per Click
Cost Per Click (CPC) refers to the amount an advertiser pays each time a visitor clicks. It is a pricing model commonly used in pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns. Here, advertisers only pay for actual clicks, regardless of whether the click results in a conversion
Cost Per Mile
Cost Per Mile (CPM) in affiliate marketing is a pricing model where advertisers pay affiliates based on the number of impressions their ads receive. CPM refers to the cost per thousand impressions, with “Mille” being the Latin word for thousand. In this model, affiliates earn a fixed amount for every thousand ad impressions generated on their website or platform
Cost Per Sale
Cost Per Sale (CPS) refers to the monetary amount that an advertiser pays an affiliate when a referred visitor completes a purchase or a desired action. Unlike Cost Per Click (CPC), where advertisers pay for each click on their affiliate link, CPS focuses on actual conversions and measures the cost associated with each successful sale or desired action.
Creative
Creatives in affiliate marketing refer to the promotional materials and assets provided by advertisers or affiliate networks for affiliates to use in their marketing campaigns. These materials are designed to attract and engage the target audience, and they typically include banners, images, videos, text ads, landing pages, and other visually appealing content.
Direct Linking
Direct linking in affiliate marketing refers to a strategy where affiliates promote affiliate offers by sending traffic directly from their marketing channels, such as websites, emails, or social media platforms, to the advertiser’s landing page without an intermediary website or pre-landing page. In other words, the affiliate’s promotional link leads directly to the advertiser’s offer page.
Dublicate Content
In affiliate marketing, a duplicate refers to content or promotional materials that are identical or substantially similar to existing content. Duplicates can create various challenges and complications within the affiliate marketing ecosystem.
Earnings per click (EPC)
Earnings per click (EPC) is a metric used in affiliate marketing to measure the average earnings generated per click on an affiliate link. It provides insights into the effectiveness and profitability of an affiliate campaign or specific affiliate offers.
Ecommerce
E-commerce in affiliate marketing refers to promoting and selling products or services through online retail platforms or websites. In this context, affiliates partner with e-commerce businesses and earn commissions by driving traffic, leads, or sales to these platforms. Affiliates typically leverage various marketing channels, such as websites, blogs, social media, and email marketing, to promote e-commerce products to their audiences.
Email Marketing
Email marketing in affiliate marketing refers to the practice of using email campaigns to promote affiliate offers and drive conversions. Affiliates utilize email lists of subscribers who have agreed to receive marketing communications from them. They create engaging and persuasive email content, which may include product recommendations, exclusive deals, or informational content, and embed affiliate links within the emails. By leveraging the power of email marketing, affiliates can effectively reach and engage their audience, nurture relationships, and drive traffic and sales to the affiliate offers they promote.
Fired Pixel
Fired pixel refers to when a tracking pixel or tracking code fails to fire or execute properly. In affiliate marketing, tracking pixels track and measure conversions, allowing affiliates to receive credit for the leads or sales they generate.
First Click
The first click refers to the attribution model that gives credit for a conversion to the affiliate whose link was clicked first by the user. This model prioritizes the initial interaction that brought the user to the advertiser’s website.
Geo-Targeting
Geo-targeting in affiliate marketing refers to the practice of delivering customized content or advertisements to users based on their geographical location. It allows affiliates to tailor their marketing efforts to specific regions, countries, or even cities to improve relevance and increase the chances of conversions.
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is an image file format widely used in digital marketing, including affiliate marketing. GIFs are animated or static images that loop continuously, making them popular for creating eye-catching visuals and engaging content.
Hit
A hit refers to a single request made to a website’s server for any file or resource. It can include requests for HTML pages, images, scripts, or any other element that makes up a web page.
HTML
HTML, short for Hypertext Markup Language, is the standard language for creating web pages. It provides the structure and formatting of content on a website, including text, images, links, and other elements.
Hyperlink
A hyperlink, commonly called a link, is a clickable element on a web page that connects to another web page, document, or resource. In affiliate marketing, hyperlinks direct users from an affiliate’s website to an advertiser’s website or landing page.
Impression
An impression refers to the display of an ad or promotional content to a user. It represents the number of times an ad is viewed by potential customers, regardless of whether they interact with it or not.
Incentivized Affiliate
An incentivized affiliate is an affiliate marketer who promotes products or services by offering incentives to potential customers. These incentives can include discounts, cash rewards, freebies, or other perks to encourage people to purchase or take a desired action.
