The Essential Affiliate Marketing Glossary of Terms

A permanent redirect from one URL to another. It tells browsers and bots that the page has moved and passes most of the link value (SEO juice) to the new URL. In affiliate marketing, 301 redirects are sometimes used to cloak links, manage flows, or preserve tracking while changing domains.

A temporary redirect that sends the user from one URL to another without changing the original URL in the browser. Often used in affiliate tracking to pass data and mask links. 302 redirects don’t transfer SEO value and are harder for bots to follow, which makes them common in cloaking and fast-redirect setups.

Comparing two or more versions of an ad, landing page, or other campaign element to see which one performs better. Traffic is split between the options, and performance is measured by metrics like CTR, CR, or EPC. A/B testing helps optimize campaigns based on real data instead of guesses.

The part of a webpage that’s visible to the user without scrolling. Elements placed above the fold – like headlines, CTAs, or banners – get more attention and higher engagement. In affiliate marketing, placing key content above the fold can improve CTR and conversion rates.

A digital marketplace where advertisers and publishers buy and sell ad inventory in real time, often through programmatic auctions. It connects DSPs (buy side) with SSPs (sell side), allowing automated bidding on impressions. Ad exchanges give affiliates access to large-scale traffic with flexible targeting and pricing.

The way an ad looks and appears to users on a website, app, or other platform. It can be a banner, a pop-up, a video, a push notification, or a native ad that matches the surrounding content. Each format works differently and is chosen based on where the ad runs and what the advertiser wants to achieve.

The total number of available ad spaces a publisher can offer for sale — on websites, apps, or other platforms. This includes banners, popunders, native placements, and more. Advertisers buy ad inventory through direct deals, ad networks, or programmatic platforms to show their ads to users.

A company that connects traffic buyers (advertisers) with traffic sellers (publishers). It helps both sides manage ad placements, track performance, and understand traffic value. Acting as a middleman, the ad network collects ads from advertisers and places them where users are most likely to see and click them — matching ads with the right traffic based on targeting, budget, and format.

A system feature that cycles multiple ads or creatives within the same campaign or placement. On traffic platforms, ad rotation determines how impressions are distributed — evenly, by weight, or based on performance metrics like CTR or CR. Affiliates use it to A/B test creatives or avoid banner fatigue while the platform automatically decides which ad to show next.

A rating that shows how relevant and useful an ad is to users. It’s based on things like how many people click on the ad (CTR), how good the landing page is, and how well the ad matches the audience. A higher score can lead to lower costs and better placements, because platforms prefer showing ads that perform well and create a good user experience.

An ad that looks like an article, news story, or blog post. It’s designed to engage the user with content while subtly promoting an offer. Affiliates use advertorials to warm up traffic, build trust, and increase conversion rates — especially in verticals like health, finance, or ecom.

A specific area on a website or in an app where ads are shown. Each ad zone has its own size, position (like top banner, sidebar, or pop-up), and settings. Publishers create ad zones to sell traffic, and advertisers use them to place ads. The performance of each zone can vary depending on its visibility and user behavior.

A person that earns money by promoting someone else’s product or service online. Affiliates drive traffic to special tracking links, and get paid when users take a desired action — like making a purchase, signing up, or installing an app. They don’t own the product; they just help sell it and get a commission for each result.

A special URL used to track traffic and actions in affiliate marketing. It contains the affiliate’s unique ID, so when someone clicks the link and completes a desired action (like a purchase or sign-up), the affiliate gets credit and earns a commission. Affiliate links are the main way to connect traffic with performance and payouts.

A type of online marketing where people (affiliates) earn money by promoting products or services that belong to someone else. Affiliates share special tracking links, and when users take a target action — like buying something or installing an app — the affiliate gets paid. It’s a performance-based model: no results, no payment.

Platform offering tracking, reporting, and payment between affiliates and advertisers.

A direct partnership between a company and affiliates, where affiliates promote the company’s offer and earn commissions for driving results. The company sets the rules, provides tracking tools, and handles the payouts.

The way an affiliate frames or presents an offer to grab attention and trigger interest. It’s the campaign’s core idea — built around a pain point, curiosity, benefit, or emotion — that makes users want to click. A strong angle helps creatives stand out and drives conversions even with a common offer.

A set of rules that lets different software systems talk to each other. In affiliate marketing, APIs are often used to pull offer data, send conversions, check stats, or manage campaigns automatically. Instead of doing everything manually through a dashboard, affiliates and platforms can connect via API to speed up and automate work.

The process of improving an app’s visibility and ranking in app stores like Google Play or the App Store. It includes working on the app’s title, keywords, description, icon, screenshots, and reviews to get more organic downloads. In affiliate marketing, ASO is often used to boost the performance of app install campaigns by increasing trust and conversion rates.

The process of identifying where a conversion (like a sale, lead, or install) came from — for example, which ad, traffic source, or affiliate generated it. Attribution helps advertisers know which channels perform best and who should get paid for the result. It’s key to tracking, payouts, and campaign optimization in affiliate marketing.

The time period during which a conversion is credited to a specific click or user action. If the user converts within this window — for example, 7 or 30 days after clicking — the affiliate gets paid. The length of the attribution window affects tracking, reporting, and how commissions are assigned.

A feature or tool that automatically adjusts campaign settings to improve performance without manual work. It can optimize things like traffic sources, zones, creatives, or bids based on real-time results. For example, PropellerAds offers tools like Rule-Based Optimization and CPA Goal, which help affiliates block underperforming zones or focus budget on traffic that converts better — all automatically.

The average cost per 1,000 impressions an advertiser pays in a campaign. It’s calculated by dividing the total spend by the number of impressions (in thousands). In affiliate marketing, Average CPM helps measure how much traffic costs and compare performance across zones, GEOs, or formats — even if the campaign runs on another pricing model like CPC or CPA.

A visual ad — usually an image or animation — placed on a website or in an app. Banner ads come in standard sizes (like 300×250 or 728×90) and are used to attract clicks or build brand awareness. In affiliate marketing, they’re often used in display campaigns and can lead to landing pages, pre-landers, or direct offers.

A targeting method that shows ads based on a user’s past behavior — like websites they visited, apps they used, or actions they took online. Instead of focusing only on location or device, it uses data to reach people more likely to convert. In affiliate marketing, it’s used to deliver offers to users who’ve already shown interest in similar products or actions.

