Find the event the attribution window tracks
A cookie window might measure time from a click to a purchase, or from a click to a signup that later becomes a paying account. These rules cannot be compared by duration alone. Ask what starts the window, what completes it and whether a later click from another affiliate changes the credited publisher.
Keep signup attribution and commission duration separate. For example, a signup can be attributed within a limited window while eligible later payments continue to generate rewards. “Lifetime” describes a stated commission period; it does not make every visitor permanently attributable from the first click.
Cross-device behavior, consent, browser settings and the provider’s tracking implementation can affect attribution. This directory does not measure tracking accuracy or promise that a cookie will survive for its entire advertised duration. Where the source is silent, treat the issue as a question for the provider.
Permission to join is not permission to use every channel
Read the rules for the channel you actually plan to use: search content, social posts, email, paid ads, coupons or incentives. The absence of a published prohibition is not evidence that a channel is allowed. “Conditional” can mean prior approval, restricted keywords or a requirement to send visitors through your own website.
Paid search often needs a separate check for brand bidding, misspellings, direct linking and use of trademarks in ad copy. A provider may allow paid ads with restrictions, or prohibit them. Read the specific policy rather than assuming a rule from another program applies.
Publish content that helps the reader make a decision
For organic search, show the reader the task, product fit, tradeoffs and exact limits of your knowledge. A hands-on tutorial is useful when it contains real testing. A comparison is useful when its criteria match the reader’s situation. Copying a provider’s description and adding a link gives the reader little reason to choose your page.
Put a clear commercial disclosure near relevant links. On this site, a configured partner link is marked as an affiliate link and the source references remain available separately. The commission relationship does not determine the selection order, and we do not label a program “best” based on its payout.
Avoid presenting modeled earnings as measured performance. If you show an estimate, state its inputs and assumptions. Actual clicks, approved conversions and paid commissions are separate measurements; use your own campaign data before making decisions about profitability.
Keep a dated record of the rules you rely on
Save the official policy URL, the date reviewed and any written approval for your planned channel. When public sources conflict, ask the provider which applies to your account. A changed rate or a blocked page should prompt review; it does not establish that a program is closed.
Our sourced examples show that a long cookie, a recurring reward and paid-channel permission are three independent facts. Read each row with its date and source. Check current terms again before investing in content production or paid promotion.
- What event is tracked, and within what window?
- Which attribution model applies, and can another click replace mine?
- Is my specific traffic channel allowed or subject to approval?
- Are brand bidding, direct linking, coupons or incentives restricted?
- Which current source or written permission supports the answer?