In the most basic terms, affiliate marketing is an advertising strategy by which a publisher earns a commission by successfully promoting the product or service of an advertiser.

Most large-scale affiliate marketing is coordinated through affiliate networks. Affiliate networks are companies that manage multiple publisher relationships, allowing advertisers to promote their products or services broadly and easily.

How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?

Most affiliate marketing campaigns are built on a CPA (cost per action) model. The “action” can be any pre-defined metric, including clicks to a landing page, inbound calls, app downloads or sales.

Prior to launch an advertiser working with an affiliate network shares the campaign objectives, and the affiliate network develops a customized campaign to achieve the objectives. Campaign parameters can be broad or narrow, including audience targeting, day of week targeting and creative restrictions. The affiliate network then coordinates with the publishers best able to achieve the campaign objectives, and the advertiser pays only when the pre-defined campaign action is achieved.

How Can Affiliate Marketing Help Well-Known Brands Scale?

Strong affiliate networks help advertisers connect with audiences across consumer segments, providing scalability for top brands. DMS Performance Ad Market^TM, a top-ranked affiliate network, leverages the latest tracking and quality assurance technology, proven conversion-enhancing optimization techniques and expert, one-to-one support to help well-known brands achieve their marketing objectives while paying only for results.

What Media Channels Are Used For Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing works within every media channel. Commonly leveraged media channels for affiliate marketing campaigns include email, push notifications, newsletters, native advertising, social media, content and blogs and programmatic display advertising.

How Safe Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing campaigns managed by reputable affiliate networks that follow advertising and messaging laws and regulations, verify data in real time and provide campaign and performance transparency are as safe as any other type of marketing. When selecting an affiliate network, look for one that has operationalized compliance to help ensure brand safety.

What Types Of Brands Benefit From Affiliate Marketing?

Any brand that wants to scale its marketing efforts can benefit from affiliate marketing. Successful affiliate marketing campaigns benefit from well-defined objectives and a feedback loop that allows for continual campaign optimization.

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