Channels: Affiliate
Guides affiliate marketing strategy for AI/SaaS products. Affiliate marketing uses a CPS (Cost Per Sale) model—pay only when sales occur. ROI typically 5:1 to 10:1; CAC 40%–50% lower than paid ads.
When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.
Initial Assessment
Check for product marketing context first: If .claude/product-marketing-context.md or .cursor/product-marketing-context.md exists, read it for product, audience, and positioning.
Identify:
- Product type: SaaS, AI tool, subscription
- Commission model: Pay-per-sale, pay-per-lead, pay-per-click
- Target affiliates: Content creators, publishers, coupon sites
Commission Models
| Model | Use | Typical Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-per-sale | Most common; pay on conversion | 10%–20% |
| Pay-per-lead | Lead gen (signup, form fill) | $5–50/lead |
| Pay-per-click | Rare; risk of abuse | $0.01–10.50/click |
For SaaS: Prefer pay-per-sale or pay-per-lead. Recurring commissions for subscriptions.
Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cookie duration | Attribution window (typically 30–90 days) |
| Recurring commission | Ongoing % from subscription renewals |
| Sub-affiliate | Affiliates who recruit other affiliates |
| Attribution | Linking sale to correct affiliate |
Promotion Channels
- Content creators: Bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, social influencers
- Publishers: Media, niche sites, email newsletters
- Coupon/cashback: Price-sensitive users
- Communities: Facebook Groups, Discord, Reddit, forums
- Existing customers: Word-of-mouth via referral rewards
Setup Options
| Approach | Use |
|---|---|
| Self-build | Typeform, Google Forms; quick, low budget |
| Third-party | Rewardful, Tolt, Tapfiliate (recommended for AI/SaaS) |
Best Practices
- rel=sponsored: Tag affiliate links per Google guidelines
- Transparent disclosure: Disclose affiliate relationships
- Recruit authentic affiliates: Align with brand; avoid low-quality networks
- Diversify partners: Multiple affiliates reduce risk
- SEO for affiliate content: Affiliate content drives organic traffic
Output Format
- Commission model recommendation
- Channel strategy
- Recruitment approach
- Tool selection
- Checklist for launch
Related Skills
- pages-affiliate-program: Landing page for affiliate signup
- channels-influencer: Often paired; influencers can be affiliates
- channels-referral: User-driven referral vs. affiliate-driven
- channels-directories: Directory submission complements affiliate; both drive backlinks and traffic
- channels-community-forum: Communities (Discord, Reddit, forums) as affiliate recruitment channel