Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) represents the total amount of money a customer is expected to spend on a business's products or services during their entire relationship. This metric is crucial for determining appropriate customer acquisition costs and commission structures.
In SaaS affiliate programs, high CLV justifies higher commission rates and acquisition costs. Affiliates who deliver customers with high CLV are particularly valuable and may receive preferential treatment, higher commissions, exclusive promotional opportunities, or dedicated support resources.
CLV calculations consider factors such as average purchase value, purchase frequency, customer lifespan, churn rates, and expansion revenue. Advanced CLV models incorporate predictive analytics to identify which customer segments and acquisition channels produce the highest lifetime value, enabling more strategic affiliate partnerships.