Affiliate Program
TL;DR – An affiliate program is a structured arrangement run by an advertiser that allows publishers to earn commissions by promoting the advertiser’s products or services. It defines the rules of the partnership — what to promote, what earns a commission, how much is paid, and how long it lasts. Every brand on Involve Asia runs an affiliate program. Joining one is how publishers start earning.
What Is an Affiliate Program?
An affiliate program — also called a partner program or referral program — is the formal structure an advertiser puts in place to recruit, manage, and pay publishers who promote their brand. It sets out all the terms of the relationship: the commission model, the payout rate, the qualifying action, the permitted promotion methods, and the rules publishers must follow.
Think of an affiliate program as the advertiser’s side of the affiliate marketing arrangement. When a publisher joins an affiliate program, they are agreeing to promote the brand under those defined terms in exchange for commissions on results they deliver.
Affiliate programs can be run in two ways:
- Through an affiliate platform (like Involve Asia)
- The advertiser lists their program on a platform that handles tracking, publisher management, link generation, and payouts. Publishers find and join the program through the platform’s Advertiser Directory.
- In-house (direct)
- The advertiser builds and manages their own affiliate program independently — recruiting publishers directly, running their own tracking, and processing payouts themselves. In-house programs exist outside of affiliate platforms.
Most affiliate programs in Southeast Asia — including those from Shopee, Lazada, Zalora, Sephora, and hundreds of other brands — are available through Involve Asia, making it the most efficient place for publishers to discover and join programs across the region.
What Does an Affiliate Program Define?
Every affiliate program sets the terms that govern the publisher-advertiser relationship. A well-structured program defines:
| Element | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Commission model | CPS, CPA, CPL, CPI, CPUC — what type of action earns a commission |
| Commission rate | The exact payout — percentage of sale or fixed fee per action |
| Cookie duration | How long after a click can a conversion still be attributed to the publisher |
| Qualifying action | Exactly what the user must do — buy, sign up, install, submit, click |
| Validation period | How long the advertiser takes to review and approve conversions |
| Payment terms | When approved commissions are paid after validation |
| Promotion methods | Which channels are permitted — blog, social media, email, paid ads, etc. |
| Restricted methods | What is explicitly prohibited — brand keyword bidding, incentivised traffic, etc. |
| Campaign countries | Which geographic markets the program operates in |
| Creative assets | Banners, copy, product images, and campaign materials available to publishers |
| Approval type | Instant Apply (automatic) or manual review (up to 2 business days) |
Reading and understanding all of these elements before joining a program is essential. The terms — especially promotion method restrictions and geographic eligibility — directly determine whether your commissions will be approved or rejected.
Related Terms: Affiliate Offer · Advertiser · Commission Model · CPS (Cost Per Sale) · Cookie Period · Validation · Deeplink
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