The amount an advertiser is willing to pay for a specific result — like an impression, click, or conversion. In affiliate marketing, bids are used in auction-based traffic platforms to compete for ad placements. A higher bid can help get more traffic or better-quality spots, but overspending can hurt ROI.

A limit set on how much you’re willing to pay per impression, click, or conversion in an ad auction. It helps control costs and avoid overspending in competitive bidding. Bid caps are often used in DSPs and traffic platforms to manage budget while still competing for quality placements.

A set of aggressive or deceptive tactics used to get quick results in ways that break platform rules or go against industry guidelines. In affiliate marketing, it can include fake content, misleading ads, cloaking, or using stolen traffic. These methods can bring short-term profit but often lead to bans, chargebacks, or legal risks.

A list of traffic sources, zones, or placements that are blocked from a campaign because they perform poorly or show signs of fraud. In affiliate marketing, blacklists help stop wasted spend by cutting off low-quality or non-converting traffic. They can be created manually or through auto-optimization tools.

A tool or setting that blocks non-human (bot) traffic from reaching your campaigns. Used to protect budgets from fake clicks, impressions, or conversions. Bot filters rely on signals like IP reputation, user agent, behavior patterns, and help improve traffic quality and ROI.

Non-human traffic generated by automated scripts or programs (bots) instead of real users. In affiliate marketing, bot traffic is usually fake and doesn’t convert — it can drain budgets, distort stats, and trigger anti-fraud systems. Some bots are harmless (like search engine crawlers), but most are used for click fraud or to spoof conversions.

The percentage of users who visit a page and leave without clicking, interacting, or visiting another page. A high bounce rate may signal that the landing page isn’t relevant, loads too slowly, or doesn’t match user intent. In affiliate marketing, it’s used to measure traffic quality and the effectiveness of pre-landers or creatives.

A landing page placed between the ad and the final offer, used to warm up or pre-qualify the user before sending them to the main conversion page. In affiliate marketing, bridge pages (also known as pre-landers) help boost conversion rates by providing context, building trust, or filtering traffic. Some platforms restrict their use, especially if the page is misleading or adds no real value.

A targeting option that lets advertisers choose which web browsers (like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox) will see their ads. In affiliate campaigns, this helps improve results by focusing on browsers that convert better, support needed features, or handle landing pages and tracking more reliably.

Promoting products or services from one company to another — not to individual consumers. B2B ads often target decision-makers in specific industries and focus on lead generation, SaaS, or enterprise tools. Conversions usually take longer and require more trust, so campaigns rely on content, email, and professional platforms like LinkedIn.

The path a user takes before making a purchase or completing a target action — from first noticing a problem, to exploring options, to finally choosing a solution. Knowing where the user is on this path helps tailor messaging, creatives, and timing for better results.

A prompt that encourages the user to do something — like “Buy now,” “Sign up,” or “Download.” CTAs guide users toward the desired action and are often placed on buttons, banners, or landing pages. A strong CTA can significantly improve conversion rates.

When a completed conversion (like a sale or lead) gets canceled and the payout is taken back from the affiliate. This can happen if the user requested a refund, the action was flagged as fraud, or the lead turned out to be fake or low quality. Chargebacks reduce earnings and are a common risk in performance marketing.

The act of generating fake or invalid clicks on ads to drain budgets or manipulate performance. It can be done by bots, click farms, or even competitors. For affiliates, click fraud leads to wasted spend, skewed stats, and lower ROI — that’s why using anti-fraud tools and filters is critical.

A limit on the number of clicks allowed for a campaign, offer, or traffic source within a set time frame — daily, weekly, or total. Caps help control budgets, avoid overspending, or meet offer restrictions. Once the cap is reached, traffic is paused, redirected, or sent to a fallback URL.

A unique identifier assigned to each click, used to track and match conversions back to the original traffic source. It’s passed through URLs and helps affiliate networks, trackers, and advertisers know which click led to a result. Click IDs are key for accurate attribution, payouts, and optimization.

A type of mobile ad fraud where a fake click is triggered right before a real app install happens — making it look like the affiliate or source caused the conversion. This allows fraudsters to steal credit (and payout) for organic installs. Click injection mostly targets Android and is often hidden inside malicious apps.

Involves sending massive amounts of low-quality or invisible clicks without real user intent, hoping to get credit for organic conversions that happen later. This tactic abuses the attribution window and pollutes tracking data, making it hard to measure true campaign performance. Often seen in mobile traffic, especially from shady apps or traffic sources.

The percentage of users who saw an ad and clicked on it. It’s calculated by dividing clicks by impressions and multiplying by 100. Formula: Clicks ÷ Impressions × 100%. A higher CTR usually means the ad is relevant or eye-catching, and it’s a key metric for testing creatives and judging traffic quality.

A type of offer where users tap a button or link to make a phone call instead of going to a landing page. The payout happens when the call connects or meets certain conditions, like minimum duration. Click2Call offers are common in verticals like finance, legal services, and dating, and work best on mobile using formats such as push ads or popunders.

A type of offer where users tap a button to send a pre-filled SMS to a short number. The conversion is counted when the message is sent or replied to, depending on the offer. Click2SMS works well on mobile, often in verticals like dating, entertainment, or subscriptions, and is typically promoted through formats like push ads or popunders.

A technique that shows different content to users and platform moderators or bots. It’s used to hide the real landing page and pass ad reviews by showing a “clean” version to moderators. In affiliate marketing, cloaking is often used for gray or black hat offers and comes with the risk of bans or account suspension.

A payment model where the user pays for a product only when it’s delivered. Common in e-commerce offers, especially in Tier 2–3 GEOs, where trust in online payments is low. Affiliates get paid after the user confirms the order and accepts the delivery, which helps boost conversions but may lead to higher cancellation rates.

The set of rules and guidelines that affiliates must follow when running campaigns — including ad content, traffic sources, targeting, and landing page behavior. Breaking compliance can lead to offer rejection, traffic bans, or withheld payouts. Networks and advertisers use compliance checks to protect their brand and avoid legal risks.

