Glossary / Definition
Merchant.
A company or individual who sells products or services and runs an affiliate program.
The merchant, also known as the advertiser or retailer, is the business that offers products or services for sale and creates affiliate programs to enlist affiliates to promote their offerings. Merchants range from small businesses to large enterprises across various industries including SaaS, e-commerce, financial services, and digital products.
Merchants benefit from increased exposure and sales through their affiliate partnerships while gaining access to new customer segments and marketing channels. They provide marketing materials, track performance, manage affiliate relationships, handle commission payments, and ensure program compliance.
Successful merchants invest in affiliate support, training, relationship building, and program optimization. In the SaaS industry, merchants often focus on building long-term partnerships with affiliates who understand their target market and can effectively communicate the value proposition to qualified prospects.
Related terms
- Affiliate An individual or company that promotes products for a merchant in exchange for a commission.
- Affiliate Marketing A performance-based marketing strategy where affiliates earn commissions by promoting a merchant's products or services.
- Affiliate Network A platform that connects merchants with affiliates to facilitate affiliate marketing partnerships.
- Affiliate Program A system where a merchant rewards affiliates for driving traffic or sales through their marketing efforts.
- Commission The fee paid to an affiliate for generating a specific action, like a sale or lead.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR) The percentage of people who click on an affiliate link compared to those who view it.
Set the deal. We'll go get the affiliates.
The software is free and the network is open to you for 30 days. When you want us pitching publishers for you, move to Scale.