Affiliate Network:
- An intermediary between an affiliate and merchant. For merchants, it offers tracking technology, reporting tools, payment processing and access to affiliates. For affiliates, it offers a one-click application to merchants, reporting tools and payment aggregation.
The big networks out there are Commission Junction, Rakuten LinkShare, and ShareASale. Most affiliates are members of more than one network to gain access to the best deals and a variety of merchants. Merchants typically stick to one network with some exceptions in the interest of simplicity.
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Glossary Definition From ABC’s of Online Marketing by Alexandra Wharton, Issue 22, Revenue Magazine
