Skip to content

affiliate dictionary


Ad Exchange: An Ad Exchange is a platform that facilitates the buying and selling of digital advertising inventory between advertisers and publishers. Ad Exchanges allow buyers and sellers to bid on and purchase advertising space in real-time, making it a more efficient and cost-effective way to buy and sell advertising.

Ad Network: An ad network is an online service that connects advertisers to websites that want to host advertisements. Ad networks serve as the middleman between advertisers and publishers. They manage the connection between the two parties, taking care of the technical details, tracking the performance of ads, and ensuring that both parties get paid for their services. Ad networks also provide a platform for targeting, optimization, and analytics.

Affiliate Link: An affiliate link is a special URL that contains the affiliate’s ID or username. It is used to track sales and commissions for affiliate marketing. When a customer clicks on an affiliate link, a cookie is dropped on their computer that tracks the sale back to the affiliate.

Attribution: Attribution in digital analytics is a method used to assign credit to various marketing channels for the conversion of a user. This is important for understanding how different channels contribute to the success of a marketing campaign and for optimizing future campaigns.

Affiliate Program: An affiliate program is a marketing arrangement by which an online merchant pays commission to an external website/affiliate for traffic or sales generated from its referrals.

Affiliate: An affiliate is someone who promotes a product or service and earns a commission for each referral made to the product or service. This is typically done through an affiliate link or code found on the affiliate’s website. Affiliates can be individuals or companies that specialize in online advertising and marketing.

Affiliate Agreement: An affiliate agreement is a contract between two parties in which one party, the affiliate, agrees to promote the other party’s products or services in exchange for a commission on any sales generated. The agreement outlines the terms and conditions of the relationship, such as the commission rate, payment structure, and any other relevant details.

Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts. Typically, affiliates earn a commission for each sale they make. The most popular type of affiliate marketing is done through an affiliate network, which works as a middleman between merchants and affiliates.

Advertiser: An Advertiser is someone who pays to promote services or products through an advertising platform, such as television, radio or online. Advertisers use various methods to reach potential customers, such as creating commercials, placing ads on websites, or using social media campaigns. Advertisers typically measure the effectiveness of their campaigns by tracking how many people view or click on their ads.

Average Order Value (AOV): Average Order Value (AOV) is a metric that measures the average amount of money spent on each order over a given period of time. It is calculated by dividing the total revenue generated from orders by the number of orders placed. AOV can provide businesses with insight into their customers’ spending habits, allowing them to better understand the value of their customer base.

Affiliate Text Link: An affiliate text link is a type of link used to refer customers to an online merchant’s website. It contains an affiliate ID that helps the merchant track sales generated from the link. When a customer clicks on the link, they are sent to the merchant’s site and the affiliate ID is stored in the tracking system. If a sale is made, the affiliate earns a commission on the sale.

Above the Fold: Above the fold refers to the content that is visible on a webpage without having to scroll. It is the content that is visible when a user first visits a website. It is usually the most important content that a website wants to display in order to capture the user’s attention and get them to explore the website further.

Ad Blocker: An ad blocker is a type of software program that is used to block advertisements from appearing on webpages. Ad blockers are typically used to reduce the number of intrusive ads that appear on websites and to prevent users from being tracked by third-party advertisers.

Anchor text: Anchor text in affiliate marketing is a type of text that contains a link to a product or service that you are promoting as an affiliate. This link is usually embedded in an article or blog post, and when readers click on the link, they are taken directly to the product page on the merchant’s website. The text of the link is usually descriptive, so it helps potential buyers determine what they are clicking on before they leave the website.

Banner Ad: A banner ad is a form of online advertising that appears as a graphic image, usually placed on webpages and blogs, and typically used to promote a product, service, or event. Banner ads are typically displayed in a rectangular or square shape and are typically animated, allowing them to be eye-catching and attract attention.

Blacklist: The process of Blacklisting consists of disabling traffic sources that are either too costly or do not generate any conversions in a single campaign.

