Affiliate Basics You Actually Need
- Commission & Cookie: Favor 10%+ and ≥30‑day cookie; prefer recurring.
- EPC over hype: Track Earnings‑Per‑Click and set max CPC ≤ EPC.
- Compliance: Clear disclosures and rel="nofollow sponsored".
Commission Models
| Model | When It Fits | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPA (one‑time) | Courses, tools | Simple, quick | No lifetime value |
| Recurring % | SaaS, memberships | Compounds over time | Churn risk |
| Hybrid | Mixed funnels | Upfront + recurring | More rules |
Time‑to‑Cash Matrix
| Channel | Setup | Execution | Payout Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twitter/X thread review | 10m | 20–30m | 1–45d | Great for quick testing |
| SEO review page | 60–120m | — | 30–120d | Compounds with updates |
| YouTube mini‑review | 45–90m | — | 7–60d | High buyer intent |
| Email roundup | 20m | — | 1–30d | Best with warm list |
Affiliate EPC Calculator (Quick Math)
EPC: $0.00 (max CPC ≤ EPC)
Your First SEO Review Page (Outline)
- H1 with year and brand promise
- Pros/cons summary box
- Feature table + pricing + alternatives
- Use cases (who it’s for/not for)
- FAQ + JSON‑LD
- Disclosure near the first CTA
30‑Day Affiliate Launch Plan
- Week 1: Pick offers, build 1 SEO review + 1 X thread.
- Week 2: Add comparison page + internal links.
- Week 3: Add FAQ schema, collect 2 email leads/day.
- Week 4: Publish a YouTube mini‑review; update tables.
Compliance & Safety
- Use visible disclosures; mark links with rel="nofollow sponsored".
- Don’t exaggerate earnings; focus on benefits and fit.
- Respect program terms; check cookie and payout windows.
FAQs
Which affiliate networks should I start with?
Begin with networks that fit your niche and offer clear dashboards, decent EPC, and 30+ day cookies.
How do I pick keywords?
Target long‑tail, purchase‑intent terms: “best [tool] for [use case]”, “X vs Y for [audience]”.
How long to see SEO results?
New pages can take 30–120 days; accelerate with updates, internal links, and multimedia.
What’s a good EPC?
It varies by niche; track your own EPC and keep your ad spend/CPC below it.
Sources & Last Updated
Updated by Larry Kearney.
- Program payout terms and cookie windows vary—confirm in your affiliate networks.
- Compliance: FTC Endorsement Guides.