Landing Page
A landing page is a standalone web page specifically designed to convert visitors into leads or customers. It is often created with a specific goal in mind, such as promoting a product or service, capturing email addresses, or driving users to take a desired action.
Lead
A lead refers to a potential customer who has shown interest in a product or service by taking a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter, filling out a contact form, or downloading a free resource. Leads have the potential to be converted into paying customers.
Lifetime value
Lifetime value (LTV) refers to the total revenue a customer is expected to generate during their entire relationship with a business. It estimates a customer’s net profit attributed to the whole future business.
Link cloaking
Link cloaking is a technique used to show different content to search engines than to human visitors. For example, a website may display one “cloaked” page to search engine crawlers like Google while showing a different page to users who click that link in search results.
Long tail keyword
Long tail keywords are more specific, less competitive search phrases that usually contain 3 or more words. For example, “affiliate marketing” is a short tail keyword while “affiliate marketing strategies for beginners” is a long tail keyword.
Manual approval
Manual approval refers to the process where affiliate networks review and approve applications by potential affiliates on a case-by-case basis before accepting them. This contrasts with automatic approval systems.
Maximum budget
Maximum budget refers to the upper limit an advertiser sets on the amount they’re willing to pay for a specific affiliate marketing campaign.
Micro conversions
Micro conversions are the small, incremental actions users take before completing a final goal or macro conversion on your site. These include email signups, downloads, content shares, adding items to cart, and more.
Mininets
A mininet refers to a small network of websites built and optimized to promote a single offer or advertiser. The goal is to concentrate authority and increase conversions.
Mobile affiliate marketing
Mobile affiliate marketing involves promoting merchant offers and products through advertisements, links, or content optimized for smartphones and tablets. The goal is to drive conversions from mobile users.
Mobile billing
Mobile billing refers to purchasing and payment processes optimized for smartphones and tablets. It allows customers to easily pay for goods and services through mobile apps and sites using saved payment methods.
Monetize
In internet marketing, monetizing refers to the process of generating income from a website or other online platform. This involves adding monetization models that earn revenue from traffic.
Money page
A money page (also known as a landing page) is a webpage designed specifically to convert visitors into buyers and generate commissions.
Money sites
A money site (also called income site) refers to a website created specifically to generate income through advertising and affiliate programs. The goal is to monetize traffic.
MRR
MRR stands for monthly recurring revenue. It refers to predictable revenue that a business generates each month through ongoing or subscription-based purchases.
Niche marketing
Niche marketing involves focusing your business’ efforts on a specific, specialized segment of a larger market. The goal is to cater to that niche’s unique needs and capture a larger share of that target audience.
Offer
An offer refers to a product or service you promote as an affiliate that converts into commission when your referred users make a purchase or take a specified action.
Opt in
In internet marketing, opt in refers to explicitly capturing a user’s permission to send them marketing communications like email newsletters. Opt-in email lists follow permission marketing principles.
Paid search
Imagine you’re at a bustling marketplace, where hundreds of vendors are vying for attention. Paid search is like hiring a talented town crier who ensures your products are noticed above the cacophony. In the digital world, it’s a strategy that involves paying search engines like Google or Bing to place your website at the top of search results for specific keywords. For instance, if you’re an affiliate marketer for fitness equipment, you can use paid search to have your site appear prominently when people search “buy home gym equipment.”
Pay bump
A pay bump refers to an increase in an affiliate offer’s commission rate or earnings potential. Merchants may provide pay bumps to incentivize promoters for high-converting offers.
Pay per click (PPC)
Pay Per Click (PPC) is a model of internet marketing where advertisers pay a fee to publishers/platforms each time their ad is clicked. Popular examples include Google Ads and Facebook Ads.
Pay Per Lead (PPL)
Picture yourself in a bustling café where customers only pay for the number of sips they take from their coffee. In affiliate marketing terms, this is what Pay Per Lead (PPL) is all about. It’s a pricing model where you, as an affiliate, get compensated for every lead you generate for a business. For example, if you’re promoting a new online course, you’d earn a commission each time a visitor from your affiliate link signs up for a free trial or provides their email for more information.
Pay per sale (PPS)
Pay Per Sale (PPS) is an affiliate compensation model where affiliates earn a commission when referred users complete a specified transaction or purchase from the advertiser.
