A publisher promotes advertisers’ products or services in exchange for commission. In affiliate marketing, publishers share tracking links with their audience, and when someone clicks a link and completes an action (like a purchase), the publisher earns a commission.
How publishers fit into affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves four main roles:
- Publisher (you): Promotes products or services to their audience.
- Advertiser: The business selling the product or service.
- Affiliate network (Awin): Connects publishers and advertisers, handles tracking and commission payments.
- Customer: The person who clicks the link and completes a purchase or action.
As a publisher, you select advertisers to promote, share their tracking links with your audience, and earn commission when these promotions generate successful results.
Publisher roles and business models
There’s no single type of publisher, Awin works with a wide range of partners, including:
- Bloggers and content creators
- Social media influencers
- Cashback and voucher sites
- Price comparison websites
- Email and paid media marketers
- Large media companies and niche online communities
When you apply to join Awin, you choose a ‘promotion type’ that best matches your business model. This helps advertisers understand how you promote their products.
To learn more about promotion types, see How to set your promotional type.
Next steps
