Referral program

A referral program is a reward system in which a company or service pays compensation for bringing in new users. The partner receives a unique link, shares it, and earns a bonus if someone performs a target action. Most CPA networks and affiliate programs use this approach to grow their audience in a way that benefits everyone in the chain: the arbitrageur, the network itself, and the referred user.

How it works: from link to payout

Affiliates register in the program, receive a unique link, and share it with their audience. When the system tracks the action, the affiliate gets a reward. The target action may be registration, page views, clicks, or form submissions. Affiliates "weave" the link into their content, creating a valuable resource that offers bonuses or promo codes. This way, everyone wins.

Such programs often have a multi-level system. The partner earns a percentage not only from referrals but also from those brought in by their referrals (this is called the "second line" or "sub-affiliates"). Some programs even have whole tiers for referrals of levels 1, 2, and 3, with each stage having its own bonus policy.

How do affiliate programs track who brought the user?

Programs use UTM tags and IDs in links (for example: ?ref=affcatalog), cookies, fingerprinting, trackers, and promo codes. Each arbitrage specialist who uses the program's link is assigned their own ID, ensuring they cannot miss it.

How to turn a referral program into a source of income?

It's essential not just to show the link to your audience but to make it a helpful resource. It's best to choose the program wisely, so its niche matches the promoted content. Next, traffic sources (content, arbitrage, social media, Telegram, or YouTube). The audience should see the product's value and get motivated by bonuses, guides, or promo codes. Constant analysis will boost the effectiveness.