Affiliate/Sheet

What Is an Affiliate Network?

An affiliate network is a company that sits between brands and publishers. It brings the two sides together and handles the links, tracking and payouts.

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How affiliate programs work
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What is an affiliate network?

An affiliate network is a company that connects two groups. On one side are brands that want more sales. On the other side are publishers who promote products and earn a commission. The network sits in the middle and runs the system that holds them together.

To define an affiliate network in one line: it is a middle company that many brands and many publishers share.

The three parties

Every network has three parties.

The brand makes the product and wants it promoted. The publisher runs a site, a blog or a channel, and promotes the product for a commission. The network is the third party. It hosts the offers, gives the publisher links and pays out the commission.

FlexOffers' program page says affiliate programs let a publisher earn commission for generating leads or sales.

How an affiliate network works, step by step

The flow is simple.

  1. The brand joins the network and lists its offer.
  2. The publisher joins the same network and finds the offer.
  3. The network gives the publisher a tracking link.
  4. A reader clicks the link and buys.
  5. The network records the sale and pays the publisher.

The link and the sale both live in the network's system. For more on the link itself, see affiliate links, and for how clicks are counted, see affiliate program tracking.

Network vs. program vs. platform

These three words get mixed up.

An affiliate program is one brand's offer. It may run on a network, or the brand may run it alone on its own site. A program run alone means the brand itself gives you the link and sends the money.

An affiliate network is many programs under one roof. You join once and can apply to many brands.

An affiliate platform is the software side. It is the tool a network or a brand uses to run tracking and payouts. For a fuller comparison, see affiliate marketing platforms explained.

Examples of affiliate networks

Each of these is a real network or platform, and each has its own page here.

impact.com's affiliate page says its marketplace lets you connect directly with top brands that match your audience.

How to join an affiliate network

Each network sets its own way to join. The steps differ by network. See how to join affiliate programs for the process.

Is it free to join? Some say so on their own pages. impact.com's affiliate page says joining as an affiliate partner is free. ClickBank's affiliate page says you sign up for a free ClickBank account to access products. Travelpayouts' homepage says sign-up is free, with no sign-up fees and no ongoing costs. For any other network, read its page before you assume a cost.

What a network handles for you

A network handles three things you would otherwise chase yourself.

It gives you links. It tracks your clicks and sales, including the cookie window. It pays out the commission. The payout details live on how affiliate payouts are sent.

Affiliate networks for beginners

A network lists offers from many brands in one place. You can test which products fit your audience without chasing each brand alone.

Start with one network. Read its terms before you join. Travelpayouts' homepage says anyone with a public channel, such as a blog, website or social media, can become an affiliate partner. For the wider picture, see affiliate marketing networks.

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