Plain-English Guide
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a way for brands to reward people, publishers or businesses for sending them customers.
An affiliate promotes a brand using a special tracking link. If someone clicks that link and later buys something or completes an agreed action, the affiliate can earn commission.
Affiliate Marketing In One Example
Imagine a travel blogger writes an article about the best holiday cottages in Cornwall.
Inside that article, they include a link to a holiday cottage company. If a reader clicks that link and books a stay, the travel blogger may earn a commission from the booking.
That is affiliate marketing.
Why It Works
The brand gets a customer.
The affiliate gets rewarded for helping create the sale.
The customer discovers a product, service or brand through useful content, recommendations or comparison tools.
Who Is Involved?
Affiliate marketing usually involves four main parties.
1. The Brand
The business selling the product or service. This could be a retailer, travel company, subscription business or any company that wants more customers.
2. The Affiliate
The person or business promoting the brand. This could be a blogger, publisher, comparison website, influencer, voucher site or cashback platform.
3. The Customer
The person who clicks the affiliate link and completes the action, such as buying a product, booking a holiday or submitting an enquiry.
4. The Platform
The software used to track clicks, record conversions, calculate commission and help brands manage their affiliate programme.
How Affiliate Marketing Works
The process is simple, but tracking and approval make it measurable.
1. The Affiliate Joins A Programme
The affiliate applies to promote a brand and, if accepted, receives tracking links or promotional assets.
2. The Affiliate Promotes The Brand
They may write articles, publish reviews, share links, create social content or add products to a comparison page.
3. A Customer Clicks The Link
The tracking link helps identify which affiliate sent the visitor to the brand's website.
4. A Sale Or Lead Is Recorded
If the customer completes an agreed action, the affiliate platform records the conversion.
5. Commission Is Approved
The brand reviews the sale or lead and approves commission if it meets the programme rules.
6. The Affiliate Gets Paid
The affiliate receives commission for the approved conversion.
How Do Affiliates Earn Commission?
Examples Of Affiliate Marketing
- A travel website earns commission when readers book a holiday cottage through its links.
- A fashion blogger earns commission when readers buy clothing from a brand they recommend.
- A comparison website earns commission when users click through and purchase a product.
- A cashback website earns commission from a brand and shares part of it with the customer.
- A YouTuber earns commission when viewers use their affiliate link to buy software, equipment or services.
Why Affiliates Use Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing gives publishers and creators a way to earn money from their audience.
Instead of only relying on advertising or sponsorships, affiliates can earn commission when their content helps generate sales or leads.
- Bloggers
- Comparison websites
- Travel publishers
- Review websites
- Influencers
- Email publishers
- Communities
- Cashback and voucher platforms
Why Brands Use Affiliate Marketing
Performance-Based Growth
Brands usually pay commission only when an agreed result happens.
Access To New Audiences
Affiliates can introduce brands to readers, followers, communities and customers they may not otherwise reach.
Content & Discovery
Publishers can create useful content that helps customers discover products, services and destinations.
Scalable Partnerships
Brands can work with many different partners across content, cashback, voucher, social and comparison channels.
Where RivieraTech Affiliates Fits In
RivieraTech Affiliates is an affiliate platform that helps brands and affiliates work together.
The platform combines affiliate tracking, commission management and product data sharing in one system.
For Brands
Manage affiliate relationships, track performance and distribute product information more easily.
For Affiliates
Access tracking links, product feeds, images, promotional content and brand partnership opportunities.
Related Guides
"Affiliate marketing works best when brands and publishers both understand the value being created: useful traffic, measurable results and fair commission for genuine contribution."
Joe Brewer
Founder, RivieraTech Affiliates
Want To Get Involved?
If you're a publisher, creator or website owner, we'd love for you to join the RivieraTech Affiliates waitlist.
Simply click the Join Waitlist button in the top-right corner of the website to register your interest.