Glossary

Affiliate Marketing Glossary

Every term you'll encounter when building, running, or scaling an affiliate or referral program — defined clearly, with context that actually matters.

Tracking & Attribution

Commissions & Rewards

Partner Management

Payouts & Payments

Analytics & Performance

Integrations & Technology

Strategy & Growth

Program Types 8 terms

Affiliate program An affiliate program pays external partners a commission for driving sales or signups. Learn how they work, how to set one up, and how to manage affiliates effectively.

Referral program A referral program rewards customers for recommending your product to friends. Learn how referral programs work, how they differ from affiliate programs, and best practices.

Refer-a-friend program A refer-a-friend program rewards customers for sharing your product with their network. Learn how the mechanic works and how to set one up.

Newsletter referral program A newsletter referral program grows your subscriber list by rewarding subscribers for referring friends. Learn how to set one up and what rewards work best.

Partner program A partner program is a formal arrangement with external parties who help grow your business. Learn the different types and how to structure one effectively.

Reseller program A reseller program lets third parties sell your product to their customers. Learn how reseller programs work and how they differ from affiliate programs.

Multi-tier affiliate program Multi-tier affiliate programs pay commissions on your own sales and on sales from affiliates you recruit. Learn how they work and when to use them.

Influencer affiliate program Influencer affiliate programs pay content creators commissions for driving sales through their audiences. Learn how to set one up and track influencer performance.

Tracking & Attribution 11 terms

Affiliate tracking Affiliate tracking records and attributes conversions to the partners who generated them. Learn how it works, what methods are used, and how to ensure accuracy.

Affiliate link An affiliate link is a unique URL that tracks referrals back to a specific partner. Learn how affiliate links work and how to generate and manage them.

Cookie tracking Cookie tracking attributes affiliate conversions by storing a tracking file in a visitor's browser. Learn how it works and its limitations.

Cookie window A cookie window is the period an affiliate tracking cookie stays active. Learn how to choose the right window length and why it matters for affiliate earnings.

First-party cookie First-party cookies are set directly by your own domain and are more reliable for affiliate tracking. Learn why they matter as third-party cookies are phased out.

Attribution model An attribution model determines which affiliate gets credit for a conversion. Learn about last-click, first-click, and other models and when to use each.

Postback URL A postback URL enables server-to-server affiliate tracking without relying on cookies. Learn how it works and when to use it.

Coupon code tracking Coupon code tracking attributes affiliate sales through unique discount codes. Learn how it works and when to use it alongside or instead of link tracking.

Custom tracking link Custom tracking links use your own branded domain for affiliate URLs. Learn how to set them up and why they improve click-through rates.

UTM parameters UTM parameters tag URLs to track traffic sources in analytics platforms. Learn how to use them alongside affiliate tracking for richer performance data.

Conversion A conversion is the completed action that triggers an affiliate commission. Learn how to define your conversion event and why it matters for program accuracy.

Commissions & Rewards 11 terms

Commission A commission is the payment an affiliate earns for driving a conversion. Learn how commission structures work and how to set competitive rates for your program.

Commission rate Your commission rate is the percentage or fixed amount affiliates earn per sale. Learn how to set a competitive rate and what benchmarks look like by industry.

Recurring commission A recurring commission pays affiliates on every subscription renewal, not just the first sale. Learn how it works and why it attracts higher-quality affiliate partners.

One-time commission A one-time commission pays affiliates a single reward for the first conversion with no ongoing payments. Learn when to use it and how it compares to recurring commissions.

Tiered commission Tiered commissions pay higher rates as affiliates drive more conversions. Learn how to structure tiers to motivate volume without overpaying at every level.

Dynamic commission Dynamic commissions automatically adjust rates based on real-time performance metrics. Learn how they work and when to use them in your affiliate program.

Product-based commission Product-based commissions set different rates for different products in your affiliate program. Learn how to use them to guide affiliate focus.

Milestone bonus A milestone bonus rewards affiliates when they hit a performance threshold. Learn how to use them to boost engagement and motivate top partners.

Double-sided reward A double-sided reward gives both the referrer and their friend an incentive when a referral converts. Learn why it increases share rates and conversion.

Commission period A commission period defines how long an affiliate earns commissions from a referred customer. Learn how to set the right period for your SaaS or subscription program.

Payout threshold A payout threshold is the minimum earnings required before an affiliate can be paid. Learn how to set one that balances cost efficiency with partner experience.

Partner Management 10 terms

Partner portal A partner portal is where affiliates track performance, access links, and manage payouts. Learn what a great partner portal includes and why it matters.

White-label portal A white-label portal is a fully branded affiliate dashboard with no platform branding. Learn why it matters and how to set one up in Partnero.

Partner onboarding Partner onboarding sets new affiliates up for success. Learn what great onboarding includes and how to automate it for a large partner network.

Partner approval Partner approval lets you vet affiliates before granting program access. Learn when to use it and how to balance quality control with fast partner acquisition.

