Affiliate marketing is full of industry-specific jargon CPA, EPC, LTV, cookie duration, conversions, and more. If you’re serious about making money online, understanding these terms is non-negotiable.
This Affiliate Marketing Glossary is your go-to resource for decoding every important term, from beginner-friendly basics to advanced strategies used by top affiliates. Whether you’re optimizing campaigns, tracking commissions, or scaling your affiliate business, this guide ensures you’re never left guessing.
💡 Bookmark this page and level up your affiliate marketing knowledge one term at a time! 🚀
Difficulty Level Guide:
🟢 Beginner – Essential knowledge for newcomers
🟡 Intermediate – Terms for growing affiliates
🔴 Advanced – Complex concepts for experienced marketers
A
A/B Testing 🟢
The practice of comparing two versions of a webpage, email, or other marketing asset to determine which performs better.
Abandonment Rate 🟡
The percentage of visitors who leave a website without completing a desired action.
Ad Blocker 🟢
Software that prevents advertisements from displaying on websites, affecting affiliate link visibility.
Ad Copy 🟢
The text used in advertisements or promotional content to persuade viewers to take action.
Ad Rotation 🟡
The practice of cycling through different advertisements to prevent ad fatigue and test effectiveness.
Advertiser 🟢
The merchant or company offering products or services through an affiliate program.
Affiliate 🟢
An individual or company that promotes products or services in exchange for commission.
Affiliate Agreement 🟢
A legal contract between an affiliate and merchant outlining partnership terms.
Affiliate Dashboard 🟢
The control panel where affiliates can track their performance, commissions, and access marketing materials.
Affiliate Link 🟢
A unique URL assigned to an affiliate that tracks referrals and conversions.
Affiliate Manager 🟡
Person responsible for recruiting and managing relationships with affiliates.
Affiliate Network 🟢
Platform connecting merchants with affiliates, managing tracking and payments.
Affiliate Program 🟢
Marketing arrangement where businesses pay affiliates for generating leads or sales.
Analytics 🟡
Tools and metrics used to measure marketing campaign performance.
API (Application Programming Interface) 🔴
Technical interface allowing different software systems to communicate and share data.
Attribution Model 🔴
Framework for determining how credit for sales is assigned to marketing touchpoints.
Average Order Value (AOV) 🟡
The average amount spent per customer transaction.
B
Backend 🔴
Additional products or services offered to customers after initial purchase.
Banner Ad 🟢
Graphical advertisement displayed on websites.
Base Commission 🟢
The standard commission rate offered to affiliates before bonuses or tiers.
Bounce Rate 🟡
Percentage of visitors leaving after viewing only one page.
Brand Bidding 🔴
Bidding on brand-related keywords in paid search campaigns.
Brand Guidelines 🟡
Rules for how company’s brand should be represented by affiliates.
Bridge Page 🔴
Intermediate webpage designed to warm up traffic before main offer.
C
Call-to-Action (CTA) 🟢
Prompt encouraging visitors to take specific action.
Campaign 🟢
Organized marketing effort to promote specific products or services.
Chargeback 🟡
Reversed transaction when customer disputes a purchase.
Click Fraud 🔴
Illegitimate clicks on affiliate links to generate false commissions.
Click-Through Rate (CTR) 🟢
Percentage of people who click a link versus total viewers.
Cloaking 🔴
Technical method to show different content to different visitors.
Commission 🟢
Payment received by affiliate for generating sale or lead.
Commission Junction (CJ) 🟢
Major affiliate network connecting advertisers with publishers.
Commission Tier 🟡
Different commission levels based on performance metrics.
Content Marketing 🟢
Creating valuable content to attract and convert target audience.
Conversion 🟢
Desired action completed by visitor (purchase, signup, etc.).
Conversion Rate 🟢
Percentage of visitors who complete desired action.
Cookie 🟡
Data stored on user’s browser to track affiliate referrals.