A setting that lets advertisers choose which internet connection types will see their ads — like Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, or 5G. It helps optimize campaigns by matching ads to connection speed, stability, or user behavior. For example, video ads may perform better on Wi-Fi, while Click2Call offers often convert well on mobile data.

A monetization tool that locks premium content until the user completes a specific action (survey, install, signup); widely used in affiliate marketing.

Digital content (like videos, music, ringtones, or games) that users can access instantly after subscribing or completing an action. These offers are often tied to carrier billing and promoted via landing pages or pre-landers. Content-on-Demand is common in mobile traffic and works well in Tier 2–3 GEOs.

A targeting method that shows ads based on the content of the page where they appear. Instead of using user data, it matches ads to topics, keywords, or themes — like showing a fitness ad on a workout blog. This method can improve relevance and is often used when behavioral data is limited or restricted.

A user action that counts as a result in a campaign — like a purchase, sign-up, app install, or call. Conversions are what affiliates get paid for, and they’re tracked through special links or postbacks. The exact action depends on the offer and payout model (CPL, CPS, CPA, etc.).

The steps a user goes through from clicking an ad to completing the target action — like signing up, installing an app, or confirming a lead. Flows vary by offer and payout model: SOI (single opt-in), DOI (double opt-in), PIN submit, credit card, etc. Understanding the flow helps affiliates match traffic and optimize funnels.

A small tracking code placed on a thank-you or confirmation page that fires when a user completes a target action – like a purchase or sign-up. It sends data back to the ad platform or tracker to register the conversion. Pixels help measure performance and optimize campaigns, but may be limited by browser restrictions or privacy rules.

The percentage of users who complete a target action after clicking on an ad. It’s calculated by dividing conversions by clicks and multiplying by 100. The formula: Conversions ÷ Clicks × 100%. CR shows how well a campaign turns traffic into results, and it’s a key metric for testing offers, creatives, and landing pages.

A small piece of data stored in the user’s browser by a website. Cookies help track user activity — like clicks, visits, or conversions — and are used for attribution, retargeting, and personalization. In affiliate marketing, cookies allow platforms to link a conversion back to a specific click. Some browsers and privacy laws now limit cookie usage.

The amount of time a tracking cookie stays active in a user’s browser. If the user converts within this period, the affiliate gets credit for the action. Cookie duration can range from a few minutes to 30 days or more, depending on the offer or program rules.

A pricing model where the advertiser pays only when a user completes a specific action — like a sale, sign-up, install, or call. For affiliates, CPA is one of the most common payout models, since it ties earnings directly to results. The action is defined in advance and tracked through special links or postbacks.

A pricing model where the advertiser pays each time someone clicks on their ad, no matter what happens after. Affiliates use CPC to buy traffic and test offers, creatives, or angles. The goal is to get clicks cheap enough for conversions to stay profitable.

A pricing model where the advertiser pays when a user submits their contact details — like filling out a form, signing up, or requesting a quote. It’s common in verticals like finance, education, and sweepstakes. For affiliates, CPL offers are often easier to convert than sales-based models, since the action requires less commitment from the user.

A pricing model where the advertiser pays a fixed amount for every 1,000 ad impressions, regardless of clicks or conversions. CPM is often used for broad reach, branding, or in ad formats like push, pop, and banner. Affiliates choose it when they want to manage traffic themselves and rely on their own funnels to get results.

A pricing model where the advertiser pays each time a user watches a video ad. It’s commonly used for in-stream ads and other video formats, especially on mobile. CPV is often used to build awareness or engage users before offering further interaction.

The visual or text-based part of an ad that’s designed to grab attention and drive clicks — like a banner, image, video, or headline. Creatives are what users see first, so they play a key role in campaign performance. Affiliates often test different creatives to see what works best.

A drop in ad performance that happens when users see the same creative too often. CTR and conversions go down as the ad becomes less effective. To fight creative fatigue, affiliates rotate banners, test new angles, or refresh visuals to keep campaigns profitable.

The process of improving a page, ad, or flow to get more conversions from the same amount of traffic. It can include changing headlines, buttons, creatives, or layout to guide users toward a specific action — like signing up, buying, or installing an app. CRO helps affiliates get better results without increasing spend.

A method of tracking users across multiple devices — like from mobile to desktop — to connect clicks and conversions to the same person. It helps measure full user journeys and improve attribution accuracy. Often used in campaigns where users switch devices before converting.

Tactics used to artificially boost the click-through rate of an ad. This can include misleading headlines, fake elements (like play buttons), or technical tricks that generate fake clicks. The goal is to get more traffic or lower costs, but it can lead to poor-quality leads, low conversions, or bans from ad platforms. Often considered a gray/black-hat tactic.

Improving ads to get more clicks from the same number of impressions. This includes testing headlines, images, call-to-action, ad format, and placement. For affiliates, optimizing CTR helps lower CPC, win more traffic in auctions, and increase overall campaign efficiency — as long as traffic quality stays high.

A unique domain used to mask tracking links and avoid using default tracker URLs. It helps improve deliverability, reduce the chance of bans or redirects, and build trust with users. Affiliates set up custom domains through their tracker to make links look cleaner and safer.

A structured file or stream that contains up-to-date info about offers, products, or campaigns — like titles, prices, links, or payout rates. Affiliate networks use data feeds to share large volumes of offer data with affiliates or platforms. Feeds are usually updated in real time or on a schedule and used to automate campaign setup or optimization.

A vertical in affiliate marketing focused on promoting dating websites, apps, or services. Offers usually run on CPL or SOI/DOI models and are optimized for mobile traffic. Dating campaigns often rely on GEO targeting, localized flows, and engaging pre-landers to drive conversions.

A campaign setting that lets advertisers choose specific times of day or days of the week to show their ads. It helps improve results by running campaigns when users are most active or likely to convert. Dayparting is often used to cut spend during low-performing hours or boost traffic during peak times.

A method of linking that sends users directly to a specific page inside a website or app — not just the homepage or main screen. Deep links improve user experience and conversion rates by taking people straight to the offer, product, or content they’re interested in. Some affiliate programs support deep linking through custom tracking URLs.

A type of deep link that works even if the app isn’t installed yet. When the user clicks the link, they’re first taken to the app store, and after installing the app — redirected to a specific in-app page. Deferred deep links are used to improve user flow and boost conversions in mobile campaigns, especially for app installs.

