What to look for when choosing an affiliate network

For publishers and advertisers, a successful affiliate partnership begins with the right audience, clear terms and a shared understanding of what each party wants to achieve.

Affiliate marketing brings together businesses that want to promote their products and publishers who can introduce those products to an audience.

When a reader follows a link and completes an agreed action—such as making a purchase or submitting an enquiry—the publisher may receive a commission.

For advertisers, it can create access to audiences they might otherwise struggle to reach. For publishers, it can provide a commercial return from content that already helps readers make decisions.

Between the two sits the affiliate network: the business or platform that helps connect the parties and may provide tracking, reporting, payments and support.

Choosing the right network requires more thought than comparing commission rates. The best arrangement is one that works for the advertiser, respects the publisher’s audience and provides a clear benefit to the customer.

How affiliate marketing works

Imagine a publisher operates a website about Australian travel. One of its articles helps readers choose accommodation for a coastal holiday.

An accommodation provider, booking business or travel company may wish to reach those readers. The publisher places an affiliate link in appropriate content, and a reader follows it to the advertiser’s website.

If the reader makes a qualifying booking, the publisher may receive an agreed commission.

The same approach can apply to many categories, including fashion, technology, homewares, financial services, leisure and business services. The action that earns a commission can vary: it might be a completed sale, an approved application, a booking or a qualified enquiry.

The details matter. A link being clicked does not necessarily mean a commission will be paid, and a sale does not necessarily qualify under every program’s terms.

What publishers should look for

1. Products that suit their audience

The starting point is relevance.

A publisher may be offered access to hundreds of advertisers, but the number of offers is less important than whether any are useful to its readers.

A destination website might consider accommodation, tours, travel insurance or car hire. A food publication might look at cooking equipment or meal services. A business website may find value in software, professional services or business banking products.

The strongest affiliate relationships usually feel like a natural extension of the publisher’s content.

A reader looking for advice about a destination may appreciate a relevant accommodation option. An unrelated offer inserted into the same article may be distracting and weaken trust.

2. The quality and reputation of advertisers

A publisher lends some of its credibility to the businesses it promotes.

Before accepting an offer, consider:

• Is the advertiser’s website professional and easy to use?
• Are its prices, delivery conditions and cancellation terms clear?
• Does it appear to provide reliable customer service?
• Would you be comfortable explaining the relationship to your readers?
• Does the product or service deliver what the advertising promises?

A generous commission is of little value if readers have a poor experience.

Publishers should also understand who deals with complaints and whether they can remove an advertiser promptly if concerns arise.

3. Commission rates and qualifying actions

Ask exactly what earns a commission.

A network might offer a percentage of a sale, a fixed amount for a booking or a payment for an approved enquiry. Some programs pay on the value of the goods; others exclude GST, delivery charges, discounts or other costs from the calculation.

For example, a five per cent commission on a qualifying $200 purchase would be $10 if the full $200 is eligible. The actual payment may differ depending on the program’s terms.

Check whether commissions are reversed when customers cancel, return goods, fail to complete payment or are found not to meet the advertiser’s conditions.

The headline rate is only the beginning of the calculation.

4. Tracking and attribution

Affiliate networks commonly use tracking links to identify where a visitor came from. But a customer may visit several websites before making a purchase.

Publishers should ask:

• How long after a click can a qualifying sale be credited?
• What happens if the customer clicks another affiliate link before buying?
• Is the program based on the last qualifying click or another attribution method?
• Can purchases be tracked across different devices?
• How are tracking interruptions or disputed transactions handled?

A longer tracking period may be helpful, but the full attribution rules determine whether a publisher receives credit.

Tracking can also be affected by browser settings, consent choices, devices and technical issues. A reputable network should explain these limitations rather than promise that every transaction will be captured.

5. Payment terms and reliability

Publishers should understand when a commission becomes payable and when money will actually reach their account.

Questions include:

• How often are commissions paid?
• Is there a minimum payment threshold?
• Are there transaction, currency conversion or withdrawal fees?
• Can the publisher see pending, approved and declined commissions?
• What happens if an advertiser fails to pay the network?
• What process exists for a payment dispute?

A commission shown as pending is not necessarily money ready to be paid. Some programs wait until a return or cancellation period has passed before confirming it.

6. Control over placement and presentation

Publishers should retain control over their websites and the way commercial material appears.

A network should make it clear whether publishers can choose which advertisers to work with, where links appear and how promotions are presented.

A publisher may prefer a contextual link within a useful article, a clearly identified banner advertisement, a dedicated commercial feature or a combination of these.

The choice should suit the publication and its readers. A website that becomes crowded with irrelevant promotions may lose the audience that made it valuable to advertisers in the first place.

7. Support and communication

Technology is important, but so is the ability to speak with someone when a problem arises.

Can the network explain its reporting? Help resolve a missing commission? Suggest relevant advertisers? Respond when an offer changes or a campaign ends?

For a smaller publisher, practical support can be as valuable as access to a large list of advertisers.

What advertisers should look for

1. Access to the right audience

An advertiser does not simply need more traffic. It needs people who may be interested in what it offers.

A regional accommodation provider may receive better value from a relevant destination website than from a large general website whose readers have little interest in visiting the area.

Similarly, a business services provider may benefit from appearing alongside useful information for business owners.

Ask a prospective network:

• What kinds of publishers does it work with?
• Where are their audiences located?
• What topics do they cover?
• How are publishers selected?
• Can the advertiser approve or decline particular publishers?

