| An affiliate is an entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger
entity.
Broadcast networks
In a radio network or TV
network, an affiliate is a radio station or TV station that agrees to carry the broadcasts of, but is not owned by, the network. Usually, the stations are still responsible for the content (i.e. profanity) to some extent.
Electronic commerce
An e-commerce affiliate is a website which links back to an e-commerce site such as Amazon.com.
When a reader of the website clicks on a link, they are connected to the e-tailer
and if they purchase something the affiliate receives a small payment, usually a percentage of the money the customer spends.
Affiliates can also be referred as advertisers. Site like Webmaster Fortune (http://www.webmasterfortune.com/) discusses and reviews different affiliates. E-commerce
affiliate is a multi billion dollar industry and is expected to rival traditional affiliates in the near future.
Corporate structure
A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it
is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary
relationship, or when it is desired to avoid the appearance of control. This is sometimes seen with multinational companies that
need to avoid restrictive laws (or negative public opinon) on foreign ownership.
Affiliate networks
An affiliate network is composed of a group of merchants and a group of affiliates. Merchants join the network and affiliates
join the network in order to advertise the merchant products in exchange of a commission from the merchant. Affiliate networks
present some great advantages for the merchant and the affiliate. The merchant gets potential access to a wide networks of
affiliates. The affiliate does not necessarily need to make a certain sale amount for one particular merchant but rather for the
entire range of merchants before getting paid.
The affiliate also puts more trust in a network rather than a merchants independent affiliate program. The merchants pay the
overall commission to the network. The network then distributes the money to each affiliate who made the sale.
List of popular affiliate networks
Use of affiliate links
Sites made up mostly of affiliate links are usually badly regarded as they do not offer quality content. Affiliate links work
effectively when placed in context among quality content. One common use of affiliate links is shopping directories and or price
comparison websites. However, these sites should do their best to enhance the web shopping experience.
|