A targeting option that lets advertisers show ads based on user traits like age, gender, income level, or education. It helps match offers to the right audience and improve campaign relevance. Demographic targeting is often used for verticals like finance, health, or dating, where user profile strongly affects conversion rates.

Allows advertisers to control which types of devices their ads are shown on — such as mobile phones, desktops, tablets, or even specific models. Some offers are designed to work only on certain devices or operating systems, like Android or iOS apps. Device targeting helps match the right traffic to the offer and improve overall performance.

Sends users straight from the ad to the offer page, skipping any landing or pre-lander. This approach is quick to launch and easier to test, but gives less control over user behavior. It works well when the offer page is strong enough to convert cold traffic on its own.

Involves placing visual ads – such as banners, GIFs, or rich media – across websites and apps to reach broad audiences. These ads are designed to attract attention, generate clicks, or support branding goals. For affiliates, display is a scalable traffic source that allows testing different creatives, placements, and targeting options.

A monetization strategy where a domain displays ads or a holding page until it’s developed or sold. In affiliate marketing, parked domains are also used to generate traffic — users who land there (often by typing a URL directly) see ads or redirects. The traffic can be cheap, but its quality and intent vary widely.

A platform that allows advertisers to buy traffic programmatically across multiple ad exchanges. DSPs automate bidding, targeting, and ad placement in real time, helping scale campaigns efficiently. For affiliates, DSPs offer access to large volumes of traffic with advanced controls like audience targeting, frequency capping, and dayparting.

Special tags added to URLs that automatically pass data like click ID, ad placement, GEO, or device type. These parameters help track performance and optimize campaigns based on real-time data. Affiliates use them to connect ad platform data with tracker stats for deeper analysis.

A vertical centered around selling physical products online, often using the COD (Cash on Delivery) model. Affiliates send traffic to product pages or sales funnels and earn on each confirmed purchase. Ecom offers are promoted via Facebook Ads, TikTok, Google Ads, native platforms, and popunders for high-volume, low-cost traffic.

Shows how much revenue is earned on average from each click sent to an offer. Calculated by dividing total payout by the number of clicks. EPC is used to compare offer performance, test traffic sources, and evaluate campaign profitability.

The actual cost you pay per conversion, calculated by dividing total spend by the number of conversions. Unlike fixed CPA offers, eCPA shows how efficiently a campaign performs, no matter the pricing model (CPC, CPM, etc.). Lowering eCPA means getting more results for the same budget.

Stands for “effective cost per mille” and shows how much revenue is earned per 1,000 impressions, regardless of the pricing model (CPC, CPA, etc.). Used to compare the performance of different traffic sources or placements. A higher eCPM means better monetization of available impressions.

Promoting offers through emails sent to a targeted list of users. Often used to follow up with leads, retarget users, or drive repeat conversions. In affiliate marketing, email traffic can be highly profitable but requires warm lists, strong creatives, and compliance with anti-spam rules.

An ad format inside Telegram that opens a mini-app directly within the chat interface. These banners lead to lightweight web apps where users can interact with content — for example, fill out a form or complete a quiz — without leaving Telegram. Used in verticals like finance, dating, or sweepstakes to increase engagement and streamline conversions.

Shows how actively users interact with an ad or page – through clicks, views, scrolls, or other actions. Calculated as a percentage of engaged users out of total viewers. Used to measure how appealing or relevant content is before conversion happens.

A special campaign available only to selected partners, often with payouts higher than regular. These offers are usually limited in access due to higher quality requirements or advertiser restrictions, and they’re often seen as more profitable and trustworthy.

A category of affiliate offers related to financial services, such as banking apps, lending platforms, investment tools, or cryptocurrency exchanges. These verticals might come with high payouts but may require strong compliance and user verification.

A payment model where affiliates earn a commission when a user makes their very first deposit on a platform — most commonly in iGaming and some Finance offers. This is considered a strong conversion event, since it shows high user intent.

The specific type of ad appearance and placement — such as popunders, push notifications, or interstitials. The format affects the visibility, click-through rate, and overall performance of a campaign.

Low-quality traffic, generated by bots, click farms, or deceptive methods. Fraud traffic does not result in real user engagement and can lead to campaign rejection, payment disputes, and wasted ad budget.

A measurement that refers to how many times a single user is shown the same ad during a given period.

A control setting that limits the number of times an ad can be shown to a user — for example, no more than 3 times per day. It helps prevent ad fatigue and overexposure, and is often used to improve user experience and campaign efficiency.

A custom flow built by the affiliate to guide the user from the first click to the final conversion. Each step – like a pre-lander, landing page, or form – has a specific purpose: grab attention, build trust, qualify the lead, or push to action. Funnels give full control over the user journey and are key to improving conversion rates and ROI.

A vertical focused on online and mobile games, including casual apps, competitive eSports platforms, and downloadable games. These offers often aim to drive installs, registrations, or in-game purchases and can perform well with broad, entertainment-oriented audiences.

A method of restricting access to an offer based on the user’s geographic location — for example, only allowing users from certain countries or regions to see or convert on the offer. It’s used to comply with legal rules, optimize traffic quality, and avoid wasted clicks from non-targeted GEOs.

A strategy that shows ads only to users from specific countries, cities, or regions. This allows affiliates to tailor their campaigns to the most profitable or relevant audiences and avoid wasting traffic on unwanted locations.

Marketing tactics that operate in the blurry zone between what’s officially allowed (white hat) and clearly forbidden (black hat). These methods often bend the rules — like using misleading ad creatives or borderline compliance tricks — and can bring short-term gains, but they carry a higher risk of bans or rejected traffic.

A confirmed and validated user action — like a completed purchase, deposit, or verified signup — that qualifies for payment. Unlike soft conversions (such as clicks or unverified leads), hard conversions are final and typically used in payout models that focus on quality.

A programmatic auction where multiple ad sources bid on the same impression at the same time — before the page loads. This gives publishers a chance to sell their ad inventory at the highest possible price. For affiliates, header bidding means access to more premium placements and stronger competition in traffic buying.

The time window during which conversions are reviewed and verified by the affiliate network or advertiser before any payouts are made. This period helps filter out fraud, cancellations, or unqualified leads and ensures that only valid conversions are approved for payment.

