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.
Program Types
Affiliate programAn 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 programA 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 programA 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 programA 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 programA 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 programA 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 programMulti-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 programInfluencer affiliate programs pay content creators commissions for driving sales through their audiences. Learn how to set one up and track influencer performance.
Tracking & Attribution
Affiliate trackingAffiliate 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 linkAn 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 trackingCookie tracking attributes affiliate conversions by storing a tracking file in a visitor's browser. Learn how it works and its limitations.Cookie windowA 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 cookieFirst-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 modelAn 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 URLA postback URL enables server-to-server affiliate tracking without relying on cookies. Learn how it works and when to use it.Coupon code trackingCoupon 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 linkCustom tracking links use your own branded domain for affiliate URLs. Learn how to set them up and why they improve click-through rates.UTM parametersUTM parameters tag URLs to track traffic sources in analytics platforms. Learn how to use them alongside affiliate tracking for richer performance data.ConversionA 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
CommissionA 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 rateYour 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 commissionA 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 commissionA 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 commissionTiered commissions pay higher rates as affiliates drive more conversions. Learn how to structure tiers to motivate volume without overpaying at every level.Dynamic commissionDynamic 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 commissionProduct-based commissions set different rates for different products in your affiliate program. Learn how to use them to guide affiliate focus.Milestone bonusA milestone bonus rewards affiliates when they hit a performance threshold. Learn how to use them to boost engagement and motivate top partners.Double-sided rewardA 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 periodA 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 thresholdA 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
Partner portalA 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 portalA 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 onboardingPartner onboarding sets new affiliates up for success. Learn what great onboarding includes and how to automate it for a large partner network.Partner approvalPartner 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 libraryA resources library gives affiliates ready-to-use marketing materials. Learn what to include and why it increases partner activation rates.Affiliate recruitmentAffiliate recruitment is the process of finding and signing up high-quality partners. Learn strategies for attracting affiliates who will actually drive results.Affiliate contestAffiliate contests reward top performers over a defined period. Learn how to run one effectively and what prize structures motivate partners most.Partner messagingPartner messaging lets you communicate directly with your affiliate network. Learn how to use it to keep partners engaged and informed.Fraud detectionAffiliate fraud detection identifies fake referrals and abusive activity. Learn the most common fraud types and how to protect your program.Individual commission rateIndividual commission rates let you assign custom earnings to specific affiliates. Learn when to use them and how to structure VIP partner incentives.
Payouts & Payments
PayoutA payout is when an affiliate receives their earned commissions. Learn how payouts work, what methods are supported, and how to automate them.Automated payoutsAutomated payouts process affiliate commissions on a schedule without manual work. Learn how to set them up and save hours of administrative time.Managed payoutsManaged payouts let Partnero handle all affiliate payments on your behalf. Learn how it works and when it makes sense over direct automated payouts.Payout scheduleA payout schedule defines how often affiliates are paid. Learn why consistency matters and how to configure an automated schedule in Partnero.Invoice managementInvoice management handles payout documentation between program owners and affiliates. Learn how Partnero streamlines invoice collection within the payout flow.Tax complianceTax compliance covers documentation and reporting obligations for affiliate payments. Learn what W-9, W-8, and 1099 requirements mean for your program.PayPal Mass PayPayPal 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
Affiliate program analyticsAffiliate 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 rateConversion 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 dashboardA 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 reportingReal-time reporting shows affiliate performance data the moment it happens. Learn why it matters for partner trust and program management.
Integrations & Technology
Affiliate softwareAffiliate software manages every aspect of an affiliate program — tracking, commissions, payouts, and analytics. Learn what to look for when choosing a platform.Affiliate management softwareAffiliate management software runs affiliate programs at scale. Learn what the key capabilities are and how to evaluate platforms like Partnero.Stripe integrationPartnero's Stripe integration tracks subscription events and attributes recurring commissions automatically. Learn how to connect Stripe to your affiliate program.Paddle integrationPartnero's Paddle integration tracks subscription events for accurate affiliate commission attribution. Learn how to connect Paddle to your affiliate program.WebhookWebhooks 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 integrationPartnero's API integration enables custom workflows and programmatic access for technical teams. Learn when to use the API over other integration methods.Universal tracking snippetPartnero'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
Affiliate marketingAffiliate 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 marketingReferral marketing turns existing customers into a growth channel. Learn how it works, how it differs from affiliate marketing, and best practices.Performance marketingPerformance marketing pays only for defined results — sales, leads, or signups. Learn how it works and how affiliate marketing fits within it.Word-of-mouth marketingWord-of-mouth marketing is driven by customer recommendations. Learn how referral programs structure and amplify natural word-of-mouth behaviour.Partner enablementPartner 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 launchAn 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 marketplaceAn 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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Resources
Product updates, affiliate marketing tips, and growth insights.
Integrations & Use CasesAffiliate software for StripeAffiliate software for PaddleAffiliate software for SaaSAffiliate software for E-commerceAffiliate software for ShopifyAffiliate software for WooCommerceAffiliate software for AI StartupsInfluencer marketing software
ResourcesBlog & tutorialsKnowledge baseDeveloper APIPartnero MarketplaceIntegrationsAffiliate marketing glossary
