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    "result": {"data":{"article":{"id":"cG9zdDo2MTY0","content":"\n<p>Affiliate marketing is one of the most prominent types of marketing in digital spaces right now, and if you’re looking to build a strong marketing strategy, you need to understand how to leverage it. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>With<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/affiliate-marketing-statistics/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> over 80% of advertisers</a> using affiliate marketing of some kind, it’s clear that this isn’t a passing trend and is likely to be one of the most enduring marketing choices of the digital age. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here’s everything you need to know about affiliate marketing from the ground up.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-heading-3-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is Affiliate Marketing?</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Affiliate marketing is a type of<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/what-is-performance-marketing/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> performance marketing</a>. With this marketing structure, an affiliate publisher promotes a website, product, or service using a referral link or code. When a customer uses that link or code to make a purchase, the merchant pays the affiliate publisher a commission on the purchase. That means affiliate marketing utilizes three distinct parties:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>User/Potential customer</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The user is the potential customer that you, as the merchant, are trying to court. This is someone who is reading an affiliate’s blog, following an influencer’s social media profiles, or watching a publisher’s videos, who might be interested in the product you have to sell. They’re the person you’re targeting in your affiliate marketing.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Publisher</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/affiliate-marketing-publisher/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">publisher</a> is the individual that you’re partnered with. This is the individual that creates content attempting to get the user to click through and check your website. Publisher sites can include any content–videos, blogs, websites, social media posts, and anything else that an end user might be interested in.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Merchant</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The merchant is the group that pays the affiliate a commission any time the affiliate makes a purchase. Merchants will often partner with<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/affiliate-management-agency/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> affiliate management agencies</a> to make it easier for them to find high-quality affiliates who are driven to create great content that actually sells their products.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Affiliate marketing has gained significant popularity in recent years because it can be great for everyone. The merchant gains targeted exposure without having to invest money upfront, the publisher is able to gain income from their existing content, and the customer gets a recommendation from someone whose input they value, as well as potentially a discount, which many affiliate programs provide.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-heading-3-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Top Benefits of Affiliate Marketing</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many reasons merchants have been flocking to affiliate marketing. Here are a few of the most prominent benefits.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Increase sales quickly</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Affiliate marketing is well-known for prominent, strong sales. Recommendations are<a href=\"https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2353-consumer-ad-trust.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> one of the best ways to secure sales</a>, and in the absence of peer-to-peer recommendations, many individuals look instead for recommendations from industry leaders and influencers whose opinions they trust. That means affiliate marketing can be a great way to secure more sales.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Create an authentic awareness campaign</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Authenticity and transparency are two of the most important factors for the modern-day advertising campaign; an astonishing<a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-having-authentic-brand-important-lee-ann-johnstone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> 91% of consumers</a> indicate authenticity as one of the important factors they consider when deciding on a brand to buy from. When you select affiliates that actually enjoy your product and have a genuine reason to use and recommend it, you open up a world of authentic brand awareness.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Test out many different marketing strategies</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Affiliate marketing can be an extremely effective way to test new campaigns and marketing strategies. Because it’s performance-based, you don’t have to pay as much for a marketing campaign that does poorly. If you’re looking into<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/seasonal-affiliate-marketing/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> seasonal marketing strategies</a>, new<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/instagram-revenue-strategies-2022/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Instagram strategies</a>, or new<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/encourage-ugc/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> content creation strategies</a>, you can funnel it through your affiliates to see which ones perform best.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Build a reputation and improve brand awareness</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Reputation can be an important part of your business as a whole. Whether you’re trying to create an entirely new brand impression or you’re just trying to change the way people think of your business in a very subtle way, you can use affiliate marketing to impact the way people think of your company as a whole without having to spend millions of dollars on reputation management.</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Save money on your marketing</strong></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, one of the biggest reasons companies are flocking to affiliate marketing is simply because it’s<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/blog/affiliate-marketing-expenses/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> generally inexpensive</a> when compared to other types of marketing. You only have to pay when someone makes a purchase, which means that you’re making money when your affiliates do. This especially helps if you don’t have a large marketing budget to begin with.