Affiliate Marketing Glossary: 30 Terms Every Newbie Must Know
- Admin
- Nov 20, 2025
- 3 min read
Affiliate marketing can feel like learning a new language when you first start. For freshers, job seekers, and entrepreneurs stepping into this field, understanding the key terms is essential to navigate the landscape confidently. This glossary breaks down 30 important terms that will help you get a solid grasp on affiliate marketing basics and beyond.
1. Affiliate
An individual or company that promotes products or services for a merchant in exchange for a commission on sales or leads generated.
2. Merchant
The business or brand that creates the product or service and offers an affiliate program for others to promote.
3. Affiliate Network
A platform that connects affiliates with merchants, providing tracking, reporting, and payment services.
4. Commission
The payment an affiliate receives for generating a sale, lead, or action as agreed with the merchant.
5. Conversion Rate
The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, after clicking an affiliate link.
6. Cookie Duration
The length of time a tracking cookie remains active on a visitor’s device, allowing affiliates to earn commissions if the visitor converts within that period.
7. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
The ratio of users who click on an affiliate link compared to the total number of users who viewed it.
8. EPC (Earnings Per Click)
The average amount an affiliate earns each time someone clicks their affiliate link.
9. Landing Page
The specific webpage where visitors arrive after clicking an affiliate link, designed to encourage conversions.
10. Pay-Per-Sale (PPS)
A commission model where affiliates earn money only when a sale is completed.
11. Pay-Per-Lead (PPL)
Affiliates earn commissions when they generate leads, such as sign-ups or form submissions, regardless of a sale.
12. Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
Affiliates get paid based on the number of clicks their affiliate links receive, regardless of sales or leads.
13. Sub-Affiliate
An affiliate who promotes another affiliate’s links, often earning a smaller commission through a tiered program.
14. Two-Tier Program
An affiliate program that rewards affiliates for both their direct sales and the sales made by sub-affiliates they recruit.
15. EPC (Earnings Per Click)
The average earnings an affiliate makes per click on their affiliate links.
16. Link Cloaking
The process of hiding long or complex affiliate URLs to make them cleaner and more user-friendly.
17. Niche
A specific segment of the market or audience that an affiliate targets with their promotions.
18. ROI (Return on Investment)
A measure of the profitability of an affiliate campaign, calculated by comparing earnings to costs.
19. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Techniques used to improve a website’s ranking in search engine results, helping affiliates attract organic traffic.
20. PPC Advertising
Paid advertising where affiliates bid on keywords to drive traffic to their affiliate offers.
21. Affiliate Link
A unique URL that tracks traffic and sales generated by an affiliate.
22. Tracking ID
A code added to affiliate links to identify specific campaigns or traffic sources.
23. EPC (Earnings Per Click)
A key metric showing how much an affiliate earns on average for each click.
24. Recurring Commission
A commission model where affiliates earn ongoing payments for subscriptions or repeat purchases.
25. Lead Magnet
An incentive offered to visitors, such as a free ebook or discount, to encourage sign-ups or clicks.
26. Split Testing (A/B Testing)
Comparing two versions of a webpage or ad to see which performs better in converting visitors.
27. Terms and Conditions
Rules set by merchants that affiliates must follow to participate in their program.
28. Fraudulent Activity
Any dishonest or deceptive behavior by affiliates, such as fake leads or clicks, which can lead to program termination.
29. EPC (Earnings Per Click)
Repeated here to emphasize its importance as a performance metric.
30. Affiliate Manager
A person responsible for managing the affiliate program, supporting affiliates, and ensuring smooth operations.
Why Knowing These Terms Matters
For freshers and job seekers, mastering this vocabulary helps you understand how affiliate marketing works and communicate effectively with merchants and networks. Entrepreneurs can use this knowledge to build better campaigns and choose the right programs to promote.
Knowing terms like conversion rate, cookie duration, and recurring commission can help you evaluate offers and optimize your strategies. For example, a longer cookie duration means you have more time to earn commissions after a visitor clicks your link. Understanding link cloaking can improve your link presentation, making it more appealing to your audience.
Practical Tips for Getting Started
Choose a niche that interests you and has demand.
Join reputable affiliate networks like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, or Amazon Associates.
Track your campaigns carefully using tracking IDs and analytics.
Focus on building trust with your audience by promoting quality products.
Experiment with different landing pages and offers using split testing.
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