Affiliate Manager Glossary: Terms and Definitions

This glossary covers the terms you will hit when setting up affiliate programs in Sparkforge. Keep it open while you build your first campaign.

Getting started

Affiliate

An individual or business that promotes a product or service and earns a commission on the sales or leads they generate. Also called a publisher, promoter, or affiliate marketer.

Affiliate campaign source

Where the products or services are listed for promotion — funnels, websites, ecommerce stores, calendars, surveys, or forms. The source determines how Sparkforge tracks sales back to the right affiliate.

Affiliate link

A unique URL that tracks clicks and conversions from a specific affiliate. Anyone who clicks the link and converts is credited to that affiliate.

Affiliate ID

A unique code Sparkforge assigns to each affiliate. The system uses it to track performance — sales, leads, clicks — across every campaign.

Affiliate campaigns

Campaign

A specific marketing effort to promote products or services to a target audience. Affiliates join campaigns to promote them to their own networks.

Default commissions

The percentage or flat fee paid to affiliates for each sale or lead in a campaign. Defaults apply across every product unless overridden.

Product-based commissions

Override commissions for specific products inside a campaign. Example: a 20% default with a 30% override on one product means the affiliate earns 30% on that product and 20% on everything else.

Setup fees

If you charge a setup fee, you can choose whether to include it in the commission calculation.

Performance and rewards

Attribution

The process of crediting an affiliate for a sale or lead so the reward goes to the right person.

Commission

The amount paid to an affiliate per sale or lead. Can be flat or percentage. Sometimes called rewards.

Recurring commission

Some products pay affiliates ongoing commissions on subscriptions or repeat purchases from the original referral.

Payout

The total earned by an affiliate, paid out based on attributed sales or leads.

Program structures

Two-tier program

Affiliates earn commissions on their own sales plus sales made by affiliates they recruit.

Multi-tier program

Sparkforge supports up to seven tiers, so affiliates can earn a percentage on sales by sub-affiliates across multiple levels.

Sub-affiliate

An affiliate working under a primary affiliate. The primary earns a commission on the sub-affiliate's sales.

Tracking and reporting

Cookie

A small file stored on a visitor's device when they click an affiliate link. Cookies enable accurate attribution across sessions.

Cookie length

How long the cookie stays active. A 30-day cookie credits the affiliate for any conversion within 30 days of the original click.

Clicks

The total times an affiliate link was clicked. A direct measure of campaign interest.

Managing affiliates

Affiliate Portal

The personalized dashboard where each affiliate tracks sales, leads, and commissions. Each affiliate has their own login.

Magic Link

A passwordless login URL that sends affiliates straight to their portal. Useful when onboarding new affiliates.

Leads and customers

Leads

Someone who shows interest — submits a form, books a calendar appointment — but has not yet purchased. Can also be added manually.

Customers

A lead becomes a customer once they purchase. Affiliates typically earn a commission at this conversion point.