Core Terminology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Affelios Identity | A unified login used by both affiliates and program operators. One identity can belong to multiple programs. |
| Program | A branded space managed by a business (operator). Inside a program you configure commission plans, trackers, branding, traffic sources, and payout rules. |
| Affiliate | A partner who joins programs, drives traffic or conversions, and earns commissions. Affiliates use tracking links, creatives, and reporting tools. |
| Operator (Brand) | The business or organization that creates and manages an affiliate program: defines rules, approves affiliates, issues payments, etc. |
Features & Settings
| Concept | Purpose / Use |
|---|---|
| Commission Plan | Defines how affiliates are rewarded. Can be CPA, revenue share, or a customized hybrid. You can assign different plans for different affiliates. |
| Tracking Link / Tracker | A URL that allows Affelios to attribute clicks, conversions, and traffic to affiliates. Includes parameters like clickKeys (e.g. clickId, btag). |
| Traffic Source | The origin of traffic: websites, social media profiles, promotional content, etc. Programs may require verification of traffic sources (DNS or meta-tag). |
| ClickKey | The query parameter that carries a click-identifier in affiliate tracking links. Configurable per program to match affiliate / traffic source needs. |
Financial & Compliance Concepts
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Payout Method | How affiliates receive their earnings. May include bank transfer, PayPal, cryptocurrency, etc. Affiliates can add multiple methods and set a default. |
| Invoice & VAT / Tax | Affelios handles automatic invoice generation and VAT calculation to ensure compliance across regions. |
| Clean Slate / No-Negative Carryover | A policy setting in programs that resets affiliate balances at the end of each period so negative balances don’t carry forward. |
Relationships & Flows
Here’s how the pieces fit together in practice:- An operator creates a program, configures its branding, commission plans, traffic sources, etc.
- An affiliate uses their Affelios Identity to join the program.
- The affiliate sets up trackers and promotes via verified traffic sources.
- When conversions happen, they are tracked via the tracker, attributed to the affiliate.
- Earnings accumulate; at payout time the affiliate is paid via their chosen payout method. An invoice is generated, VAT/tax handled.
- If “Clean Slate / No-Negative Carryover” is enabled, balances reset (negatives cleared) each period.
Getting Started Tips
- When you first set up a program, decide up front on a clickKey that works for all your affiliates.
- Require traffic source verification if you want to maintain data quality and reduce fraud.
- Set up at least two payout methods for affiliates in case one fails or isn’t supported.
- Think about whether “Clean Slate” policy suits your business model (some programs prefer to let negative balances carry over).
What’s Next
- 🌟 Benefits — See the advantages of running your program on Affelios.
- ⚡ Quickstart — Get up and running fast.
- 🧩 Integrations — Connect your stack.
- 👩💻 API Reference — Endpoints and examples for developers.