Cookie Duration 🟡
Time period affiliate cookie remains active for attribution.
Cost Per Action (CPA) 🟡
Payment model based on specific completed actions.
D
Data Feed 🔴
File containing product information for affiliate use.
Deep Linking 🟡
Creating links to specific products rather than homepage.
Digital Products 🟢
Downloadable or online-accessible items for sale.
Direct Linking 🔴
Sending traffic directly to merchant without landing page.
Domain Authority 🔴
Metric predicting website’s search engine ranking potential.
E
Earnings Per Click (EPC) 🟡
Average amount earned for each affiliate link click.
Email List 🟢
Database of subscriber contacts for marketing communications.
Email Marketing 🟢
Promoting affiliate offers through email campaigns.
Encryption 🔴
Security measure protecting sensitive data transmission.
End User 🟢
Final consumer who purchases the product or service.
Evergreen Content 🟢
Content maintaining relevance and value long-term.
Exclusive Offer 🟡
Promotional deal available only through specific affiliates.
Exit Intent 🟡
Technology detecting when users are about to leave website.
Exit Pop-up 🟡
Promotional message appearing when user attempts to leave.
F
Facebook Pixel 🟡
Tracking code for monitoring Facebook ad performance.
First-Click Attribution 🔴
Crediting first touchpoint in customer journey.
Fixed Commission 🟢
Set payment amount for each sale or lead.
Follow vs Nofollow Links 🟡
HTML attributes affecting search engine authority transfer.
Fraud Detection 🔴
Systems identifying illegitimate affiliate activities.
FTC Disclosure 🟢
Required disclosure of affiliate relationships.
Funnel 🟡
Series of steps leading visitors toward conversion.
G
Gateway Page 🟡
Specialized pre-selling landing page.
Geo-Targeting 🟡
Showing content based on visitor location.
Google Analytics 🟢
Web analytics tool for traffic analysis.
Google Tag Manager 🔴
System for managing marketing tags on website.
Growth Hacking 🔴
Creative strategies for rapid customer acquisition.
Guaranteed Commission 🟢
Assured payment rate for specific actions.
H
Hard Bounce 🟡
Email permanently rejected by recipient server.
Heat Mapping 🔴
Visual analysis of visitor behavior on webpage.
High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing 🔴
Promoting products with significant commission value.
Hosting 🟢
Service making websites accessible online.
HTML5 Banners 🟡
Interactive display ads using modern web standards.
Hybrid Commission Structure 🟡
Combined payment model using multiple commission types.
Hyperlink 🟢
Clickable link connecting web pages or content.
I
Impression 🟢
Single display of an advertisement or content piece.
Income Disclosure 🟢
Statement revealing typical earnings of affiliate program participants.
Influencer Marketing 🟡
Promoting products through social media personalities.
In-house Affiliate Program 🔴
Program managed directly by merchant without network.
Insert Order 🔴
Formal agreement for advertising placement terms.
Instagram Shopping 🟡
Feature allowing product tagging in Instagram posts.
Intellectual Property Rights 🟡
Legal rights protecting creative and branded assets.
J
JavaScript 🟡
Programming language used in tracking and interactive elements.
Joint Venture (JV) 🔴
Partnership between affiliates or merchants for mutual benefit.
Journey Mapping 🔴
Analyzing customer path from first touch to conversion.
K
Key Performance Indicator (KPI) 🟡
Metrics measuring success of marketing efforts.
Keyword Research 🟢
Process of identifying valuable search terms.
Knowledge Base 🟢
Resource library for affiliate program information.
L
Landing Page 🟢
Webpage designed to convert visitors into customers.
Last-Click Attribution 🔴
Crediting final touchpoint before conversion.
Lead 🟢
Potential customer showing interest in product/service.
Lead Generation 🟢
Process of attracting and converting prospects.
Lead Magnet 🟢
Free offer encouraging email list signup.
Lifetime Value (LTV) 🔴
Total revenue expected from customer relationship.
