Affiliate Term Cheat Sheet

For those who have asked ….

Affiliate Merchant = the corporate retail store (ie home depot) that you partner with to earn commissions
Affiliate Program = The terms of the program in which an affiliate merchant establishes with us to promote their product/service on a commission bases
Affiliate Manager = represents an Affiliate Merchant – the person who manages Home depots affiliate program.
Affiliate Network = The company that serves, tracks, and pays out commissions for an affiliate merchant (i.e. Linkshare, CJ,Pepper Jam
Inhouse affiliate program = describes the affiliate program of an affiliate merchant who uses their own tracking software to serve, track, and payout their program using affiliate scripts/software hosted on their servers (such as IDEV) instead of a network like CJ.
Affiliate = the individual or company that runs the affiliate programs to earn a commission.

Difference between Affiliate Marketing and Network marketing

Affiliate marketing does not require the affiliate to ‘recruit’ a downline of any sort. There is NO cost to join an affiliate program. It is a direct partnership between a company with a product or service where the affiliate advertises/promotes a service or product in exchange for a commission (or cost per ACTION – CPA) on each and every sale.

Network marketing is considered in the affiliate industry as MLM. It focuses on the development of a downline and recruiting shoppers more then the products. There is often a ‘cost’ associated to participate or a minimum ‘ purchases required or pushed’.

For MORE great affiliate resources, consider joining Her Affiliate. A free resource of niche programs (women and parenting) for affiliates.