A smaller, well-matched audience may produce better results than a large, poorly targeted one.

2. Publisher quality and brand suitability

Advertisers should know where their brand may appear.

A link on a useful, reputable publication can introduce a business to readers in a positive setting. Placement on an unrelated or low-quality site can do little for the brand and may create reputational concerns.

Ask whether the network reviews publishers, monitors promotional practices and offers a way to remove a publisher from a campaign.

It is also useful to understand the types of promotion permitted. Some advertisers welcome comparison sites, voucher publishers and email campaigns; others prefer editorial websites or have restrictions on paid search and brand-name bidding.

The rules should be clear before a campaign begins.

3. The complete cost

Affiliate marketing is often described as performance-based advertising because a commission is generally linked to an agreed action. That does not mean there are no other costs.

Advertisers should ask about:

• Setup or onboarding fees.
• Monthly platform or management fees.
• Network fees on top of publisher commissions.
• Minimum campaign spending or deposits.
• Charges for tracking, reporting or technical integration.
• Currency conversion and international payment costs.
• The cost and notice required to end the agreement.

A campaign can be worthwhile while still carrying several fees. The important point is to understand the total cost and compare it with the value of the customers acquired.

4. A realistic commission structure

The commission must work for both sides.

An advertiser needs to consider its margins, the value of a new customer and the likelihood of repeat business. A publisher needs sufficient incentive to devote space and attention to the offer.

A low commission may be commercially sensible for the advertiser but attract little interest from publishers. An overly generous offer may generate activity while leaving the advertiser with an unsustainable cost.

The right arrangement depends on the product, competition and customer value—not simply the highest or lowest percentage.

5. Tracking, reporting and transaction validation

Advertisers should be able to see what their investment is producing.

Useful reporting may include clicks, qualifying sales or enquiries, conversion rates, commission costs and the performance of individual publishers.

Ask how the network identifies valid transactions and manages cancellations, refunds, duplicate leads or suspected fraudulent activity. It is also important to understand how tracking integrates with the advertiser’s website or booking system.

Before launching, test the customer journey: follow a link, complete a test action where possible and confirm that the tracking and reporting work as expected.

6. Customer experience

Affiliate marketing can bring a potential customer to a website, but it cannot make up for a confusing checkout, unclear pricing or a product that fails to meet expectations.

Advertisers should review what happens after a reader clicks:

• Does the link lead to a relevant page?
• Does the website work well on a mobile phone?
• Are the offer and conditions easy to understand?
• Can customers complete the purchase or enquiry without unnecessary difficulty?
• Is the advertised product available?

A publisher can introduce the customer. The advertiser must give that customer a reason to stay.

7. Flexibility and support

Campaigns often improve through adjustment.

An advertiser may discover that one type of publisher delivers strong enquiries while another produces clicks but few sales. A different landing page, offer or commission rate may improve results.

Look for a network that provides useful information and makes it practical to refine a campaign. Understand whether you are locked into a contract, what notice is required to leave and what happens to existing publisher relationships when the arrangement ends.

Transparency protects everyone

Readers should be able to recognise a commercial relationship.

A simple disclosure near relevant content might say:

“This article contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase through a link.”

The wording and placement should make the relationship clear in the circumstances. Publishers and advertisers should also ensure their claims are accurate and comply with applicable advertising and consumer protection rules. The Australian advertising industry’s code says affiliate relationships in advertising should be clear and understandable to the audience.

Transparency does not diminish a recommendation. It allows the reader to understand the relationship and make an informed decision.

Publishers should also understand search engine requirements. Google recommends identifying paid and affiliate links with the rel="sponsored" attribute; rel="nofollow" is also accepted. Affiliate arrangements should be approached as a way to reach relevant customers, rather than as a way to purchase search rankings.

Questions both parties should ask before signing

Before committing to an affiliate network, publishers and advertisers should be comfortable with the answers to several questions:

1. Who are we dealing with? Is the network clear about its business identity, contact details and responsibilities?
2. What exactly is being offered? Are the products, publishers, promotional methods and intended audiences a good match?
3. How is performance measured? Are the tracking, attribution and reporting methods explained?
4. When is money owed and paid? Are commissions, fees, reversals and payment timing clear?
5. What happens if there is a problem? Is there a practical process for resolving disputes?
6. How can the arrangement end? Are notice periods, outstanding payments and access to reports addressed in the agreement?

Keep a copy of the current terms and review them when they change.

A relationship built on relevance

Affiliate marketing works best when all three participants benefit: the advertiser reaches a prospective customer, the publisher receives a fair return, and the customer discovers something useful.

The network’s role is to help make that relationship practical, measurable and transparent.

For publishers, the most valuable asset is the trust of their audience. For advertisers, it is the confidence that their business is being introduced in the right environment. Neither should be sacrificed for a promising commission rate or an impressive traffic figure.

Further information

Times Affiliate Network, part of our publishing and online marketing business, provides a point of contact for publishers interested in affiliate opportunities and businesses seeking to reach relevant audiences.

Our publishing interests include TheTimes.com.au and a growing collection of Australian destination websites, offering perspectives on both national and location-specific audiences.

Publishers and advertisers who would like to discuss whether an affiliate arrangement may suit their objectives can visit https://timessearch.com/affiliate-marketing for further information and enquiries.

Any proposed arrangement should be assessed on its individual terms, including placement, tracking, commissions and payment conditions.