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-heading-3-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>Paying Attention to Legal Requirements</strong></h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that affiliate marketing is still beholden to the Federal Trade Commission’s legal guidelines, especially regarding<a href=\"https://termly.io/resources/articles/ftc-affiliate-disclosure/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> FTC disclosures</a> that marketers and publishers alike need to understand. Generally, the disclosure needs to be clear and conspicuous to all readers, and the people you’re paying to endorse your product should be transparent with the end user that they could receive a payment if you purchase through their affiliate link. Remember to look through all of these requirements before you start working with affiliates so that both you and your affiliates understand what you legally need to remember.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, while not a legal requirement, an affiliate program policy is a legal agreement that you and the publishers you work with should both keep in mind. It helps moderate the process of creating content and paying for commissions, ensuring that you both know the terms and conditions before you enter into an agreement. Our<a href=\"https://support.refersion.com/en/articles/1915729-how-to-create-the-right-terms-policies-for-you\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> guide to creating a program policy</a> is a great starting point.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-heading-3-font-size wp-block-heading\">The Bottom Line</h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If, after reading this beginner’s guide, you’re ready to get started,<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> then Refersion</a> is a great tool to help. This program helps you manage, track, and grow your affiliate marketing network, celebrating the publishers that help push your program to new heights.<a href=\"https://www.refersion.com/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Sign up today</a> to find out how Refersion can help you develop a great affiliate marketing program.</p>\n","title":"A Beginner’s Guide to Affiliate Marketing","nodeType":"Article","date":"2019-10-19T04:42:00","uri":"/blog/affiliate-marketing-beginners-guide/","modified":"2023-02-28T08:05:53","lastEditedBy":{"node":{"name":"Werner Geyser"}},"articleCategories":{"nodes":[{"slug":"affiliate-marketing","id":"dGVybTo1Mzg=","name":"Affiliate Marketing","uri":"/blog/category/affiliate-marketing/"}]},"featuredImage":{"node":{"sourceUrl":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/16124550/100-1024x652-1.png","srcSet":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/16124550/100-1024x652-1-300x191.png 300w, 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Both platforms appear on nearly every &#8220;best affiliate software&#8221; list, but&#8230;</p>\n","nodeType":"Article","date":"March 06, 2026","featuredImage":{"node":{"sourceUrl":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/06121755/Refersion-vs-Impact-Comparison-Guide-2.webp","srcSet":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/06121755/Refersion-vs-Impact-Comparison-Guide-2-300x191.webp 300w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/06121755/Refersion-vs-Impact-Comparison-Guide-2-768x489.webp 768w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/06121755/Refersion-vs-Impact-Comparison-Guide-2-455x290.webp 455w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/06121755/Refersion-vs-Impact-Comparison-Guide-2.webp 1024w","altText":"Shows Refersion vs Impact logos"}}},{"id":"cG9zdDoxNjE4OA==","title":"Top Affiliate Marketing Strategies for The Booming Health & Wellness Industry","uri":"/blog/top-affiliate-marketing-strategies-for-health-wellness/","excerpt":"<p>The health and wellness ecommerce sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years, driven by increased consumer interest in maintaining&#8230;</p>\n","nodeType":"Article","date":"January 03, 2025","featuredImage":{"node":{"sourceUrl":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03120807/hwblog-header.png","srcSet":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03120807/hwblog-header-300x191.webp 300w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03120807/hwblog-header-1024x652.webp 1024w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03120807/hwblog-header-768x489.webp 768w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03120807/hwblog-header-455x290.webp 455w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/03120807/hwblog-header.png 2048w","altText":""}}},{"id":"cG9zdDozMTYy","title":"New Year, New You: Creating and Communicating Brand Guidelines for Affiliates","uri":"/blog/affiliate-brand-guidelines-2/","excerpt":"<p>The New Year is a great time to refresh your brand guidelines and help your affiliates stay on track for&#8230;</p>\n","nodeType":"Article","date":"December 12, 2024","featuredImage":{"node":{"sourceUrl":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/03035904/16-1024x652-1-1.webp","srcSet":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/03035904/16-1024x652-1-1-300x191.webp 300w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/03035904/16-1024x652-1-1-1024x652.webp 1024w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/03035904/16-1024x652-1-1-768x489.webp 768w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/03035904/16-1024x652-1-1-455x290.webp 455w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/03035904/16-1024x652-1-1.webp 2048w","altText":""}}}]},"otherArticles":{"nodes":[{"id":"cG9zdDo1NzI4","title":"Featured Startup: Urban Strength","uri":"/blog/featured-startup-urban-strength/","excerpt":"<p>Every now and then we enjoy talking to some interesting folks in the startup world, featuring their entrepreneurial adventures, and&#8230;</p>\n","nodeType":"Article","date":"November 09, 2016","featuredImage":{"node":{"sourceUrl":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26102501/Urban-Strength.jpeg","srcSet":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26102501/Urban-Strength-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26102501/Urban-Strength-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26102501/Urban-Strength.jpeg 400w","altText":"Urban-Strength"}}},{"id":"cG9zdDo0MDM4","title":"Featured Startup: AKLASU","uri":"/blog/featured-startup-aklasu/","excerpt":"<p>Every now and then we enjoy talking to some interesting folks in the startup world, exploring their entrepreneurial adventures, and&#8230;</p>\n","nodeType":"Article","date":"December 28, 2016","featuredImage":{"node":{"sourceUrl":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26103212/AKLASU.jpeg","srcSet":"https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26103212/AKLASU-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26103212/AKLASU-455x256.jpeg 455w, https://cdn.refersion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/26103212/AKLASU.jpeg 630w","altText":"aklasu"}}},{"id":"cG9zdDo3MDg3","title":"Featured Startup: Balitello","uri":"/blog/featured-startup-balitello/","excerpt":"<p>They’ve been best friends since they were six. 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We’ll get you up and running in no time.</p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignwide btns-justify-content-center is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-6bd4d9d1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https://www.refersion.com/signup/?button=learn-page\">Sign Up Today!</a></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n\n\t\t</div>\n\n\t\t\n\t</section>\n\n"}}},"pageContext":{"id":"cG9zdDo2MTY0","category":"affiliate-marketing"}},
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