A lead generation model where user data is first collected on the affiliate’s landing page (“hosted”), then sent in real time to the advertiser or lead buyer (“posted”). This flow gives affiliates full control over data collection, filtering, and validation before passing the lead on. Common in finance, insurance, and other high-payout verticals.

A high-performing or trending campaign that’s currently bringing strong results for affiliates. These offers are often in-demand, time-sensitive, and may have higher conversion rates due to seasonality, newness, or market trends.

A niche that includes online casinos, sports betting, poker, and similar gambling platforms. Offers in this category typically use payment models like First-Time Deposit (FTD) or Revenue Share (RevShare), and are often restricted to specific GEOs due to strict legal and compliance requirements.

A single instance of an ad being displayed to a user — whether they interact with it or not. Impressions are used to measure how many times your ad was shown and are especially relevant for CPM (cost-per-mille) campaigns where you pay per thousand views.

A full-screen, interactive ad that appears at natural transition points within a mini‑app — like when the app is opened, a new tab is selected, or a feature is accessed. These ads are designed to grab full user attention without interrupting the core experience too abruptly, making them ideal for high engagement.

A type of push-style ad that appears directly within a website’s interface — without requiring user subscription. Unlike classic push notifications, IPP works across all devices, including iOS and desktop, making it a versatile and user-friendly ad format.

Traffic generated by offering users a reward — such as points, bonuses, or access — in exchange for clicking an ad or completing a specific action. While it can drive large volumes, this type of traffic is often lower in quality and only allowed for certain offers with explicit approval.

A type of conversion that occurs when a user downloads and installs a mobile or desktop application. It’s commonly used in CPI (Cost Per Install) campaigns, where advertisers pay only when the app is successfully installed by the user.

A full-screen ad that appears between content or during natural breaks in an app or webpage — such as while loading a new screen or switching sections. Because it takes over the entire interface, it captures high attention, making it effective for strong calls to action.

A targeting method that shows ads to users based on their interests, which are inferred from their online behavior, search history, app usage, or profile data. It helps advertisers reach audiences more likely to engage by aligning ads with what users actually care about.

A method of delivering ads to users based on their IP address, allowing precise targeting of specific businesses, institutions, or geographic areas. It’s especially useful for B2B campaigns or localized promotions where reaching a known network or region matters.

A targeting option that lets you serve ads based on the user’s Internet Service Provider. It’s often used in mobile carrier campaigns, to include or exclude users from specific networks, or to filter out low-quality ISPs known for poor traffic performance.

A method that uses a small snippet of JavaScript code placed on a website or landing page to collect data about user actions — like clicks, conversions, or page views. It enables real-time tracking and is commonly used for optimizing performance and measuring campaign success.

A measurable metric used to evaluate how well a campaign is performing. Common KPIs in affiliate marketing include ROI (Return on Investment), CTR (Click-Through Rate), and CR (Conversion Rate) — all helping affiliates track success and optimize results.

A standalone web page created specifically to persuade visitors to take a desired action — such as signing up, making a purchase, or installing an app. In affiliate marketing, it’s often optimized for conversions and serves as the bridge between the ad and the final offer.

The process of improving landing pages to boost conversion rates. It includes testing headlines, layouts, images, forms, load speed, and CTAs to make the page more effective. Affiliates use LPO to get more results from the same traffic and reduce eCPA.

A setting that allows you to show ads only to users who speak a specific language, typically detected through their browser or operating system settings. It helps tailor messaging, improve engagement, and ensure that users actually understand the ad content.

A user who shares their contact information — such as an email address, phone number, or name — typically through a signup form. In affiliate marketing, generating leads is often the first step toward a sale, and is a common goal in CPL (Cost Per Lead) campaigns.

The total revenue a business earns from a single customer over the entire duration of their relationship. In affiliate marketing, a high LTV means a user keeps generating value long after the first conversion — which is key for long-term profit and offer sustainability.

In legit usage, the practice of disguising long, messy affiliate links by turning them into shorter, cleaner, and more user-friendly URLs. Besides improving click-through rates and trust, cloaked links also protect your affiliate ID and can help bypass ad blockers or tracking restrictions. While often used for branding and tracking, cloaking can also be abused to hide a link’s true destination — which may violate platform rules and be considered deceptive or fraudulent if misused.

A targeting strategy where platforms (like Facebook or TikTok) find new users who closely resemble your best-performing audience — based on behavior, interests, and demographics. It’s a powerful tool for scaling campaigns while maintaining quality, especially in retargeting and conversion-focused strategies.

A broad category of affiliate offers that appeal to wide, general audiences — like utilities, sweepstakes, surveys, games, or mobile apps. These non-sensitive verticals typically have fewer restrictions, making them accessible for beginners and ideal for scaling across global GEOs.

A specialist who purchases ad placements or traffic across platforms to drive conversions and revenue. In affiliate marketing, media buyers manage budgets, test creatives, optimize campaigns, and scale profitable funnels — balancing strategy, data, and pure performance instinct.

The strategic process of purchasing ad placements (also known as traffic) across platforms like ad networks, DSPs, or social media. It involves planning, bidding, targeting, testing, and optimizing to ensure the best return on investment for every dollar spent.

Ads served on Meta-owned platforms, primarily Facebook and Instagram. Known for powerful targeting options like interests, behaviors, and lookalike audiences, Meta Ads are a go-to choice for affiliates looking to scale campaigns with detailed user segmentation and creative variety.

An affiliate offer specifically designed for mobile devices, aiming to generate conversions like app installs, subscriptions, or sign-ups. These offers are optimized for smaller screens, mobile behavior, and often perform best with mobile-first ad formats like push, in-app, or social feeds.

A category of mobile apps that provide practical functions — like VPNs, phone cleaners, antivirus tools, or battery savers. These apps are commonly promoted using the CPI (Cost Per Install) model, where affiliates earn when users install the app, making them a popular and scalable vertical in mobile campaigns.

A platform — like Appsflyer, Adjust, or Branch — that tracks, attributes, and analyzes mobile app installs and in-app user behavior. MMPs help advertisers and affiliates understand where installs come from, measure campaign performance, prevent fraud, and optimize user acquisition strategies.

