What is Affiliate Marketing?
Synonyms:
| Category | Chinese | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal Term | Affiliate Marketing | Affiliate Marketing | |
| Common Term | 分销体系 | Affiliate System | |
| Slang/Jargon | 推广 | Trader / Trafficker | |
| Slang/Jargon | 拉人 | Trader / Trafficker | Informal |
Definition
Affiliate marketing refers to a business cooperation model in which third-party promoters introduce users to a platform through various channels and earn income based on the value generated by those users (such as initial deposits, turnover, or wins/losses).
Mechanism
The essence of affiliate marketing in the gambling industry is not "promotion," but rather a "Traffic Outsourcing + Revenue Sharing" model.
1. Complete Funnel Structure
Traffic → Registration → First Deposit → Turnover → Win/Loss → Commission Split
2. Three Core Settlement Models
CPA（Cost Per Acquisition）
-
- Paid per "First Deposit User"
- Characteristics:
- 风险在平台
- 投手/代理快速回本
RevShare (Revenue Share)
-
- Commission based on player's long-term win/loss
- Characteristics:
- Risk lies with the agent.
- Higher long-term potential returns.
Hybrid (Mixed Model)
-
- CPA + RevShare
- Balances short-term cash flow with long-term earnings.
3. Data Tracking Mechanism
Affiliate marketing relies on a tracking system:
- Affiliate ID
- Tracking Link
- Cookie / Server Tracking
The Essence: Determination of user attribution.
Key Points
- Traffic sources are highly fragmented.
- Platforms cannot fully control the quality of traffic.
- Agent systems can easily evolve into "gray market structures."
Common Misconceptions
| Misconception | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|
| Affiliate marketing is just a promotion channel | Essentially, it is a growth model |
| All affiliate traffic is controllable | Highly uncontrollable |
| Revenue sharing is definitely more profitable | Depends on player quality |
| Affiliate = Legal | Some structures are gray or even illegal |