Backlink: A backlink is a link from one website to another. Backlinks are also known as incoming links, inbound links, inlinks, and inward links. Backlinks are important for SEO (search engine optimization) because they show search engines that the website is popular and has content that other websites are willing to link to.

Campaign: A campaign is an organized effort to promote a product, service, cause, or idea. It typically involves multiple components, such as advertising, public relations, events, and social media, and is designed to reach a specific target audience with a unified message.

Conversion: A conversion in marketing is when a consumer takes a desired action on a webpage or digital platform. This can include making a purchase, downloading a file, submitting an email address, or signing up for a newsletter. It is a measure of success and is used to determine how effective a marketing campaign is.

Cookie: A cookie is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored in a user’s web browser while the user is browsing. Cookies were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember stateful information (such as items added in the shopping cart in an online store) or to record the user’s browsing activity (including clicking particular buttons, logging in, or recording which pages were visited in the past).

Cookie expiration date: Cookie expiration date is the date and time when a cookie will no longer be valid and the browser will delete it.

CPA (Cost per Acquisition): Cost per acquisition (CPA) is a marketing metric that measures the cost associated with acquiring a new customer or converting a lead into a sale. CPA is calculated by dividing the total cost of a given campaign by the number of conversions, sales, or customers generated by the campaign. It is a key metric in measuring the success of online marketing campaigns, as it reveals how much it costs to convert a lead into a customer or sale.

CPC (Cost per Click): CPC (Cost per Click) is a pricing model used in online advertising, where the advertiser pays each time a user clicks on their ad. Generally, the cost per click is determined by the amount the advertiser is willing to pay for each click, and can vary depending on the market, the quality of the ad, and the competition.

CPL (Cost per Lead): Cost per Lead (CPL) is a marketing metric used to measure the cost associated with acquiring a new lead or customer. It is calculated by dividing the total amount spent on a marketing campaign by the total number of leads generated by that campaign. CPL is a useful metric for evaluating the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and understanding the return on investment (ROI) of each campaign.

CPM (Cost per One Thousand Impressions): CPM stands for Cost per One Thousand Impressions, and it is a common way of measuring the cost-effectiveness of online advertising campaigns. It indicates the cost an advertiser pays for every one thousand impressions of their ad. Impressions refer to the number of times an ad is displayed to users. The higher the CPM, the more expensive the ad campaign is for the advertiser.

CPS (Cost per Sale): CPS (Cost per Sale) is a metric used to measure the cost associated with each sale made by a company or an advertiser. This metric is calculated by taking total sales and dividing it by total costs associated with making those sales, such as advertising, marketing, and other sales costs. Knowing this information can help a business better understand the effectiveness of their marketing efforts, as well as the return on investment for those efforts.

CPV (Cost per View): CPV (Cost per View) is a pricing model used in online advertising where advertisers pay for every video view. This model is often used for video ad campaigns, where the advertiser pays when a user views the advertisement, regardless of any additional action taken.

Creative: A creative is a term used to describe the creative elements of a marketing campaign. This includes visuals, copy, storytelling, and other elements that help to create a cohesive and effective marketing message. It is an important part of any successful marketing strategy.

CTA (Call to Action): A call to action (CTA) is a piece of content designed to prompt an immediate response or encourage an immediate sale. In marketing, it is used as a way to get potential customers to take a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter, downloading an eBook, or making a purchase.

CTR (Click Through Rate): Click Through Rate (CTR) is a metric used to measure the success of an online advertising campaign. It is calculated by dividing the number of clicks an advertisement receives by the number of times it is shown (impressions). CTR is a key performance indicator that helps determine the effectiveness of a digital marketing campaign and the return on investment (ROI) for the advertiser.

Click ID: A Click ID is a unique code that is assigned to a visitor after they click a link, usually used in tracking and analytics software. It is used to collect data on the visitor’s behavior, such as how long they stayed on a page, which pages they visited, and what they clicked on. Click IDs can also be used to target specific audiences with advertisements or promotions.