Resources library A resources library gives affiliates ready-to-use marketing materials. Learn what to include and why it increases partner activation rates.

Affiliate recruitment Affiliate recruitment is the process of finding and signing up high-quality partners. Learn strategies for attracting affiliates who will actually drive results.

Affiliate contest Affiliate contests reward top performers over a defined period. Learn how to run one effectively and what prize structures motivate partners most.

Partner messaging Partner messaging lets you communicate directly with your affiliate network. Learn how to use it to keep partners engaged and informed.

Fraud detection Affiliate fraud detection identifies fake referrals and abusive activity. Learn the most common fraud types and how to protect your program.

Individual commission rate Individual commission rates let you assign custom earnings to specific affiliates. Learn when to use them and how to structure VIP partner incentives.

Payouts & Payments 7 terms

Payout A payout is when an affiliate receives their earned commissions. Learn how payouts work, what methods are supported, and how to automate them.

Automated payouts Automated payouts process affiliate commissions on a schedule without manual work. Learn how to set them up and save hours of administrative time.

Managed payouts Managed payouts let Partnero handle all affiliate payments on your behalf. Learn how it works and when it makes sense over direct automated payouts.

Payout schedule A payout schedule defines how often affiliates are paid. Learn why consistency matters and how to configure an automated schedule in Partnero.

Invoice management Invoice management handles payout documentation between program owners and affiliates. Learn how Partnero streamlines invoice collection within the payout flow.

Tax compliance Tax compliance covers documentation and reporting obligations for affiliate payments. Learn what W-9, W-8, and 1099 requirements mean for your program.

PayPal Mass Pay PayPal Mass Pay lets you send commissions to multiple affiliates in a single batch. Learn how Partnero's PayPal integration works and how to set it up.

Analytics & Performance 7 terms

Affiliate program analytics Affiliate program analytics tracks clicks, conversions, and partner performance. Learn what metrics matter and how to use data to optimise your program.

Click-through rate (CTR) Click-through rate measures how often people click an affiliate link after seeing it. Learn how to use CTR to evaluate affiliate quality and content effectiveness.

Conversion rate Conversion rate measures how many referred visitors complete a desired action. Learn how to track it and use it to identify your best-performing affiliates.

Earnings per click (EPC) Earnings per click (EPC) measures how much revenue an affiliate generates per link click. Learn how affiliates use it and how to improve your program's EPC.

Average order value (AOV) Average order value measures the typical purchase size from referred customers. Learn how to track it by affiliate and why it matters for program optimisation.

Program dashboard A program dashboard gives a real-time overview of affiliate program performance. Learn what metrics to track and how Partnero's dashboard is structured.

Real-time reporting Real-time reporting shows affiliate performance data the moment it happens. Learn why it matters for partner trust and program management.

Integrations & Technology 7 terms

Affiliate software Affiliate software manages every aspect of an affiliate program — tracking, commissions, payouts, and analytics. Learn what to look for when choosing a platform.

Affiliate management software Affiliate management software runs affiliate programs at scale. Learn what the key capabilities are and how to evaluate platforms like Partnero.

Stripe integration Partnero's Stripe integration tracks subscription events and attributes recurring commissions automatically. Learn how to connect Stripe to your affiliate program.

Paddle integration Partnero's Paddle integration tracks subscription events for accurate affiliate commission attribution. Learn how to connect Paddle to your affiliate program.

Webhook Webhooks send real-time conversion data between systems for accurate affiliate attribution. Learn how they work and when to use them over cookie-based tracking.

API integration Partnero's API integration enables custom workflows and programmatic access for technical teams. Learn when to use the API over other integration methods.

Universal tracking snippet Partnero's universal tracking snippet enables affiliate tracking on any website without a platform integration. Learn how to install it in under 30 minutes.

Strategy & Growth 8 terms

Affiliate marketing Affiliate marketing pays external partners commissions for driving measurable results. Learn how it works, how it differs from referral marketing, and how to get started.

Referral marketing Referral marketing turns existing customers into a growth channel. Learn how it works, how it differs from affiliate marketing, and best practices.

Performance marketing Performance marketing pays only for defined results — sales, leads, or signups. Learn how it works and how affiliate marketing fits within it.

Word-of-mouth marketing Word-of-mouth marketing is driven by customer recommendations. Learn how referral programs structure and amplify natural word-of-mouth behaviour.

Partner enablement Partner enablement equips affiliates with what they need to promote effectively. Learn what a strong enablement program includes and how it improves activation rates.

ROI (Return on Investment) ROI measures how much revenue an affiliate program generates relative to its cost. Learn how to calculate it accurately and what benchmarks to expect.

Affiliate program launch An affiliate program launch is the process of going live with a new program. Learn the key steps and how to launch with Partnero in minutes.

Affiliate marketplace An affiliate marketplace connects programs with affiliates looking for opportunities. Learn how marketplace listings work and how to list your program on PartneroList.

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