Impressions and raw clicks are vanity metrics; the KPIs that map to profit are cost per acquisition (CPA), which connects spend to real customers acquired through a given affiliate; return on ad spend (ROAS), revenue per dollar of commission and related cost; customer lifetime value (CLV) by affiliate, which separates sources of loyal high-value customers from one-time bargain hunters; and conversion rate (CR), read by affiliate, source, or content to show where the funnel runs clean. A KPI framework only works when it’s wired to strategy — metrics disconnected from goals produce optimization without direction.
Full guide → KPIs and Attribution Models for Affiliate Marketing


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