The process of turning user traffic into revenue through ads, offers, or other conversion actions. In affiliate marketing, monetization means matching the right traffic with the right campaigns to generate profit — whether through clicks, installs, sales, or leads.

The plan for how traffic or content will generate revenue. In affiliate marketing, it means choosing the right offers, payout models, and funnels to turn clicks into profit. A good monetization strategy matches traffic type, GEO, and user intent to maximize earnings.

A campaign that targets users across multiple countries or regions at once, rather than focusing on a single location. This approach allows affiliates to test different GEOs, scale more efficiently, and balance volume with payout by combining both high- and low-competition markets.

A single integration script that automatically supports and delivers multiple ad formats — such as popunder, push notifications, and interstitials — based on what performs best for the user or traffic source. It simplifies setup and maximizes monetization with minimal technical effort.

A landing page that promotes several offers at once — usually in the same vertical or theme. This gives users a choice and increases the chance that at least one offer will convert. Affiliates use multi-offer pages to improve ROI, test engagement, or monetize broad traffic more efficiently.

Ads designed to match the look and feel of the platform or content they appear within — making them appear more natural and less intrusive. They often take the form of recommended articles, sponsored posts, or in-feed promotions, and typically drive higher engagement due to their seamless integration.

A vertical focused on health and wellness supplements — including products for weight loss, anti-aging, muscle gain, detox, and more. Nutra offers often use COD (Cash on Delivery) or trial-based models, and are known for strong demand and GEO-specific compliance requirements.

A specific campaign or product made available by an advertiser (offer owner/brand) for affiliates to promote. Each offer includes details like payout model, targeting rules, creatives, and conversion requirements — serving as the foundation of any affiliate campaign.

A restriction set by the advertiser on the number of conversions an offer can receive within a specific time period — such as per day or hour. Caps help control budget, pacing, and lead quality, and once reached, further conversions may not be tracked or paid.

A unique numeric or alphanumeric code assigned to each offer within a CPA network. It’s used for tracking, reporting, and managing campaigns, ensuring that traffic and conversions are correctly attributed to the right offer.

A user-facing page or widget that displays a variety of available offers, allowing users to choose which one to complete — often in exchange for rewards like in-app currency or points. Commonly used in apps, games, and incentivized environments.

An ad format that opens a pop-under window when a user clicks anywhere on the site. Often used for high-volume traffic monetization, and platforms like Monetag can trigger these ads even when ad blockers are active.

A targeting option that allows ads to be shown only to users of specific operating systems — such as iOS, Android, or Windows. It ensures compatibility and relevance, especially important for mobile offers or software products.

The ongoing process of improving campaign performance by adjusting targeting, creatives, bids, traffic sources, or other variables. The goal is to maximize ROI by reducing costs and increasing conversions based on data-driven decisions.

The moment when a user agrees to share their contact details — usually by submitting a form. In affiliate marketing, opt-in actions are often tied to CPL offers and tracked as conversions. There are two types: SOI (single opt-in), where one step is enough, and DOI (double opt-in), where the user must confirm via email or SMS.

An ad that appears on top of a webpage or video without fully blocking the content. Often semi-transparent or easy to close, it grabs attention while still letting the user interact with the main page. Affiliates use overlay ads to increase visibility without being as disruptive as popups.

Short for Revenue per Mille — the estimated earnings per 1,000 page views. Calculated by dividing total revenue by the number of page views and multiplying by 1,000. Page RPM helps publishers and affiliates understand how well a page is monetizing, across all ad formats and traffic sources.

A performance-based model where affiliates earn a commission for generating qualified phone calls to a business — typically through ads that prompt users to call. Success is usually measured by call duration, user intent, or conversion during the call.

The amount of money an affiliate earns for each successful conversion — whether it’s a lead, sale, install, or other defined action. Payouts vary based on the offer type, GEO, traffic quality, and payment model, and they’re a key factor when evaluating the profitability of a campaign.

A limit on how much an affiliate can earn from a specific offer or campaign within a set time frame. It’s usually set by the advertiser or network to control budget or test traffic quality. Once the cap is reached, conversions may stop being counted or paid until the limit resets.

A results-driven marketing approach where advertisers pay only for specific user actions — such as clicks, installs, leads, or sales — rather than for exposure alone. It’s the foundation of affiliate marketing, ensuring that every marketing dollar spent is tied to measurable outcomes.

A tracking method that uses a tiny, invisible 1×1 image (called a pixel) placed on a confirmation or “thank you” page. When the page loads, the pixel sends a signal back to the tracking system, registering a conversion. It’s a simple but widely used way to track user actions in affiliate marketing.

A conversion flow where the user enters their phone number and then confirms it by submitting a PIN code received via SMS. Common in mobile content offers (like ringtones or games), especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 GEOs. While legitimate when clearly disclosed, PIN submit flows have been widely used in misleading or aggressive campaigns, placing them near the gray or black hat edge of affiliate marketing.

An ad that opens in a new browser window or tab, hidden behind the current one. Unlike pop-ups, which interrupt the user immediately, popunders remain unnoticed until the user closes or switches tabs — making them less intrusive but still effective for high-volume traffic monetization.

An ad that opens in a new window or tab directly on top of the current webpage, immediately grabbing the user’s attention. While effective for urgent or direct calls to action, popups are more intrusive than other formats.

A server-to-server (S2S) tracking method where a conversion is confirmed through a direct signal — called a postback URL — sent from the affiliate network or tracker to the advertiser’s server. It ensures secure and reliable attribution, especially useful for mobile and app campaigns, and allows for more accurate optimization and fraud prevention.

The time between when a user completes a conversion and when the event is reported via postback to the tracker or traffic source. It can be caused by verification processes, technical delays, or offer logic (e.g. COD confirmation). Postback delays affect real-time optimization, auto-rules, and campaign decisions.

A Facebook Ads metric that tracks how many people interacted with a post — including likes, shares, comments, clicks, and other forms of engagement. Often used in boosted or promoted posts, PPE helps measure how engaging your content is and can be used to build custom or lookalike audiences.

A web page that appears before the main offer page, designed to “warm up” users, build interest, or pre-qualify them. Pre-landers often include engaging content — like quizzes, testimonials, or countdowns — to increase curiosity and improve conversion rates by making the offer feel more relevant or trustworthy.