Payment Threshold
A payment threshold refers to the minimum amount earned before requesting a payout. Earnings accumulate until hitting the threshold.
Payout
Imagine you’ve just baked a delicious apple pie. The ‘payout’ in affiliate marketing is much like the sweet, tangy apples you taste after all the effort of baking. It’s the financial reward you receive for successfully promoting a merchant’s product or service. If you’re an affiliate marketer for a tech company, for instance, your ‘payout’ is the commission you earn each time someone makes a purchase through your unique affiliate link.
Performance based marketing
Performance-based marketing is a digital marketing model where you pay for actions. Affiliate marketing and PPC ads are examples.
Placement
Think of placement as deciding where to plant seeds in your garden for the best growth. In affiliate marketing, ‘placement’ refers to where you choose to display your affiliate links or ads on your website, blog, or social media platforms. For example, placing a banner ad for a new fitness app at the top of your health and wellness blog could attract more clicks and conversions.
Podcasting
Podcasting refers to regularly producing and distributing spoken audio content via episodic digital media files. Podcast episodes get delivered to listeners online or downloaded.
Privacy policy
A privacy policy is a legal document that discloses how a website collects, uses, shares, and protects any user data it gathers. It ensures transparency about data practices.
Private label rights
Imagine if you could buy a bestselling book, put your name on it as the author, and sell it for profit. This is what Private Label Rights (PLR) allow you to do, but with digital products. PLR products are items like ebooks, articles, or software that you can purchase, modify, and use as your own. For instance, you could buy a PLR ebook on pet care, add your affiliate links, and sell it on your pet blog.
Product Rights
Product rights refer to the level of permission to use the product image in advertising. Common affiliate rights include reselling, giveaways, branding, and more.
Raw clicks
Imagine walking into a café and counting every single person who walks in. That’s similar to ‘raw clicks’ in affiliate marketing. Raw clicks are the total number of clicks your affiliate link receives, irrespective of who clicked or how many times. For instance, if your affiliate link is clicked 500 times – by 400 unique visitors and 100 repeat clicks – your raw clicks count is 500.
Real-time bidding (RTB)
Imagine an auction where multiple bidders compete to buy an item, with the highest bid winning. Now, imagine this happening in milliseconds. That’s Real-Time Bidding, or RTB, in affiliate marketing. RTB is a method of buying and selling ad impressions on a per-case basis, in real-time. When a visitor lands on a webpage, an auction for that ad space happens instantly, and the highest bidding advertiser gets their ad displayed.
Resell rights (RR)
Picture walking into a store, buying a product, and then setting up your own shop to sell that same product. This is the essence of ‘Resell Rights’ or RR in the digital world. When you purchase a product with RR, you’re buying the rights to sell that product as your own. For instance, you might buy an ebook with RR, and then resell it on your affiliate marketing site.
Residual earnings
Imagine planting a tree that bears fruit year after year. That’s similar to ‘residual earnings’ in affiliate marketing. Residual earnings are recurring income that you receive long after the initial effort is made. For instance, if you promote a subscription service through your affiliate link, you could earn a commission each time a customer renews their subscription, creating a steady stream of income.
Return on investment (ROI)
Imagine you’re a treasure hunter. You spend money on a map, tools, and travel. When you finally find the treasure, you calculate whether what you spent was worth what you found. This is similar to ‘Return on Investment’ or ROI in affiliate marketing. ROI measures the profit or loss made from an investment, relative to its cost. If you spend $100 on ad space that earns $500 in affiliate sales, your ROI is 400%.
RON – Run of network
Imagine casting a wide fishing net into the ocean to catch as many fish as possible. This is similar to ‘Run of Network’ or RON in affiliate marketing. RON allows advertisers to display their ads across an entire ad network, reaching a variety of audiences. For instance, if you buy a RON ad placement, your ad could appear on any site within that network, maximizing your exposure.
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of optimizing your online content so that a search engine likes to show it as a top result for searches of a certain keyword. For instance, if you want your affiliate marketing blog post about ‘eco-friendly travel gear’ to reach the largest audience, you’d optimize the post so it may appear at the top when someone searches for that keyword.
