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Key takeaways
- An affiliate promotes another brand's products or services and earns commission on eligible sales or actions.
- To become an affiliate with Commission Factory, you need a live, public website or social account and a clear plan for how you'll promote brands.
- Affiliate membership is free. The application includes a refundable AU$5 card verification and takes up to three business days to review.
- Once you're approved, you apply to individual advertiser programs, publish your tracking links, and track your results in your account.
Want to earn commission from your content, recommendations, or online audience? Becoming an affiliate lets you connect people with brands that suit them, and earn from the eligible sales or actions you generate.
At Commission Factory, we help you build those connections. Our free affiliate membership brings brand partnerships, tracking, and reporting together in one platform.
Whether you run a blog, create social content, or manage a publishing business, here's how to become an affiliate and get started with us.
What is an affiliate?
An affiliate is a person or business that promotes another brand's products or services in return for commission on eligible results. You may also hear affiliates called publishers or affiliate partners.
You introduce your audience to a brand through your website, social content, or another approved channel. The brand you promote is called the advertiser.
For example, you might publish a home styling guide featuring products from a retailer you partner with. When readers follow your affiliate tracking links and make qualifying purchases, you earn commission.
The advertiser handles the purchase and fulfilment. Your role is to help your audience find products or services that suit their needs.
How does affiliate marketing work through Commission Factory?
We connect you with advertisers and give you the tools to track referrals and review results. There are five main stages:
- Join our network. Apply with details about yourself and where you plan to promote brands.
- Apply to advertiser programs. Find brands that suit your audience and review their terms.
- Access your tracking links. Once an advertiser approves you, get your links and any promotional assets.
- Promote through approved channels. Build relevant recommendations into your content or other approved activity.
- Earn commission on eligible results. Follow your transactions through validation and payment in your account.
Each advertiser sets its own commission rates, tracking period, and program restrictions. A tracked sale must pass validation and payment before you receive commission.
What types of affiliates are there?
Affiliates reach customers in different ways. Your approach might centre on content, offers, rewards, or technology. Here's where your activity might fit.
Content creators and bloggers
If you publish reviews, tutorials, or buying guides, you can add affiliate links to relevant products. A travel blogger, for example, could help readers choose luggage and link to retailers they're approved to promote.
Influencers and social media creators
If you have an engaged social audience, you can introduce followers to brands through demonstrations, styling ideas, and recommendations. Your affiliate links connect eligible results to your activity.
Editorial and media publishers
Online publications can build affiliate partnerships into shopping articles, product roundups, and specialist coverage. A technology publisher might compare headphones and link to relevant retailers.
Comparison and deal publishers
Comparison publishers help people assess products, prices, or services. Deal and voucher publishers help shoppers find offers. Both need to follow each advertiser's rules on approved promotions.
Cashback and loyalty partners
These partners reward customers for shopping through their platforms. Depending on their model, they share commission as cashback or offer points and other rewards.
Technology partners
Some partners use technology to help customers discover products or complete purchases. These often involve more specialised integrations and commercial arrangements.
You may use more than one approach. When you apply, what matters is that you clearly explain your channels and how you'll promote advertisers. For a wider look, see how different partner types support a marketing strategy.
What do you need before you apply?
You need a live, public promotional channel and clear details about how you'll use it. That helps us review your application quickly.
Your traffic source is the website, social account, or other channel you use to send visitors to an advertiser. Before you sign up, have these ready:
- A live, public channel. Websites must be developed and accessible. Social accounts must be public, not private or in a closed group.
- Accurate details. Double-check your contact email and traffic source URLs.
- Verifiable website ownership. Use an email linked to your domain or clearly listed on your website.
- A clear description. Explain your audience and how you plan to promote advertisers.
- The correct site type. Choose the option that best describes your activity.
For example: "I publish home styling guides for Australian readers and plan to feature relevant retailers through product recommendations."
Read our affiliate application tips before you submit.
How do you sign up as a Commission Factory affiliate?