Commission: An affiliate commission is a commission earned by an affiliate for referring customers to an online business. Affiliates typically receive a commission for referring customers who make a purchase. Commissions can range from a few cents to a percentage of the total purchase price.

Daily Budget: A campaign daily budget is the amount of money that a company or advertiser is willing to spend per day on a particular advertising campaign. This budget is typically set based on the goals of the campaign, the type of media being used, and the expected reach of the advertisement.

Datafeed: A datafeed is a file or feed containing product or pricing information from an online store or marketplace that is often used in affiliate marketing and eCommerce activities. This datafeed can be used to create a product database for comparison shopping sites or for affiliates to create dynamic ads and product pages. Datafeeds are typically provided in the form of a comma-separated values (CSV) file or in XML format.

Dayparting: Dayparting is a digital marketing technique used to schedule online advertising to be shown at specific times of the day, week, or month. It is often used to target specific audiences during times when they are more likely to be online, such as during rush hour or during times when they are more likely to engage with an advertisement. By setting specific times for online ads to run, marketers can optimize their campaigns for higher engagement and improved ROI.

Deep Linking: Deep linking in affiliate marketing is the practice of linking directly to a product page from an affiliate link, instead of the homepage of the website the affiliate is promoting. This allows the affiliate to target a specific product or product category, making it easier for potential customers to find what they are looking for and increasing the chance of a sale.

Demand Side Platforms (DSP): A Demand Side Platform (DSP) is a platform that allows buyers of digital advertising inventory to manage multiple ad exchange and data exchange accounts through one interface. It also enables automated real-time bidding for online advertising, allowing buyers to bid on impressions from multiple ad exchanges at once. DSPs can also access data from other sources and use it to optimize ad campaigns and increase the effectiveness of targeting.

Direct Buy: Direct Buy is a type of advertising that involves the purchase of advertising space directly from a media seller, such as a radio station, television network, magazine, or website. This type of advertising eliminates the need for an advertising agency or middleman and allows companies to save money by cutting out the additional fees associated with using an outside agency.

Disclosure: A disclosure is a statement that is made to inform readers about any potential conflicts of interest when it comes to affiliate marketing. This statement must be clearly visible in order to be effective and typically includes information about any commissions, sponsorships, or other payments that the affiliate might receive for promoting a particular product or service. Disclosures are important for ensuring that readers are aware of any potential bias that might be present and can help create trust and transparency between the reader and the affiliate.

Domain Authority: Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). A Domain Authority score ranges from one to 100, with higher scores corresponding to a greater ability to rank.

Double Opt-In: Double opt-in is a process used in email marketing to ensure that the person signing up for emails is the actual owner of the email address. It works by sending an email to the address provided, asking the user to confirm their subscription by clicking a link or replying to the email. This additional confirmation step helps to reduce the chances of someone else signing up a user without their knowledge.

Duplicate Content: Duplicate content is content on the internet that is exactly the same or very similar to other content on the same or other websites. This can occur when the same content is published on multiple sites, or when a website scrapes content from another website and republishes it on their own. Duplicate content can hurt a website’s search engine rankings, as search engines may view this content as spam.

EPC (Earnings per Click): Earnings per Click (EPC) is a metric used to measure the average amount of revenue generated per click on an affiliate link. It is calculated by dividing the total number of clicks on an affiliate link by the total revenue generated from those clicks. EPC can be used to compare different affiliate programs to determine which ones offer the best return on investment.

Geo-Targeting: Geo-Targeting is a digital marketing technique that involves targeting the online content, advertising, and messaging to a specific geographic area. This technique helps businesses reach the right audience, in the right location, at the right time.

Impression: An ad impression is a single instance of an ad being served to an internet user. In other words, it is one view of an advertisement. Ad impressions are used as a metric to measure the effectiveness of an ad campaign.