Search Term
Imagine typing into a search engine, looking for your favorite recipe. The words you type are known as the ‘search term’. In the world of digital marketing, search terms are the exact words or phrases users input into a search engine to find information. For instance, if you’re searching for the best affiliate marketing strategies, your search term might be “top affiliate marketing techniques”.
Segment
Imagine a pizza pided into slices, where each slice represents a group of people with shared characteristics – that’s a ‘segment’ in marketing. In affiliate marketing, a ‘segment’ refers to a specific group of your audience categorized based on shared characteristics like demographics, interests, or buying behavior. For instance, you might have a segment of your audience that is interested in fitness equipment, while another segment is interested in dietary supplements.
SEO affiliates
SEO affiliates are affiliate marketers who use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies to increase the visibility of their content and drive more traffic to their affiliate links. For example, if you’re an affiliate marketer promoting fitness products, you would use SEO techniques to optimize your blog posts so they appear higher in search results for related queries, driving more visitors to your site and increasing the chances of clicks on your affiliate links.
Single offer
Imagine being in a restaurant with only one dish on the menu. That’s the essence of a ‘Single Offer’ in affiliate marketing. It refers to promoting just one product or service at a time. For example, if you’re an affiliate marketer for a fitness brand, instead of promoting the entire range, you might focus on selling their bestselling protein powder alone.
SOC
In the realm of cybersecurity, a Security Operations Center (SOC) operates like a fortress command center. An SOC is a centralized unit that deals with security issues on an organizational and technical level. For instance, if your affiliate marketing website is targeted by a cyber threat, an SOC team would be the group to identify, investigate, and respond to the incident.
Spider detection
Imagine a security guard monitoring who comes and goes in a building—that’s essentially what ‘Spider Detection’ does for your website. It’s a method to identify and track search engine spiders or bots when they crawl your website. For instance, if Google’s bot, Googlebot, is crawling your site for indexing, spider detection will register this visit.
Split Test
Split testing, also known as A/B testing, is a method used to compare two versions of a webpage, email, or other marketing asset to determine which performs better. For instance, as an affiliate marketer, you might split test two different call-to-action phrases on your product review page to see which yields a higher click-through rate.
SPOT
Imagine a spotlight highlighting only the essential elements on a stage. That’s what ‘SPOT’ does for your marketing strategy. ‘SPOT’ stands for ‘Segment, Position, Offer, and Tactics’—a method to identify and target the right customers, position your product, create compelling offers, and choose effective marketing tactics. For example, if you’re promoting a fitness eBook, you might segment your audience into health enthusiasts, position the eBook as a comprehensive guide, offer a discounted price, and use social media for promotion.
Statistical Significance
As an affiliate marketer, data is your best friend. One key concept you’ll encounter is “statistical significance”. In a nutshell, statistical significance helps you understand if the results you see in your data are due to chance or if there’s a real underlying effect.
Super affiliates
Imagine a baseball player who always hits home runs. In the realm of affiliate marketing, these power players are called ‘Super Affiliates’. They are the top performers who generate a significant portion of an affiliate program’s revenue. For example, if you’re part of an affiliate program and consistently drive high sales volumes, you would be considered a Super Affiliate.
Supply Side Platform (SSP)
A Supply Side Platform (SSP) is a software system that allows publishers to manage, sell, and optimize their available inventory in an automated and efficient manner. Think of it as a matchmaker: it connects you, the publisher, with advertisers looking for a place to display their ads. For example, if you’re running an affiliate marketing blog, an SSP would help you sell ad space on your site to the highest bidder in real time.
Sweepstakes
A sweepstakes is a promotional drawing where prizes are given away to participants chosen randomly from a pool of entries. For example, as an affiliate marketer, you might host a sweepstakes where participants enter by clicking your affiliate link, with winners receiving a product you’re promoting.
Syndication
Think of your favorite TV show that airs on different channels at different times—that’s ‘syndication’ in the broadcasting world. In affiliate marketing, ‘syndication’ is the process of distributing your content across various platforms to reach a broader audience. For instance, if you write a blog post reviewing a product, syndicating this post could mean sharing it on social media, email newsletters, or other blogs.
Targeted marketing
Targeted marketing involves tailoring your marketing efforts to reach specific audience segments based on characteristics like demographics, interests, or behaviors. For instance, as an affiliate marketer promoting fitness equipment, you might target your content towards fitness enthusiasts within a certain age range.
