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Affiliate Marketing for Businesses · Lesson 5 of 7

Choosing an Affiliate Platform

Successful affiliate programs usually use affiliate networks or platforms.

1 Learn the concept

Successful affiliate programs usually use affiliate networks or platforms. These handle tracking, reporting, payments and often help you find affiliates. This lesson explains why these platforms are important and how to make the right choice for a business, comparing features, fees and the type of affiliates available.

A table of factors to compare when choosing an affiliate platformPLATFORM COMPARISON CHECKLISTFactorQuestions to askFeesSetup, monthly and per-sale costsTrackingIs it accurate and does it handlecross-device sales?PaymentsHow often and in what currencies?SupportReal help when tracking breaksFitDo the right affiliates already use it?
Compare fees and tracking quality, not just the size of the network.

2 See it in action

  • Tracking accuracy and reporting.
  • Fees and payment handling.
  • Affiliate reach and quality.
  • Integration with your store or website.

Worked example

Choosing a platform for a small shop

Needs: 20 affiliates, simple reporting and monthly payments.

Rule out: a platform with a high monthly fee.

Choose: a platform with a free trial and clear tracking.

Test: place a test order through a test link and check that it is recorded.

Result to look for: matching numbers between your store and the platform.

3 Study an example

Example scenario

A store compares two platforms. One has lower fees but fewer relevant affiliates. The other costs more but includes affiliates in the store's niche, so it chooses the second.

4 Apply it and download

  1. List your requirements.
  2. Compare two platforms.
  3. Complete the platform comparison.

Worksheet Affiliate program launch checklistOpen, print or save as PDF

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