Influencer: An influencer is a person who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of their authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience. Influencers can be individuals, groups, or organizations, and typically use social media to promote products or services.

Influencer Network: An influencer network is a platform that connects influencers (people with a high level of influence in their respective industries) with brands and businesses that might be looking to promote their products or services. Influencer networks help to create a connection between the two sides and allow for more efficient communication and collaboration.

Keyword: A keyword is a word or phrase that is used as a way to identify or define a particular topic, concept, or idea. Keywords are often used in search engine queries to help refine the results of a query and find the most relevant and useful information for the user.

Key Performance Indicators: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in marketing are metrics used to measure the success of specific marketing campaigns, initiatives, or strategies. Common marketing KPIs include cost-per-click (CPC), cost-per-acquisition (CPA), click-through rate (CTR), and customer lifetime value (CLV). Other KPIs may include website traffic, social media engagement, and lead generation. By tracking these KPIs, marketers can better understand the effectiveness of their efforts and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Landing Page: A landing page is a web page that is created to capture the attention of visitors and prompt them to take a specific action. This action could be subscribing to a newsletter, filling out a form, downloading a file, or making a purchase. Landing pages are typically used in online marketing campaigns and are designed to be the first page a visitor sees when they arrive at a website.

Lead: A lead is an individual who has shown interest in a company’s product or service. It typically refers to someone who has filled out a form on a company’s website or has otherwise expressed interest in what the company offers.

Native Ads: Native ads are a form of advertising that blends in with the content of the website or platform on which it is located. The ads are designed to appear as a natural part of the user experience and not as a disruption. Native ads are typically found in the form of sponsored content, product placements, or recommendations.

Niche: A niche is a specific market segment for a product or service. It refers to a narrowly defined group of potential customers who have a particular set of needs or wants. A niche usually involves a combination of demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors. Niche marketing is a strategy used by businesses to focus their marketing efforts on a smaller, more specific group of customers.

Offer: An offer in affiliate marketing is a product or service that a merchant is offering to promote through an affiliate program. The affiliate program provides the affiliate with a unique tracking link or code to track the performance of the offer. When the affiliate directs customers to the merchant’s website and the customer completes a purchase, the affiliate earns a commission.

Partnership Marketing: Partnership marketing is an agreement between two or more businesses to collaborate on a marketing campaign, usually for mutual benefit. In this arrangement, each company shares the costs of the campaign, as well as the results. Partnership marketing can increase brand awareness, drive sales, and generate leads, while also providing new opportunities for growth.

Pixel: A pixel is a tiny bit of code placed on a website, email, or advertisement. It is used to track user behavior, such as when a user visits a website or clicks on an ad. This data is then used to measure the success of online marketing campaigns and to better target ads to the right users.

Post Back URL: A post back URL is a web address used to send data from a third-party server back to the original source. It is often used in affiliate marketing and advertising networks to confirm and track transactions and other activities. Post back URLs are also commonly used to track conversions, clicks, and other user interactions with online content.

PPC (Pay per Click): PPC (Pay Per Click) is a type of online advertising where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked. It is used to generate more website traffic and leads for businesses. It is a performance-based marketing model, where advertisers only pay when their ads are clicked.

Programmatic Marketing: Programmatic Marketing is the use of automation technology to purchase digital advertising. It is a data-driven approach to online advertising that uses automated processes to purchase ad impressions on digital platforms. Programmatic marketing enables marketers to target specific audiences, optimize campaigns in real-time, and improve ROI. It also allows advertisers to buy ads more efficiently and at a lower cost.

Referral Bonus: A referral bonus in affiliate marketing is a type of commission or additional reward given to affiliates who refer new customers to a company or program. It is a way for businesses to reward the best affiliates for their efforts in bringing in new customers, and it can often be a very lucrative way for affiliates to increase their income.

