Affiliate Marketing

Build and scale SaaS affiliate programs that drive 20-50% of customer acquisition at 30-50% lower CAC.

Quick Start

1. Define Program → Choose commission model matching business stage
2. Select Platform → Pick tool based on scale and integration needs
3. Recruit Partners → Identify KOL/KOC aligned with ICP
4. Prevent Fraud → Implement multi-layer protection
5. Scale & Optimize → Track KPIs, iterate on performance

Commission Models

Platform Quick Reference

Key Metrics

• Conversion Rate: Target 3-5%
• EPC (Earnings/Click): $5-50 for SaaS
• CAC via Affiliate: 30-50% lower than paid
• Affiliate Retention: Target >70%
• Program ROI: 3:1 to 5:1 typical

References

Strategy & Design

• Program Structure - Commission models, tiering, cookie windows
• Platform Selection - FirstPromoter vs PartnerStack vs Rewardful

Partner Recruitment

• KOL/KOC Partnerships - Influencer identification, vetting, compensation
• Outreach Templates - Cold emails, proposals, onboarding

Operations

• Fraud Prevention - Detection, clawbacks, risk management
• Compliance & Legal - FTC disclosure, GDPR, contracts
• Case Studies - Dropbox, PayPal, Shopify, ConvertKit

Decision Tree

GOAL → STRATEGY
├─ Launch Program → FirstPromoter + 25% recurring + 10-20 affiliates
├─ Scale Revenue → Tiered commissions + content creators + KOC focus
├─ Enterprise → PartnerStack + agency partners + hybrid compensation
├─ Reduce Fraud → 90-day holds + vetting + clawback policies
└─ Optimize ROI → Track EPC + CLV attribution + retention bonuses

Quick Wins

1. Two-sided rewards - Both referrer AND referee get incentives (68% higher participation)
2. 90-day cookie - Industry standard for B2B SaaS sales cycles
3. Recurring commission - Aligns affiliate motivation with customer retention
4. Commission holds - 60-90 days matching refund window prevents fraud
5. Tier advancement - 20%→30%→40% based on performance

Report Output

Activate: assets-organizing skill for report file paths

Affiliate reports go to assets/reports/performance/{date}-affiliate-program.md

Anti-Patterns

TikTok Shop Affiliate (Vietnam Market)

TikTok Shop sử dụng mô hình CPS (Cost Per Sale). Creator quảng bá sản phẩm qua video/livestream, kiếm hoa hồng khi có đơn.

Commission Models (TikTok Shop)

Vietnam Platform Fees (2026)

WIN Product Scoring (100 points)

≥ 70 → Test | < 50 → Skip | Check NRR < 2x category average

Operational Rules

• 80/20: 80% proven products, 20% new tests
• Stop rule: 3 videos < 500 views OR conversion drops > 50%
• Spark Ads trigger: Organic > 10K views AND confirmed orders
• Post frequency: 2-3 videos/day, peak 11h-13h & 19h-22h
• Livestream: 2-3x/week, 3-tier products (loss-leader/mid/premium)

Content Strategy (5 Formats)

1. Unboxing — First impression, curiosity hook → follow CTA
2. Honest Review — 3 likes + 1 small dislike → trust building
3. Before/After — Visual proof, comparison → FOMO
4. Tutorial — Step-by-step + tips → save + share
5. Storyline — Personal story + product placement → viral

All scripts: HOOK (0-3s) → PROBLEM (3-8s) → SOLUTION (8-15s) → DEMO (15-40s) → CTA (40-60s)

TikTok-Specific KPIs

References

• TikTok Shop Vietnam Policies - Fees, compliance, CHR system