Link Building 🟡
Acquiring hyperlinks from other websites.
Link Cloaking 🔴
Masking affiliate links with branded URLs.
Link Rot 🟡
Degradation of affiliate links over time.
Link Shortener 🟢
Tool creating compact versions of long URLs.
Link Tracking 🟢
Monitoring affiliate link performance metrics.
Liquid Content 🔴
Dynamic content adapting to user context.
Live Chat 🟡
Real-time customer support feature.
Login Portal 🟢
Secure access point for affiliate accounts.
Long-tail Keywords 🟡
Specific, detailed search phrases.
Loyalty Program 🟡
System rewarding repeat customers.
M
Marketing Automation 🟡
Software streamlining repetitive marketing tasks.
Media Kit 🟢
Package of promotional materials for affiliates.
Merchant 🟢
Company offering products through affiliate program.
Meta Tags 🟡
HTML elements providing webpage information.
Micro-Influencer 🟡
Influencer with smaller, highly engaged following.
Mobile Optimization 🟢
Adapting content for mobile device viewing.
N
Native Advertising 🟡
Ads matching platform’s look and feel.
Network Fee 🟢
Cost charged by affiliate networks for services.
Niche Market 🟢
Specialized market segment for targeted promotion.
No-Follow Tag 🟡
HTML attribute preventing search engine credit transfer.
O
Offer Page 🟢
Webpage presenting product or service details.
Organic Traffic 🟢
Visitors from unpaid search results.
Outbound Link 🟢
Link directing visitors to external websites.
P
Payout Threshold 🟢
Minimum earnings required for commission payment.
Pay Per Click (PPC) 🟡
Advertising model charging per link click.
Payment Terms 🟢
Conditions and timing of affiliate payments.
Performance Marketing 🟡
Marketing based on measurable results.
Plugin 🟢
Software add-on extending website functionality.
Pre-sell 🟡
Content warming up prospects before sale.
Private Affiliate Program 🔴
Invitation-only affiliate program.
Q
Quality Score 🟡
Metric measuring affiliate traffic value.
Query String 🔴
URL parameters tracking affiliate activity.
R
Recurring Commission 🟡
Ongoing payments for subscription products.
Referral Fee 🟢
Payment for referring customers.
Return on Investment (ROI) 🟡
Profit relative to marketing spend.
Revenue Share 🟢
Commission based on percentage of sales.
Review Site 🟢
Website comparing and evaluating products.
S
Sales Funnel 🟡
Step-by-step process leading to conversion.
Scale 🔴
Growing affiliate operations efficiently.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 🟡
Improving website visibility in search results.
Social Proof 🟢
Evidence of others’ positive experiences.
Split Testing 🟡
Testing multiple marketing variants.
Sub-Affiliate 🔴
Affiliate recruiting other affiliates.
T
Target Audience 🟢
Intended demographic for marketing efforts.
Terms of Service (TOS) 🟢
Rules governing affiliate program participation.
Tracking Cookie 🟡
File monitoring affiliate referrals.
Traffic Source 🟢
Origin of website visitors.
Two-Tier Affiliate Program 🔴
System paying commissions on sub-affiliate sales.
U
Unique Visitor 🟢
Individual website visitor counted once.
URL Parameters 🟡
Tracking elements in affiliate links.
User Experience (UX) 🟡
Overall quality of visitor interaction.
V
Vertical Market 🟡
Specific industry or market segment.
Video Marketing 🟢
Using video content for promotion.
Viral Marketing 🔴
Content designed to spread rapidly.
W
Web Analytics 🟡
Tools measuring online performance.
Website Conversion 🟢
Site’s ability to achieve goals.
White Label 🔴
Rebranding products for resale.
X, Y, Z
XML Feed 🔴
Structured data format for product information.
Yield Optimization 🔴
Maximizing affiliate revenue.
Zero-Click Search 🟡
Search results providing immediate answers.
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