An affiliate marketing program is a marketing strategy in which a brand partners with a third-party called publishers, or affiliates, to promote its products or services in exchange for a commission on sales.

Since the onset of economic uncertainties brought on by the global pandemic, marketers have been asked to optimize their program spend and reduce unnecessary expenditure. What classifies as unnecessary is the subject of heated debate. One thing everyone agrees on, however, is that you shouldn’t pay commissions to affiliates who don’t abide by your affiliate program rules and who aren’t driving incremental revenue.