Types of Affiliate Marketing: Definition And Examples

Introduction

Affiliate marketing has become a vital strategy for businesses looking to expand their reach without hefty advertising costs. It enables companies to collaborate with affiliates who promote their products or services in exchange for a commission. But did you know there are different types of affiliate marketing?

In this blog, we’ll explore the major types of affiliate marketing, break down how each one works, and share practical examples—so you can choose the right model for your brand or career.

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based digital marketing strategy where a brand partners with individuals or organizations (affiliates) to promote its products. Affiliates earn a commission for each sale, lead, or action generated through their unique referral link.

This model benefits all parties:

• Advertisers gain more traffic and sales.

• Affiliates earn money by recommending products they trust.

• Customers discover valuable products through trusted voices.

Definition: The affiliate has no personal connection to the product or service they promote.
How It Works: They rely mainly on paid ads (Google Ads, native ads, etc.) to drive traffic to the product landing page.
Example: A digital marketer runs PPC ads for a skincare product without ever using it personally.

Trending Use in 2025: Marketers now combine AI-driven ad testing with this model to optimize ROI faster.

Definition: The affiliate promotes products that are relevant to their niche or audience but may not have personal experience using them.
How It Works: These affiliates use blogs, YouTube, or social media platforms to recommend relevant products.
Example: A travel blogger linking to luggage or booking sites without having used every item/service.

2025 Trend: Influencers use affiliate links in carousel posts or story highlights with disclosures and UTM tracking.

Definition: The affiliate has tried and tested the product or service and creates content based on personal experience.
How It Works: They offer reviews, tutorials, or case studies, providing more credibility and authenticity.
Example: A tech YouTuber reviewing a laptop they’ve used, with affiliate links in the video description.

Trending Insight: With authenticity ranking higher in 2025’s algorithms, this method often yields higher conversion rates.

Affiliates earn a commission for every specific action (signup, form submission, etc.), not just sales.

Affiliates generate leads (like email subscriptions) and are paid per verified lead.

Affiliates earn a percentage of every sale made through their link, common in SaaS or subscription services.

• Amazon Associates: Thousands of content creators earn commissions by promoting Amazon products through reviews, blog links, or shopping guides.

• Shopify Affiliate Program: Entrepreneurs and influencers promote Shopify’s tools to their network and earn for every user sign-up.

• Skillshare & Coursera: Educators recommend online courses and earn per enrollment.

• Choose unattached marketing if you excel in ad strategy and analytics.

• Opt for related marketing if you have a niche audience but limited product access.

• Use involved marketing if you value transparency and long-term audience trust.

The ideal type depends on your content style, marketing channel, and audience engagement.

Affiliate marketing in 2025 offers immense flexibility and income potential. By understanding the different types—unattached, related, and involved—you can better align your strategy with your goals and audience preferences. As algorithms evolve and trust becomes a key metric, authenticity and smart data use will define affiliate success.

Whether you're a brand or a budding affiliate, knowing these distinctions will help you thrive in the ever-competitive affiliate ecosystem.