Targeted traffic
Targeted traffic refers to website visitors who are likely to be interested in your affiliate products. This section is based on their demographics, behavior, or other factors. For instance, if you’re an affiliate marketer promoting pet products. Then, your targeted traffic might be pet owners, who frequently visit pet-related websites or search for pet-related keywords.
Token
A token is a dynamic value that can be passed through an affiliate link to track specific data about the user’s interaction. For example, you might use a token to track which specific link a customer clicked on, the time of the click, or the user’s geographical location.
Tracker
In the context of affiliate marketing, a tracker is a tool that monitors and records the performance of your affiliate links. It helps you understand where your traffic is coming from, which affiliate links are performing well, and how your audience is engaging with your content. For example, a tracker might show that a particular blog post is driving a substantial number of clicks to your affiliate links.
Tracking
Tracking refers to the process of monitoring and analyzing the performance of your affiliate links. For example, you might track the number of clicks your links receive, the sources of those clicks, and the number of resulting conversions or sales.
Tracking method
A tracking method refers to the technique used to monitor and analyze the performance of your affiliate marketing efforts. For example, using a unique ID attached to your affiliate link, you can track how many people click on the link, the resulting conversions, and the source of those clicks.
Tracking platform
A tracking platform is a software solution that collects then visualizes data. It tracks key metrics like clicks, conversions, and sources of traffic.
Unique clicks
Unique clicks refer to the number of distinct inpiduals who click on your affiliate link. For instance, if a user clicks on your link three times, it counts as one unique click, highlighting how many different users you’re attracting, not just the total number of clicks.
Unique user
A unique user refers to an inpidual visitor who has accessed your website or clicked on your affiliate link at least once within a specific period. For instance, if John visits your website three times in a day, he is counted as one unique user, providing information about the size of your distinct audience.
Verified opt-in
Verified opt-in, also known as double opt-in, is a process in email marketing where a user’s intent to subscribe is confirmed through an additional step. For example, after a user enters their email address on your website, they receive a confirmation email. Only when they click on the verification link in this email, they are officially added to your mailing list.
Vertical
A vertical in affiliate marketing refers to a specific industry, niche, or category of products or services you decide to promote. For instance, if you are promoting products related to ‘pet care’, your vertical is ‘pet care’.
Video marketing
Video marketing involves using videos to promote and market your affiliate products. Why, you ask? To increase engagement on your digital and social channels! Besides, it’s an effective medium to reach new customers and educate them. For example, creating a product review video that provides value to your audience while promoting your affiliate product is a form of video marketing.
Viral marketing
Viral marketing is a strategy that encourages inpiduals to share a marketing message, creating exponential growth in the message’s visibility and impact. For example, a funny or emotionally engaging video that gets shared across various social media platforms can be an instance of viral marketing.
White label
White-label products are made by one company and sold by others. An example is a customizable website template for affiliate marketing.
White list
A whitelist is a list of entities approved for granted permissions in a system. In affiliate marketing, a whitelist might include trusted affiliate networks, sites, or email addresses you allow to send traffic or communications to your website or inbox. For instance, you might whitelist an email address to ensure its emails always reach your inbox and aren’t marked as spam.
Program Commission
The commission structure set for an entire affiliate program, applicable to all affiliates.
Product Commission
A commission rate set specifically for certain products within the affiliate program.
Recurring Commissions
Ongoing commissions paid when a referred customer makes repeat purchases or renews a subscription.
Lifetime Commissions
Commissions paid for all future purchases by a referred customer for as long as they remain a customer.
Auto-tier Commission
An automated system that increases an affiliate’s commission rate when certain performance thresholds are met.
Affiliate Portal
A dedicated online dashboard where affiliates can access marketing materials, track performance, and manage their account.
Affiliate Registration Page
A sign-up page where new affiliates can apply to join an affiliate program.
Affiliate Login Form
A login interface for affiliates to access their accounts.
Affiliate Guide
A document or resource explaining how to promote offers, track performance, and comply with program rules.
White Label Email
Option An email feature allowing affiliates to send promotional emails branded as their own instead of the merchant’s.
Email Templates
Pre-made email designs and content provided to affiliates for promotional campaigns.
Multi-level Marketing
MLM is marketing structure where affiliates recruit others and earn commissions from their recruits’ sales.
Customer Referral
When an affiliate sends a new customer to a merchant, typically tracked via a link or code.
