Affiliate marketing is an arrangement in which a merchant or online retailer (you) pays a commission to their affiliates, who are essentially independent sales representatives. They promote your products to generate traffic, sales, and leads and are compensated when they’re successful.

There are many benefits to affiliate marketing for both brands and those who promote their products. If you’re a business owner, building a strong network of partners can help expand your reach. It enables you to tap into the audiences of popular influencers in your niche.

Additionally, because affiliate marketing is performance-based, it’s highly cost-effective. Unlike ads, you only have to pay affiliates when they bring you results. In other words, they only get paid when you do. There’s no waiting around for leads while you shell out money for promotional content.

Affiliates benefit because they earn money on each sale they make. They have complete control over the products they choose to promote, as well as how to promote them. This means professionals using several different mediums can all make effective partners for your brand.

Common examples include video content creators (or “Youtubers”), social media influencers, and bloggers. Another key benefit for both you and those promoting your brand is that it’s an on-going relationship. Affiliates can recommend your products or services as often as they want, potentially resulting in long-term working relationships.