Affiliate marketing is referral-based promotion: a publisher recommends a merchant’s product or service to an audience, and a tracked referral may earn compensation if the program’s qualifying conditions are met. The merchant owns the offer and handles fulfillment and payment; the publisher’s job is to choose an audience-relevant offer, explain it usefully, and make the referral transparently.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is an arrangement in which a publisher—such as a website owner, creator, or other content publisher—refers people to a merchant’s product or service through a program-approved link or another permitted tracking method. The merchant supplies the product or service and handles the transaction. The publisher does not ordinarily develop, ship, or bill for it.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Compensation depends on the program’s rules. A qualifying event might be a purchase or another action specified by the program. As Paul Mladjenovic and Ted Sudol explain in Dummies’ beginner guide, the publisher introduces people to products and services; the merchant remains responsible for the product and payment process.
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- Choose an audience and offer. The publisher selects an offer relevant to what readers need and can explain honestly.
- Join a program and use its permitted tracking method. A program may provide tagged links or other approved mechanisms. For example, Amazon’s US Associates agreement describes properly formatted tagged Special Links for qualifying websites, social-media content, online software applications, and Alexa skills. The agreement and related terms are specific to the program and marketplace.
- Publish useful content with the referral. A link can appear in an article, review, tutorial, or another allowed placement. The content should help readers assess the offer rather than merely direct them to it.
- A reader follows the referral and may complete a qualifying action. A click is not a commission. Tracking, attribution windows, qualifying actions, excluded purchases, returns, and cancellations can affect whether an event is credited.
- The program reports and pays eligible compensation under its terms. Payment may be subject to thresholds, schedules, and other conditions. Check the live agreement for the specific program instead of assuming a sale or attributed action is payable.
Keep three stages distinct: traffic is not necessarily a tracked referral; a tracked referral is not necessarily a qualifying action; and a credited action is not automatically payable if exclusions or payment conditions apply. Amazon’s US Operating Agreement, shown as updated October 15, 2025, is one example of program-specific terms. Its conditions should not be generalized to other merchants or marketplaces.
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Disclose the relationship clearly
Readers should be able to tell when a financial or other material relationship could affect a recommendation. The Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides FAQ says: “If you disclose your relationship to the retailer clearly and conspicuously on your site, readers can decide how much weight to give your endorsement.” Put the disclosure where readers will encounter it with the recommendation or link; do not rely on readers already knowing about the relationship.
The FTC’s social media influencer guidance says to disclose financial, employment, personal, or family relationships with a brand. Free or discounted products and other perks can also call for disclosure when a creator mentions the product. Choose wording and placement that are easy to notice and understand in the medium being used.
Amazon Associates has an additional program-specific requirement. Its disclosure help calls for a clear and conspicuous disclosure near the link or review and requires this site statement: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” That wording is for Amazon Associates; it is not a universal disclosure formula. The FTC’s endorsements hub notes that the Endorsement Guides were revised in 2023. Applicable law and platform rules can differ, so check the current requirements for your jurisdiction and each program.
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How to evaluate a program or offer
There is no universally best affiliate program. Compare the offer and its operating rules against your audience’s needs before applying or publishing links.
- Audience and product fit: Does the offer address a real reader need, and can you describe its limitations as well as its benefits?
- Quality and relevance: Is the product or service appropriate to recommend based on information you can substantiate?
- Permitted channels: Does the program allow promotion on your website, social platforms, email, apps, or other channels you use?
- Geography and availability: Which countries, marketplaces, and audiences are covered? Is the offer currently available to your readers?
- Qualifying action and attribution: What must the referred person do, how is the referral tracked, and what exclusions or cancellation rules apply?
- Reporting and payment: What reports are provided, when are payments made, and are thresholds or other conditions involved?
- Disclosure obligations: What must you say, and where must the disclosure appear under both the program’s contract and applicable law?
A high advertised commission rate by itself does not make a program a good fit. Rates, terms, application eligibility, and geographic availability can change. Do not treat affiliate income as guaranteed or promise readers a typical result; the available evidence does not establish a reliable typical-income figure.
Where publishers can explore programs
Networks and individual merchants are two ways to find affiliate opportunities. For example, CJ’s publisher page describes tools for links, brand connections, and performance analysis. InformIT/Pearson’s affiliate page is a publisher-specific example for books, ebooks, and video training. These examples are starting points, not endorsements or guarantees of admission; verify current eligibility, availability, and terms before participating.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Optional further reading
For a book-length introduction, Wiley lists Affiliate Marketing For Dummies by Ted Sudol and Paul Mladjenovic as a 352-page paperback, ISBN 978-1-119-62824-8, for the 2020 edition. Wiley lists January 2020, while the Dummies page gives a December 12, 2019 publication date. Its stated coverage includes choosing affiliate products and programs and affiliate strategies. Check the current edition and listing before buying; a book is optional, not a prerequisite for participating.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
