Affiliate Marketing 101: The Simple Guide

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model where a brand partners with publishers, bloggers, websites, or influencers to promote its products or services. The principle is simple:

How Does Affiliate Marketing Work? (Step by Step)

This makes affiliate marketing risk-free, measurable, and scalable.

Why is Affiliate Marketing Important for Brands?

• Cost-effective → you only pay when sales happen

• Scalable growth → start small and grow step by step

• Data-driven → every sale is trackable and transparent

• New customer acquisition → reach audiences you’d never reach alone

• Win-win model → affiliates succeed when you succeed

Types of Affiliate Partners

There are many kinds of affiliates, each bringing unique value to your brand:

1. The brand (you) creates an affiliate program with a clear commission model.

2. The affiliate partners (blogs, content websites, coupon sites, influencers, etc.) join the program.

3. They promote your products using links, banners, or discount codes.

4. A customer clicks and buys through these links

5. You pay a commission only when a sale is made.

• A partner recommends your product

• A customer clicks and buys

• The partner earns a commission only if the sale happens

In other words: you pay for real results, not empty promises.

• Content creators & bloggers → write product reviews and guides

• Influencers: recommend your products to their engaged followers

• Coupon & deal sites: spread discounts and boost sales during campaigns

• Cashback & loyalty platforms: encourage repeat purchases

• Comparison websites: help customers evaluate your product against competitors

The right mix of affiliates depends on your goals, your audience, and your industry.

Common Myths About Affiliate Marketing

“It’s only about coupon sites.”

➔ In reality, affiliate marketing covers blogs, content, influencers, and many more channels.

“It’s only for big brands.”

➔ Small and medium businesses can also grow significantly with affiliate programs.

“It’s risky.”

➔ Quite the opposite – affiliate marketing is one of the safest marketing models because you pay only for confirmed sales.

Affiliate Marketing Example

That’s affiliate marketing in action: everyone wins.

Getting Started with Affiliate Marketing

• Set up affiliate programs from scratch

• Recruit the right partners for their industry

• Manage daily operations & optimize campaigns

• Scale step by step into new markets

GLOSSARY

A beauty blogger writes a review: “My top 5 natural moisturizers” She includes your product with an affiliate link

➔ A reader buys from that link

➔ You get a new customer, she earns a commission

Imagine you sell eco-friendly skincare.

Affiliate marketing can feel overwhelming at first – but it doesn’t have to be. At adcheev, we help brands:

Ready to launch or improve your program? Let’s connect!