Someone who owns a website, mobile app, or mini app and earns money by showing ads to their audience. They partner with ad networks or affiliate programs to monetize user traffic.

A small clickable notification that pops up at a user’s device via browser or mobile app. The notification contains a short text, and sometimes an image, plus buttons that motivate users to promptly click it.

Alerts sent to users who’ve opted in, appearing like messages on their phone or desktop. They resemble system messages and grab attention instantly, so app and website owners use them for quick engagement and user retention.

A way of buying ads where each impression is sold in an instant online auction. When a user opens a page, advertisers automatically bid for the chance to show their ad — and the highest bid wins.

A rebill is a recurring charge that happens automatically after the user’s initial purchase. It’s common with trial or subscription offers where affiliates get paid per each subscription renewal.

A reward system where affiliates earn extra income by bringing in new users, publishers, or other affiliates to a platform or network. The referrer gets a percentage of the referred user’s earnings or spend. Referral programs help platforms grow and are often promoted alongside main affiliate offers.

A strategy where marketers show ads to people who visited your site or app but didn’t take action. It helps bring users back and improves conversion rates with more specifically targeted messaging.

A marketing metric that measures how much money you make for every dollar spent on ads. It’s a key metric for deciding whether a campaign is profitable.

A payout model, when affiliates earn a percentage of the revenue generated from the users they refer. For example, if your user spends $100 and your RevShare is 30%, you get $30. It’s a long-term payout model that grows as user activity increases.

A full-screen ad shown in Telegram mini apps that gives users something in return, like coins or lives. For example, ‘Watch this ad to get 10 extra moves’. These ads are usually skippable after a few seconds but still generate revenue.

A popup ad shown in Telegram mini apps that offers users a reward in exchange for interacting with it. It’s triggered by specific in-app actions, like level completion or opening a gift.

A marketing metric that shows how much profit you made compared to how much you spent on a campaign. To calculate it, subtract your costs from your revenue, divide the result by the costs, and multiply by 100 to get a percentage. Example: If you spent $100 and earned $150, your ROI is ((150 – 100) / 100) × 100 = 50%.

A system that automatically adjusts campaigns based on preset performance rules, like pausing underperforming ads or increasing bids for high-converting traffic. It helps affiliates save time on manual monitoring. Example: If an ad’s CTR drops below 0.5%, RPA pauses it automatically.

The process where an advertiser (the brand) rejects certain leads or conversions, often due to fraud or quality issues. This affects final payouts, so affiliates track scrub rates to assess offer value.

A bundle of tools and code that developers use to integrate ads or analytics into apps. It simplifies adding ad formats like banners or rewarded videos.

A strategy where affiliates pay to show ads in search engines (like Google or Bing), targeting very cheap keywords to get users to visit their site. These sites then instantly redirect users or show them high-paying ads (like AdSense, native ads, or affiliate offers). Success depends on finding cheap search terms with high monetization potential, often through lots of testing and automation.

A strategy that shows ads based on what users are actively searching for. It helps match offers to user needs at the right moment.

The process of improving a website so it appears higher in unpaid search results — mainly by using relevant keywords, getting backlinks from other sites, and making the site fast and user-friendly. Better SEO means your site shows up higher in search results, bringing in more free, long-term visitors.

A period of user activity on a website or app, starting from the moment they arrive and ending after a certain time of inactivity or when they leave. Sessions are used to track behavior, engagement, and conversion paths. For affiliates, session data helps analyze user flow and optimize landing pages or funnels.

A custom visual theme or layout used for landing pages, websites, or games. Affiliates often test different skins to increase conversions.

A hybrid bidding model where you start by paying per click, but with a target CPA (cost per action) in mind. The system tests your traffic to see if it can convert within your CPA goal.

If the traffic performs well, the system automatically scales and switches to paying only for conversions — not clicks.

A special link that automatically redirects each user to the most suitable offer based on their GEO, device, and behavior. It helps monetize mixed or untargeted traffic. Smartlinks are usually provided by CPA networks or monetization platforms: an affiliate can simply grab a link upon registration and place it at their websites, landing pages, or social media content.

A technique where a smartlink rotates between several offers and automatically picks the best one for each user. It boosts performance by testing different offers and favoring the ones with higher conversion rates.

An automated system that uses data and algorithms to show ads to users who are more likely to convert. It analyzes behavior, device type, GEO, time, and other signals to optimize traffic delivery. Affiliates use smart targeting to improve performance without manual rule-setting or constant adjustments.

Two types of opt-in flows in lead generation.
SOI (Single Opt-In) counts the lead right after the user submits a form.
DOI (Double Opt-In) requires extra confirmation – usually by email or SMS.
SOI brings more volume, while DOI delivers higher-quality leads.

The process of testing different versions of landing pages, creatives, or funnels to see which one performs better. Upon the results of split testing, affiliates can increase budgets for campaigns with better performing elements and pause or tweak the ones that underperform.

A paid ad created via official Telegram Ads platform that appears as a message in Telegram public channels with over 1000 members. It’s a native-looking format, often used for lead generation or app installs.

A service that shows competitors’ ads, landing pages, and traffic sources. Affiliates use it to spot trends and build better-performing campaigns.

A tech platform used by publishers to sell ad space at their websites or apps automatically. It connects their inventory to ad exchanges and demand sources like DSPs.

An affiliate working under another affiliate (main partner), who shares part of their earnings. Networks often provide referral bonuses to top-level partners.

A platform or publisher that provides ad inventory to be sold through SSPs or ad networks. Supply partners bring the traffic — from websites, apps, or other placements — where ads are shown. They’re on the sell side of programmatic advertising and work with demand sources to monetize impressions.

Sweepstake offer is a CPL or CPA offer where users complete a simple action (like a form, survey, or quiz) to enter a promotional flow, commonly used in Tier 2–3 GEOs with push, pop, or social traffic. Creatives rely on emotional triggers, often leveraging curiosity, urgency (e.g., limited-time campaigns), and gamified creatives. Sweepstakes require careful wording to stay compliant and avoid false prize claims.

A lightweight app built into the Telegram messenger, launched within a chat or channel. Often used for games, quizzes, and utilities, and can be monetize via ads.

Revenue earned by developers from Telegram Stars — the in-app currency used in Mini Apps. Telegram pays in TON based on Stars collected. 1 TON = 200 Stars.