Signing up takes five steps. The application collects what we need to review your account and promotional channels.
1. Start your application
Visit our affiliate membership page, select the option to create your free account, and choose to sign up as an affiliate.
2. Enter your contact and billing details
Add your contact information and accept our privacy policy and affiliate terms. Then complete the billing and tax details for your circumstances.
3. Add your traffic source
Add at least one website, or connect a supported social media account, where you plan to promote advertisers.
4. Complete card verification
The application includes an AU$5 card pre-authorisation for verification. It's refunded within seven working days of our Publisher Team processing your application.
5. Submit for review
Submit your application and allow up to three business days for review. We'll email you the outcome, so check your inbox and junk folder. If you're approved, follow the email prompts to set up your account.
Our step-by-step affiliate application guide has more detail.
How do you start generating affiliate sales?
Once you're approved, set up your account, connect with relevant advertisers, and put your links to work. Joining our network doesn't enrol you in every advertiser program, and your sales depend on your promotions.
1. Complete your profile and payment details
Tell advertisers who you are, who you reach, and how they can work with you. Complete your company and publisher summary, keep your website and social channels up to date, and describe your promotional methods.
If you have a media kit, upload it to show your audience, reach, and available placements. A media kit is a short overview of your publishing business and the promotional opportunities you offer.
Add your billing and payment information so you're ready to receive eligible commission. Turn on multi-factor authentication for extra account security.
2. Find relevant brands and apply
Browse the advertiser marketplace and review each program. Consider audience fit, commission rates, tracking periods, and restrictions. Check that the advertiser accepts your planned promotional method.
Apply using the approved traffic sources you plan to promote through. Advertisers review their own applications, so response times vary.
3. Publish your first promotion
Access your tracking links and available creative assets. Use them in relevant content or approved activity, and make your affiliate relationship clear to your audience.
Start with a useful recommendation that suits your channel. A home styling creator, for example, could publish a small-space furniture guide featuring products from an approved retailer, with links to the relevant product pages.
Explain why each product is relevant, then give your audience a clear next step. Check that your links go to the right pages and that any offers are current.
4. Showcase opportunities for advertisers
If you have placements to offer, list them in our Opportunities Marketplace so advertisers can see how to work with you. A placement could be a newsletter feature, website position, or social promotion.
In your dashboard, go to Opportunities > Marketplace and select Add New. Include the placement type, availability, and commercial terms. Then set its visibility and which advertisers can apply.
Use the Applications tab to review advertiser interest, and keep your listings current. A listing is an extra way to build partnerships, but it doesn't promise a booking or sale.
5. Track results and build on what works
Use Custom Reporting to monitor clicks, transactions, sales value, and commission. Compare advertisers and time periods to see which partnerships drive results.
Getting clicks but no sales? Check that the product, offer, and landing page match what your audience expects. If a partnership performs well, look for another relevant way to feature it.
Our new affiliate guide covers the platform basics. If you need help with setup, placements, or reporting, our Publisher Development team can support your next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is Commission Factory affiliate membership free?
Yes. Affiliate membership is free. The application includes a refundable AU$5 card verification amount.
Can I become an affiliate without a website?
Yes. You can apply with a supported social media account, as long as it's public and meets our review requirements. Individual advertisers may restrict which channels they accept.
You can also promote brands through other channels, such as email marketing and online communities, where an advertiser allows it. Learn more about affiliate marketing without a website.
Should I apply as an affiliate or an advertiser?
Choose affiliate membership if you want to promote other brands and earn commission. If you want partners to promote your own products or services, explore our advertiser options.
Can I promote every brand once I join?
No. You need approval for each advertiser program you want to promote. Every advertiser has its own terms and application process.
How long does the affiliate application take to review?
Allow up to three business days. We'll email you the outcome, so check your inbox and junk folder.
Become an affiliate with Commission Factory
Your content and audience could be the start of your next brand partnership. Prepare your channel, tell us how you'll promote advertisers, and take the first step towards earning commission.