What is Affiliate Marketing?

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Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where an individual (the affiliate) promotes a product or service on behalf of a business or brand and earns a commission when a sale is made through their promotional efforts. Essentially, the affiliate acts as a middleman between the consumer and the company, guiding potential buyers to a product or service.

The Key Players in Affiliate Marketing​

To understand how affiliate marketing works, it’s helpful to know the main players involved:

• The Merchant (also called the advertiser or creator) is the company or individual selling the product or service.
• The Affiliate is the person or company promoting the product or service and driving traffic to the merchant's website.
• The Consumer is the end user who purchases the product or service.
• The Affiliate Network (optional) acts as an intermediary between the affiliate and the merchant, providing tracking, reporting, and payment services.

This mutually beneficial relationship allows affiliates to earn money without having to create their own products, making it an attractive option for many online entrepreneurs.