A tool that automatically sends each user to a specific landing page or offer based on rules like GEO, device type, OS, browser, time of day, or referrer. It helps affiliates show the most relevant content to each visitor, boosting conversions and cutting down on wasted traffic.

Conversion and traffic tracking done through an external platform — not by the advertiser or traffic source directly. It allows affiliates to collect data independently, optimize campaigns, and stay flexible across different networks. Tools like Voluum, Binom, or RedTrack are common third-party tracking solutions.

A way to group countries by purchasing power and competition. Tier 1 includes rich markets like US/UK; Tier 3 covers low-competition, low-payout regions.

A commission structure where affiliates earn higher rates as they drive more conversions or sales. It’s a reward system for scaling performance.

A setting at the ad network that lets you show ads only at certain hours or days. Useful for syncing with user activity patterns or offer restrictions.

The time it takes for a user to convert after clicking on an ad. This metric helps affiliates understand user behavior, optimize funnels, and spot fraud. Very short or very long time-to-conversion values may signal bot activity or issues with landing pages.

A dynamic placeholder in a URL or postback that passes tracking data — like zone ID, click ID, GEO, device type, or source. Tokens help connect ad platform stats with tracker or affiliate network data. Affiliates use them to analyze performance and optimize campaigns more precisely.

A blockchain developed by Telegram to make apps and payments fast and decentralized. It’s the tech behind Telegram’s Web3 features — like mini apps, crypto wallets, and digital payments.

The native cryptocurrency of The Open Network (TON). It’s mainly used inside Telegram’s Web3 ecosystem — for payments, staking, and interacting with blockchain apps like mini apps, games, or bots.

A protocol that lets users easily log in to TON-based decentralized Apps using their Telegram or TON Wallet. It’s like Web3’s version of “Login with Google.”

A naming system on TON that lets users replace complex crypto addresses with readable names like yourname.ton. Makes decentralized Apps on Telegram more user-friendly.

Decentralized websites hosted directly on the TON blockchain, which means they don’t rely on traditional servers and are harder to censor or shut down. They offer increased security and privacy because the content is stored on the blockchain itself and stay online even if one server fails or someone tries to block them. They’re often used for projects needing censorship resistance or higher trust.

A crypto wallet used to store and manage TON Coins and tokens. It’s often linked with Telegram for seamless in-app payments or Mini App earnings.

A unique URL that tracks user actions like clicks, installs, or purchases. It lets affiliates see which traffic source or ad brought each result.

A redirect used when a click can’t be sent to the main offer — for example, due to caps, GEO restrictions, or disapprovals. Instead of losing the visit, the traffic is sent to a fallback URL or another offer. Traffic back helps affiliates monetize every click, even if the main flow is unavailable.

Turning website or ad traffic into revenue by sending users to paid offers, landing pages, or ad placements. Affiliates monetize traffic through models like CPA, RevShare, or CPM — depending on the source, GEO, and user intent. The goal is to match the right offer with the right audience to maximize profit.

A specific portion of your overall traffic defined by fixed criteria such as GEO (country), platform (device type), etc. For example, a slice could be all iOS users from the USA. This helps advertisers analyze and optimize performance for each segment separately.

The platform or method where your traffic comes from — like Facebook, Google Ads, PropellerAds, email, SMS, etc.

A special dynamic parameter added to a tracking link that automatically sends information about the user — like their browser type, operating system, or the ad they clicked. This helps affiliates see which parts of their traffic work best and optimize campaigns more easily.

The format or method of traffic delivery — like Popunder, Native, Banner, Push, Search, etc. Particular offers often work best with specific traffic types.

An additional product or offer shown after a user converts, aiming to increase total earnings per lead or sale. It’s a key tactic in funnel monetization.

A user agent is a piece of information a browser sends when a user visits a website. It tells what device, which browser, and which operating system is used. Affiliate marketeres use this data to show the right version of the site or landing page (mobile or desktop), collect analytics, and target ads more accurately.

Showing ads only to users with specific device or browser types. For example, targeting only Android users for a Play Store app offer.

The process of attracting new users to an app, website, or service with the goal of converting them into leads or customers. In affiliate marketing, it involves buying traffic and driving it through ads, landing pages, and funnels to trigger a paid action — like an install, sign-up, or purchase. Effective user acquisition depends on targeting, traffic quality, and the strength of the conversion flow.

Special tags added to the end of a URL to track where the traffic comes from. They help tools like Google Analytics understand which campaign, ad, or link brought a visitor.

A category of offers or niche — like Finance, iGaming, Nutra, or Utilities. Affiliates often specialize in a few verticals they know well.

A metric that shows how much of your ad was actually seen by users. Higher viewability usually leads to better performance and higher CPMs.

A semi-transparent, center-screen ad that appears shortly after a user lands on a site or a landing page. It looks like a native ad, with a short headline, description, a Call to Action button (like “Download” or “Learn More”), and a Close button.

Vertical focused on digital privacy and protection. It includes VPNs, antivirus tools, device cleaners, and scam blockers. These offers promise safer, faster, and more private browsing — often via apps or subscriptions.

A user who spends or converts far above average — like a big depositor in iGaming or a top spender in gaming. Campaigns often seek to attract whales.

SEO practices that follow Google’s guidelines: quality content, clean backlinks, and fast sites. It’s the ethical, long-term approach to rankings.

A list of approved traffic sources, placements, apps, or domains where your ads are allowed to appear. It’s used in affiliate networks, DSPs, and self-serve platforms to filter out bad-quality or fraudulent sources and focus only on traffic that converts well.
You can build an allowlist based on your campaign data — for example, by adding specific publisher IDs, domain names, or app bundles that bring profitable conversions.

A small embedded tool or ad unit on a webpage — like recommendation boxes, weather blocks, or interactive polls. Often used in native ads, when clicking on widgets at websites redirects users to affiliate landing pages or offer pages.

A format used to send bulk ad or product data between systems. Common in eCommerce and traffic platforms for automated updates.

Traffic where users are sent directly to an offer without having to click anything first. This happens through automatic redirects, like when a domain name automatically sends visitors to a landing page.

Targeting users based on their ZIP or postal code. Useful for hyper-local campaigns like food delivery or local services.

Same as Ad Zone.