Affiliate marketing is an advertising distribution channel through websites (affiliates), where advertisers only pay for the results they achieve. This type of marketing involves three types of agents:

• The advertiser: is the company that wants to promote its products or services through affiliate websites.
• The affiliate: These are web pages that use advertising from advertisers to direct traffic from their page to the advertiser's, with the aim of obtaining income for each visit that occurs.
• The affiliate network: This is the intermediary company between the advertiser and the affiliate. It provides the advertiser with all the tools necessary to optimize the campaign.

To optimize affiliate campaigns, there are several types of metrics we can use depending on the objectives we want to achieve. They're called metrics because, depending on the type, we can measure our results in one way or another. Among the main metrics are:

• CPMCost per impression or cost per thousand impressions. In this case, a number of banners are contracted to be displayed to the user for a specific period of time, and the affiliate is paid for every thousand impressions the ad receives.
• Time: This purchase is based on a fixed cost for spending a certain period of time on the website.
• CPC: cost per click, that is, the affiliate will be paid for each click the ad receives on their website.
• Cost per Double Click: In this case, users click and are redirected to a separate landing page where the product information is expanded. The affiliate will be paid for the clicks made on the landing page.
• Cost per Form: This type of contract is characterized by paying the affiliate when users fill out a form.
• CPL: cost per lead, that is, the affiliate will be paid for each interested user who requests information about the advertised products.
• CPA or CPV: cost per acquisition or cost per sale. For each product sold, a percentage is applied and paid to the affiliate.

Having seen this, we now know the type of contracts we can make in affiliate marketing. Now, to know the type of results we want to achieve, we must differentiate the type of strategy to use. In a strategy where we want to increase sales, database registrations, or leads, we will focus on a long-term affiliate program. On the other hand, if we want to increase traffic to our website, gain brand popularity, capture databases, or introduce new products, we will focus on a short-term affiliate campaign.

Ultimately, to be successful in Affiliate Marketing, you need to know every part of the process, and it takes effort to understand each phase of creating a campaign.