This glossary covers the key terms you'll encounter in affiliate marketing and CPA networks. Whether you're a publisher just getting started or an experienced media buyer looking for a quick reference, these definitions are written to be clear, practical, and relevant to how the industry actually works in 2026.
Each term includes a concise definition, an explanation of why it matters, and a practical example. Click any term for a full in-depth guide.
A pricing model where advertisers pay a fixed commission each time a referred user completes a specific action — such as signing up, submitting a form, or installing an app. CPA is the foundational model in performance affiliate marketing.
A metric that measures how much a publisher earns on average for each click sent to an offer. Calculated as total earnings divided by total clicks. Used to compare offer performance and optimize campaigns.
An interface that displays a list of CPA offers users can complete in exchange for rewards like points, virtual currency, or cash. Widely used in GPT sites, rewards apps, and mobile games.
An advertiser creates offers and pays for results (new users, leads, sales). A publisher drives traffic and earns commissions for conversions. The CPA network connects both sides and handles tracking and payments.
A CPA variant where the advertiser pays when a user submits a qualified lead — typically by filling out a form with contact or financial information. Common in insurance, finance, and legal verticals.
A pricing model where the advertiser pays each time a user clicks their ad. The standard model for search and social advertising, and the primary cost input for affiliate media buyers.
A pricing model where the advertiser pays a set rate per 1,000 ad impressions. The standard model for display advertising and brand awareness campaigns.
A payout model where the publisher earns a percentage of the ongoing revenue generated by referred users over time, rather than a one-time fixed commission. Rewards long-term user quality.
A metric measuring revenue earned per 1,000 impressions regardless of pricing model. Calculated as (Total Earnings / Impressions) x 1,000. Used to compare monetization methods.
A profitability metric measuring the percentage return on money invested in campaigns. Calculated as (Revenue - Cost) / Cost x 100. The ultimate bottom-line metric for media buyers.
A metric measuring revenue generated per dollar spent on advertising. Calculated as Revenue / Ad Spend. A ROAS of 3.0 means $3 earned for every $1 spent on ads.
Two methods for tracking conversions. Pixel tracking uses browser-based code; postback tracking uses server-to-server callbacks. Postback is the industry standard in 2026 due to reliability and privacy compliance.
Custom tracking parameters appended to an affiliate link that allow publishers to identify traffic sources, campaigns, ad creatives, and other variables. Critical for granular performance analysis and optimization.
The length of time a tracking cookie stays active after a user clicks an affiliate link. If the user converts within the window, the publisher gets credit. Typically 24 hours to 90 days.
Creating affiliate links that send users to a specific page within an advertiser's site or app rather than the homepage. Improves conversion rates by reducing navigation steps.
A single affiliate link that automatically routes users to the highest-converting offer based on device, location, carrier, and other signals. Used for mixed-geo and high-volume traffic.
Traffic where users are motivated to complete an offer by a reward — points, virtual currency, cash, or gift cards. Used on offerwalls and GPT sites. Offers must specifically allow incentivized traffic.
An intermediate page between the traffic source and the offer that warms up, educates, or qualifies users before they reach the conversion page. Widely used with paid traffic.
Sending users directly to the advertiser's offer page without an intermediate pre-lander. Simpler to set up but offers less control over the user experience.
SOI requires one step (submit form). DOI requires two (submit form + email confirmation). SOI converts easier but pays less; DOI converts harder but pays more and delivers higher-quality leads.
The percentage of conversions rejected by the advertiser or network — due to fraud, duplicates, or non-qualifying actions. A high scrub rate erodes publisher earnings.
An unethical practice where a network intentionally hides valid conversions from publishers, keeping the payout. Detectable through independent tracking and split-testing across networks.
The maximum number of conversions an advertiser accepts per day, week, or month. Once hit, additional conversions may not be paid. Managed through backup offers and AM communication.
A CPA offer type where users subscribe to a mobile service by entering a PIN sent via SMS. Charges go to the user's carrier bill. Popular in international markets with low credit card penetration.
Payment schedules indicating when publishers receive earnings. Net-30 means payment 30 days after the end of the earning period. RevBoost pays on a consistent Net-30 schedule with ACH, wire, check, Bitcoin, and Ethereum options.
An additional delay between earning commissions and receiving payment, used by networks to protect against chargebacks and fraud. Typically 7-60 days on top of standard payment terms.
Keep Learning
This glossary is regularly updated with new terms. For deeper dives into affiliate marketing strategy, check out our guides:
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