Retargeting / Remarketing: Retargeting/Remarketing is a form of online advertising that targets users who have already visited a website. It involves displaying ads to those users as they visit other sites on the internet. The goal of retargeting/remarketing is to remind users of a website and encourage them to come back and complete an action, such as making a purchase.

ROI (Return On Investment): ROI (Return on Investment) in marketing is a measure of the efficiency of a marketing campaign or strategy. It is a calculation that measures the amount of return (profit) on a given investment (cost). It is used to evaluate the success of a marketing campaign or strategy, and in doing so, provides an indication of whether the campaign or strategy is worth its cost.

ROAS (Return On Ads Spend): ROAS (Return on Ads Spend) is a metric used to measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. It is calculated by dividing the total revenue generated by the ads by the amount spent on the advertising. ROAS is used to measure the return on investment (ROI) of the advertising campaign, and it can help marketers identify the most profitable campaigns and channels.

Rev-Share: Rev-Share (Revenue Sharing) is a type of affiliate marketing program where affiliates are rewarded based on the amount of revenue they generate for the merchant. The revenue is usually shared between the merchant and the affiliate in the form of a percentage of the total sales. Rev-Share is a great way for merchants to get more exposure and sales from their affiliate programs, and it is also a great way for affiliates to make more money from their efforts.

Referring URL: A Referring URL in affiliate marketing is the URL that is used to track the source of traffic. It is typically used to identify the affiliate source and track where the traffic is coming from. This URL is usually embedded with a unique tracking code in order to track conversions, sales, and other metrics.

Referral Fee: A referral fee is a commission that is paid to an affiliate after they refer a customer to a merchant’s website. This fee is typically based on the amount of money that the customer spends. The affiliate marketer receives a percentage of the sale or a flat fee for each customer referred.

Search Engine Optimization: Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing web content to increase its visibility and ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). By optimizing content for search engines, businesses can increase their visibility and attract more qualified leads. SEO strategies include keyword research, content optimization, link building, and technical optimization.

Search Engine Marketing: Search engine marketing (SEM) is a form of digital marketing that involves the promotion of websites by increasing their visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). SEM methods such as pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, contextual advertising, and paid inclusion are used to increase website traffic, generate leads, and improve search engine rankings.

Traffic Source: A traffic source is a website or other source from which visitors come to a website. Examples of traffic sources include search engines, social media, referral links, email campaigns, and direct visits.

Two Tier Affiliate Program: A two tier affiliate program is an affiliate marketing program in which an affiliate earns a commission for referring customers to a product or service, and then also earns a commission from the sales of any other affiliates they refer to the program. This type of program allows affiliates to build a network of affiliates, which can create a residual income.

Trademark Bidding: Trademark bidding is the practice of bidding on trademarked terms in search engine advertising. It involves the use of keywords or phrases that are trademarked by another company or brand in order to advertise your own products or services. It is important to note that trademark bidding is not necessarily illegal, although it can be if used in a way that could be seen as an infringement of the trademarked term, or the affiliate agreement.

Unique User: A unique user is a single individual who visits a website or uses a particular software application. A unique user is identified by their IP address, cookie, or other unique identifier. The number of unique users can be used to measure the reach and engagement of a website or application.

Voucher: A voucher is an incentive given to affiliates to promote a particular product or service. It is typically a code, either physical or digital, that can be used on a website to receive a discount or other benefit. Vouchers are often used to encourage more people to sign up for an affiliate program and drive more sales.

Web Crawler: A web crawler (also known as a web spider or web robot) is an automated program that visits webpages and collects information about them. It scans the content of a web page and stores it in a database for later use. Search engines use web crawlers to index websites and find relevant content for search results.

Youtube Affiliate: A YouTube Affiliate is an individual who uses their YouTube channel to promote products, services, and offers from other companies. They earn a commission from sales generated from their promotions. YouTube Affiliates typically create content related to the products, services, or offers they are promoting, such as reviews, tutorials, or unboxing videos.