04.4 Digital Marketing
Affiliatemarketing.
01 / 04Other people sell for you. You pay only when they do.
02 / 04Every sale is tracked back to the partner who brought it.
03 / 04But some partners just catch sales you would have made anyway.
04 / 04So we pay more for new customers, and less for the rest.
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What it is
A sales team paid only on results.
Affiliate marketing pays partners, such as review sites, creators, newsletters, comparison and cashback sites, a commission for each sale or lead they send you. They promote you to their audience; a tracking link records who brought the customer; you pay only when the sale happens.
In Greece, most programmes run through an affiliate network such as Linkwise, the country's first and largest, active since 2008, or through international networks and in-house platforms. The network handles tracking and payments; the programme design is still up to you.
That design is where most of the value is won or lost. Without clear rules, affiliates can take commission for customers who were already at your checkout. We build programmes that reward partners for bringing new customers, with tracking that works alongside your paid ads and analytics.
Do the maths
What does a new customer really cost?
Move the sliders to your numbers.
Commission looks cheap per sale. The real question is what you pay for a customer you would not have had otherwise.
0
Each affiliate sale costs 0 including the network fee. Divided by the share that are genuinely new customers, that is what you really pay for one, against 0 through ads.
Illustrative. Check your network's actual fee model; some charge a percentage of commission, some a monthly fee. Returns and cancellations should be excluded before commission is paid.
Partner types
Not all partners are equal.
The label shows who each type tends to reach. Every programme is different, which is why we measure it.
Articles and guides that compare and recommend. Usually reach people still deciding.
Reviews, tutorials and honest recommendations on social and YouTube, with clear disclosure.
Niche newsletters, communities and complementary businesses.
Shoppers comparing prices and features right before they buy.
Apps and portals that give money back. Popular, but many users would have bought anyway.
Codes found by people already at your checkout. The classic source of leakage.
Programme rules
The fine print that protects your margin.
Most leaks in affiliate programmes are rules that were never written down.
- Commission by customer type. Higher for new customers, lower or zero for existing ones, where your network supports it.
- Validated sales. Returns, cancellations and fraud removed before commission is approved.
- No paying twice. Clear de-duplication rules when the same sale also came through ads or email.
- Coupon policy. Exclusive codes per partner, and leaked codes deactivated.
- Brand-bidding rules. Affiliates may not bid on your brand name in search ads, so they do not intercept people already looking for you.
- Consent-aware tracking. Affiliate cookies are marketing cookies; tracking is set up to respect consent and still measure accurately.
Affiliate or ads?
Usually both, for different jobs.
How we work
Build it like a sales channel.
You get a clear timeline before we start.
Design
Commission model, rules, network or in-house platform, and the margin maths.
Recruit
The right partners, approached personally, with a clear media kit and offer.
Track and validate
Clean tracking, approved sales and on-time payments that keep partners loyal.
Optimise
More for partners who bring new customers; less, or nothing, for those who do not.
Related
Partners work better with the rest.
Tracking, creators and a site that converts their traffic.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is affiliate marketing?
A performance channel where partners promote your business and earn a commission for each sale or lead they send, tracked through links or codes.
Which affiliate network should we use in Greece?
Linkwise is the largest Greek network and a common choice for local brands. International networks or an in-house platform can suit brands selling abroad or wanting more control. We recommend based on your market and catalogue.
How much commission should we pay?
Enough to attract good partners and still leave margin. It depends on your margin, order value and how many affiliate customers are genuinely new. The calculator above is a good starting point.
What is coupon leakage?
When a customer already at checkout searches for a discount code, finds one on a coupon site, and the coupon site earns commission for a sale you would have made anyway.
Is affiliate marketing worth it for small shops?
Often yes, because you pay only for results. It takes time to recruit good partners, so it works best alongside other channels, not instead of them.
Can creators be affiliates?
Yes, and they are often among the best. They need a clear brief, fair commission and proper ad disclosure.
How do you avoid paying twice with ads?
With de-duplication rules agreed with the network and tracking that sees all channels, so the same sale is not credited to an affiliate and an ad at full price.
How much does affiliate management cost?
It depends on the size of the programme and the network. After a short call we send a transparent proposal.
Partners who bring new customers.
Tell us what you sell and who already talks about it. One real reply within 24 hours.