How an affiliate partnership program works
From first-click to payout
Partnerships can boost revenue by
28%
or more according to Forrester research.
But how do you get these kinds of results?
First, what are affiliates?
Affiliates are...
the external websites
bloggers
and other influencers
who earn a commission by driving customers into your sales funnel.
So, how does the affiliate process work?
STEP
1
Referral
Customer clicks a link on an affiliate’s website.
STEP
1
That click of a referral link on the affiliate’s website or social media sends a customer right to your website.
STEP
2
Brand's website
The customer’s clickthrough has a tracking link when it lands on your website.
STEP
2
This sends the customer directly to a specific page on your website—usually a specific product page.
STEP
3
Conversion!
Customer makes a purchase on your website.
Yes, we can pause and do the Conversion Dance!
The brand pays the affiliate for driving that purchase!
But hold on... There's more cool stuff to learn here.
let's move on >
Remember where this started, with an affiliate?
That trust a consumer has for that affiliate makes the consumer more inclined to convert.
A conversion event could be a...
purchase
subscription
booking
inquiry
download
STEP
4
Payout
The affiliate gets paid a commission
Based on the terms in the contract, the affiliate will get paid for the steps to conversion they contributed to, whether that’s a newsletter signup or a purchase.
STEP
4
Tools & Automation
Affiliate tools and automation technology allow you to track a customer’s journey to conversion to compensate affiliates based on their specific contribution.
STEP
5
Tracking
The technology platform records details of the clicks and ultimate transaction
STEP
5
Tracking
Robust tracking gives you richer reporting data that enables you to fine-tune and improve your affiliate program.
STEP
5
To get the most holistic view of the consumer journey, track every step from that first click-through from an affiliate website all the way up to conversion.
STEP
6
Reporting
The purchase is confirmed as a valid sale
STEP
6
The data collected can help you better understand each customer’s journey and how the affiliate contributed
but...
only when you have the right tracking and reporting platform.
STEP
6
1
2
Reporting comes in two formats:
Performance reporting keeps track of day-to-day operations.
Insights reporting is used for long-term analysis of your partnerships program.
STEP
6
Reporting...
lets you see how each partner contributes to the sale.
When you know which partners drive high-intent and click-to-purchase traffic, you can hone your affiliate program for success.
Every step of the affiliate marketing process...
builds a mutually beneficial relationship that encourages your partners to grow your business.