Marketplace Listing
An affiliate program’s listing on an affiliate network or directory for visibility and recruitment.
Affiliate Coupons
Special discount codes assigned to affiliates for tracking sales and offering deals to customers.
Media Gallery
A repository of marketing assets such as banners, videos, and logos for affiliates to use.
Affiliate Bonus
Affiliate bonus is an additional reward given to affiliates for achieving specific milestones or performance targets.
Gifts for Affiliates
Physical or digital rewards given to affiliates as incentives or appreciation.
Affiliate Fraud Detection
Systems and processes used to detect fraudulent activity within an affiliate program.
Tracking by Link
Monitoring affiliate performance by tracking clicks and conversions from their unique links.
Tracking by Coupon
Monitoring affiliate performance by tracking sales made using their unique coupon codes.
Analytics & UTM
Using analytics tools and UTM parameters to track and measure affiliate campaign performance.
Auto Payout
Automatically sending affiliate payments through integrated payment systems on a set schedule.
Store Credit
Paying affiliates with store credit instead of cash commissions.
Tax & Invoice
The process of collecting tax information from affiliates and issuing payment invoices.
Influencer
An inpidual with a dedicated following on social media or other platforms who can influence purchasing decisions.
Nano Influencer
An influencer with a small but highly engaged following, typically under 10,000 followers.
Micro Influencer
An influencer with 10,000 to 100,000 followers, known for niche expertise and high engagement rates.
Macro Influencer
An influencer with 100,000 to 1 million followers, often with broad reach.
Mega Influencer
An influencer with over 1 million followers, often celebrities or public figures.
Brand Ambassador
A long-term influencer partner who consistently promotes a brand across multiple campaigns.
Sponsored Post
Content created by an influencer that is paid for by a brand to promote its products or services.
Product Seeding
Sending free products to influencers in hopes they will feature them in their content.
Affiliate Influencer
An influencer who earns commission through tracked sales or leads.
Engagement Rate
The percentage of followers who interact with an influencer’s content.
Reach
The total number of unique people who see an influencer’s content.
Impressions
The total number of times content is displayed, regardless of clicks.
Collaboration
A partnership between an influencer and a brand to create promotional content.
Whitelisting
Allowing a brand to run ads through an influencer’s account for more authentic reach.
Usage Rights
The rights granted to a brand to reuse influencer-created content.
Content Brief
Guidelines provided to an influencer outlining campaign requirements.
Influencer Marketplace
A platform that connects brands with influencers for collaborations.
Referral
Marketing A strategy that encourages customers to refer new clients to a business, often in exchange for rewards.
Referrer
An existing customer who refers a new customer to a business.
Referee
A new customer who is referred to a business by an existing customer.
Double-sided
Incentive A referral program structure where both the referrer and referee receive rewards.
Single-sided
Incentive A referral program where only the referrer or referee gets a reward.
Referral Link
A unique link given to customers to track referrals.
Referral Code
A unique code used to track and credit referrals.
Customer Advocate
A loyal customer who actively promotes the brand to others.
Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Promotion of products or services through personal recommendations.
Viral Loop
A process where referred customers also refer new customers, creating exponential growth.
Referral Reward
The incentive given to a customer for making a referral.
Cash Reward
A monetary payment for a successful referral.
Store Credit
Credit given to spend within the store as a referral reward.
Tiered Rewards
A referral program where rewards increase as more referrals are made.
Referral Tracking
The process of monitoring and attributing new customers to specific referrers.
Referral Program
A structured system for managing and rewarding referrals.
Post-Purchase Referral
A referral request made to customers after they complete a purchase.
Verdict
With this affiliate marketing glossary, you now have a comprehensive guide to 172 key terms that will help you communicate effectively, make smarter decisions, and strengthen your affiliate partnerships.
Understanding these definitions isn’t just useful for learning—it’s a powerful tool for optimizing campaigns and growing your results. Keep this glossary within reach, and you’ll always have the knowledge you need to succeed in the competitive world of affiliate marketing.
Jodie is an SEO content writer and part of the UpPromote team. For her, writing is not just a hobby but also a way to express her creativity and imagination. She enjoys the process of turning her thoughts into words and is always eager to learn more about SEO and content marketing to make her writing even more effective. Besides creating content, she loves cats and traveling.
