Affiliate Marketing
RGM° · Training
Network Selection and Program Setup
Network constrains capabilities for years. Major networks, selection, setup, integration, management, migration.
Why network
Affiliate networks intermediate between brands and partners, providing technology, partner discovery, tracking, payments, fraud detection. Network choice constrains capabilities for years.
Major networks
| Network | Strengths |
|---|
| Impact | Modern; partnership automation |
| Awin | Global; broad partner network |
| CJ (Commission Junction) | Established; large brand support |
| Rakuten Advertising | Tier-1 brands; loyalty integration |
| ShareASale | SMB / mid-market friendly |
| Refersion | Shopify-native; DTC |
| Partnerize | Enterprise partnership management |
| TUNE | Mobile-focused |
Selection
- Partner availability in your category.
- Geographic coverage.
- Mobile vs web tracking.
- Fraud detection capabilities.
- Reporting depth.
- API access.
- Cost structure (% override + fees).
- Multi-channel attribution support.
- Compliance features.
Setup
- Account creation.
- Tracking pixel / postback configuration.
- Product feed (for content affiliates).
- Creative assets uploaded.
- Commission structure defined.
- Terms of service drafted.
- Approval workflow.
- Test transaction.
Integration
- CDP / warehouse integration.
- Conversion tracking integration.
- Cross-channel attribution.
- CRM enrichment with affiliate source.
- Reporting consolidation.
- Analytics dashboard.
Management
- Partner recruitment ongoing.
- Partner approval criteria.
- Performance monitoring.
- Commission adjustments.
- Communication with top partners.
- Fraud detection review.
- Quarterly business reviews.
Migration
- Existing partner relationships.
- Historical data preservation.
- Tracking continuity.
- Commission obligation honoring.
- Phased migration possible.
- Communication to partners.
Advanced
- Multi-network strategy possible.
- Network vs direct program decision.
- API integration for automation.
- Cross-channel attribution integrated.
- Fraud detection tuned.
- Top-partner direct relationships layered on network.
- Annual network performance review.
- Migration planning if needed.
- International expansion considerations.
- Compliance ongoing.
Mistakes
- Network chosen by inertia.
- Cost structure not understood.
- Fraud detection capabilities not assessed.
- Multi-network not considered.
- API integration absent.
- Cross-channel attribution naive.
- Top partners not directly managed.
- Migration planning skipped.
- International gaps.
- Compliance reactive.
Checklist
- Network selected with rationale
- Cost structure understood
- Fraud detection assessed
- Multi-network considered
- API integration
- Cross-channel attribution
- Top-partner direct management
- Annual performance review
- International coverage
- Compliance ongoing
Sources and further reading
- Impact, Awin, CJ documentation
- Rakuten Advertising
- ShareASale, Refersion
- Partnerize, TUNE
- Affiliate Summit conferences
- PMA Performance Marketing Association
- RGM Performance Marketing series
- Affiverse research
- Affiliate Insider
- Andrew Faris affiliate playbooks
- MMA affiliate guidelines
- Marketing Brew affiliate coverage
Part of the Affiliate Marketing series.