Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model where a business rewards an affiliate for each customer brought to the business through the affiliate’s marketing efforts. The affiliate earns a commission for each sale made as a result of their marketing efforts.

Here’s how it works:

1. The business, also known as the advertiser, signs up with an affiliate network or sets up its own affiliate program.
2. The affiliate, also known as the publisher, signs up with the affiliate network or applies to the advertiser’s affiliate program.
3. The affiliate receives a unique affiliate link or code to promote the advertiser’s products or services.
4. The affiliate promotes the products or services through their website, blog, social media, email marketing, etc.
5. When a customer clicks on the affiliate link and makes a purchase, the sale is tracked and recorded.
6. The affiliate earns a commission, which is a percentage of the sale price, for the sale they generated.

Examples of affiliate marketing in action:

1. A fashion blogger writes a review of a new dress and includes a link to purchase the dress on Amazon. If a reader clicks on the link and makes a purchase, the blogger earns a commission.
2. A travel blogger writes a review of a hotel and includes a link to book a room on Booking.com. If a reader clicks on the link and makes a reservation, the blogger earns a commission.
3. A tech blogger writes a review of a new laptop and includes a link to purchase the laptop on Best Buy. If a reader clicks on the link and makes a purchase, the blogger earns a commission.

Affiliate marketing is a win-win scenario for both the advertiser and the affiliate. The advertiser benefits from increased sales and exposure, while the affiliate earns a commission for their marketing efforts.