A well-structured affiliate program review helps you decide where to invest your time, guides your audience toward the right offers, and builds trust. Here’s a concise guide to what to cover, how to evaluate, and how to present your findings.
What to include in an affiliate program review
Program overview: Niche, target customer, flagship products, pricing, brand reputation.
Commission structure: Base rate, tiers, recurring vs one-time, bonuses, two‑tier options, lock period, reversal/refund rates.
Cookie and attribution: Cookie duration, attribution model (last/first click, multi-touch), cross-device tracking, coupon/extension leakage protection.
Performance metrics: EPC, conversion rate, AOV, approval rate, lead-to-sale time; note if from the network dashboard or your own data.
Payout terms: Minimum payout, frequency, payment methods, currency, taxes, and geographic availability.
Tracking and tech: Network/platform (e.g., Impact, CJ, ShareASale, PartnerStack), deep links, subID/UTM support, postbacks/API, cookieless or server-to-server options, reporting granularity.
Creative assets: Banners, text links, product feeds, widgets, landing pages, geo/language options, mobile optimization.
Promotional policies: Coupon rules, PPC/brand bidding, email rules, social/YouTube/TikTok allowances, content restrictions, review guidelines for trademarks.
Support and enablement: Affiliate manager responsiveness, onboarding materials, sample products, promo calendar, exclusive codes, co-marketing, seasonal offers.
Fit and differentiation: Product-market fit for your audience, competitor landscape, reasons to choose this program over alternatives.
Compliance and trust: FTC disclosure reminders, data privacy alignment (GDPR/CCPA), clear terms, enforcement consistency.
Pros, cons, and ideal use cases: Who should promote it, who shouldn’t, and why.
Verdict and next steps: Your recommendation, best angles to promote, and how to get started.
How to conduct the review (methodology)
Gather data from multiple sources: Network dashboard, program terms page, AM emails, and your own tests.
Test the journey: Click your affiliate link, check redirects and tracking parameters, evaluate landing page speed, mobile UX, checkout friction, and post-purchase upsells.
Validate tracking: Use subIDs and test conversions when possible; confirm attribution and lock periods.
Run a short pilot: Send a controlled volume of traffic to estimate EPC/CR and compare to your benchmarks.
Compare alternatives: Include at least two competing programs and note differences in commission, EPC, cookie, and policy.
Document dates: Note when you tested and when the review was last updated.
Benefits for the affiliate marketer
- Better ROI: Prioritize high-EPC, high-conversion programs and avoid poor fit offers.
- Negotiation leverage: Data-backed reviews help you secure higher rates, exclusive codes, and custom landing pages.
- Authority and trust: Transparent pros/cons and real tests boost credibility with your audience.
- Content that compounds: Reviews rank for commercial-intent keywords and generate ongoing revenue.
- Risk reduction: Early detection of tracking or policy issues prevents wasted traffic.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- What is a “good” commission rate?
Depends on margins and AOV; digital/SaaS often 20–50% (sometimes recurring), physical goods often 3–15%. Compare within the niche.
- How long should cookies be?
30–90 days is common; for SaaS, look for longer windows or recurring commissions.
- Is EPC reliable?
Treat network EPC as directional; validate with your own traffic and angle.
- Can I promote multiple competing programs?
Yes—disclose and position each with clear use cases; consider comparison tables.
- How often should I update reviews?
At least quarterly, or when commissions/policies change.
- What if my experience is negative?
Share it respectfully with evidence, suggest alternatives, and notify the AM.
- Should I join via a network or direct?
Networks offer consolidated tracking/payments; direct programs may offer higher rates and better support.
- What legal disclosures are required?
Clearly disclose affiliate relationships (FTC), respect platform-specific rules, and handle user data lawfully.
- How do I handle tracking issues?
Provide subID samples, timestamps, geo/device info to the AM; run test conversions and request investigations.
Best practices for high-converting reviews
- Be transparent: Show how you tested and any biases (e.g., you’re an active partner).
- Focus on outcomes: Tie features to benefits for your audience; include real screenshots and examples if allowed.
- Use comparison and alternatives: Help readers decide quickly with side-by-side highlights.
- Add CRO elements: Skimmable sections, clear CTAs, table of contents, FAQs, and “who it’s for” boxes.
- SEO and markup: Target commercial-intent keywords, add internal links, and implement Review/FAQ structured data where
- appropriate.
- Tracking hygiene: Use subIDs/UTMs, don’t cloak links against program rules, and monitor broken links and 404s.
- Maintenance: Re-check terms, commissions, and creatives regularly; timestamp updates at the top of the article.
Simple outline template
1) Summary verdict (2–3 sentences)
2) Who it’s best for
3) Key facts at a glance: commission, cookie, EPC/CR, payout terms, network
4) Pros and cons
5) Product and audience fit
6) Performance insights (your test data and angle)
7) Policies and restrictions
8) Support, promos, and resources
9) Alternatives to consider
10) Final recommendation and how to start
Quick review checklist
[ ] Commission, cookie, attribution, payouts verified
[ ] Tracking and UX tested (desktop and mobile)
[ ] Policies and restrictions documented
[ ] Performance benchmarked vs alternatives
[ ] Disclosures, schema, and CTAs added
[ ] SubIDs/UTMs implemented; monitoring in place
[ ] Review dated and scheduled for updates