Affiliate marketing is simple in theory. You recommend a product or service. Someone clicks your special link and buys. You get a cut of the sale. But how much do you make?
You earn money based on two things: the percentage you get and the price of the product. But when you have multiple products, platforms, and payout models, it gets trickier. Platforms like National Casino Online also use affiliate marketing to bring in new players and boost their outreach.
Commission rates are usually shown as percentages. This is where the math starts. When you promote a product with a 12% commission rate, and someone buys that product for $100, you earn:
12% of $100 = $12
Some programs pay flat fees instead. For example, "$25 per signup" or "$5 per lead." In that case, you skip the percentage and just track volume. Always check the terms. Some rates are based on net revenue (after refunds or fees), not total sales.
This part is where content creators often get confused. You might have five different affiliate programs. One pays monthly, another weekly. Some send payments in different currencies.
So, how do you keep it all straight? Create a simple spreadsheet. Include columns for:
This helps you calculate your monthly total income, but also shows which programs perform best over time.
EPC stands for Earnings Per Click. It shows how much money you earn each time someone clicks your link. Here's how to calculate it:
EPC = Total commissions earned ÷ Total number of clicks
So if you made $200 from 500 clicks:
$200 ÷ 500 = $0.40 EPC
A high EPC means your audience is engaged and your content is working. A low EPC? Time to rethink your strategy—or the product.
It’s not always about the first click. Many affiliate programs use cookies to track buyers. Some cookies last 24 hours. Others may last 30 days or more. If someone clicks your link but buys a week later, you still get paid—if the cookie is still active.
This is important because it affects your math. Longer cookie windows = more chances to earn. Shorter ones? You’ll need higher traffic to hit the same numbers.
Sometimes, people return what they bought. Or they cancel a subscription. When that happens, you may lose your commission. This is called a chargeback. If you earned $100, but $20 was returned, your actual payout is $80.
That’s why many affiliate platforms only pay you after a waiting period—usually 30 to 60 days—to cover potential returns. Always factor this into your earnings.
Some affiliate programs offer two-tier commissions. You earn money when someone buys a product and when they become an affiliate and earn commissions themselves. It’s a bit like a referral bonus. Let’s say Jane clicks your link, signs up, and starts promoting.
She earns $500 in commissions next month. The program gives you 10% of her earnings. That’s $50 for you, all because you brought her in. Not all programs offer this, but it can seriously boost your income if you have a large audience.
This all depends on understanding the math behind it. From there on, you can scale better and smarter.
Let’s say your EPC is $0.50 and your blog gets 2,000 clicks a month. That’s about $1,000 in affiliate income. If you can double your traffic or boost your EPC to $1.00, you’ll make $2,000 per month instead.
But don’t just focus on clicks. Focus on clicks that convert. Look at your top products. See which links get the most action. You have to keep track of what is working, so you can do more of those. Affiliate marketing is not just about traffic. It’s about optimized traffic.