Affiliate marketing, as used in advertising, describes the practice of paying other parties to point clients in the direction of a company's products and services. Affiliate publishers from outside sources are encouraged to look for ways to promote the business by commission payment.
Digital marketing, analytics, and cookies have all helped affiliate marketing grow into a billion-dollar business.
Affiliates are often paid per sale, and less frequently by clicks or impressions, by businesses. Unrelated affiliate marketing, engaged affiliate marketing, and related affiliate marketing are the three primary categories of affiliate marketing.