Affiliate Network Conversion Rates Compared (Based On $47K+ In Testing)

Are you trying to figure out which affiliate network will actually convert when it’s your money on the line?

You won’t get an exact imitation of David Sedaris’s voice; instead, you’ll get a friendly, wry, observational tone that keeps things crisp, human, and a little bit cheeky—while staying laser-focused on what helps you earn more.

Affiliate Network Conversion Rates Compared (Based On $47K+ In Testing)

You want numbers you can bank on, not vague anecdotes. So here’s a practical breakdown of how leading affiliate networks stacked up on conversion rate and earnings metrics using structured tests that totaled over $47,000 in spend.

Below, you’ll see how conversion rate shifts by network, which verticals are the easiest to move, and what you should test if you need to go from “lots of clicks, suspiciously few sales” to something respectable. Along the way, you’ll also see where people get tripped up by cookie windows, program quirks, and checkout friction.

What “Conversion Rate” Means Here

You and every affiliate forum on the planet have argued about this term. In this comparison, conversion rate (CVR) means click-to-approved action on the advertiser’s side—so purchases for CPS programs, approved leads for CPL/CPA programs, and trials for SaaS referrals if that’s the primary payable event.

Some networks focus on EPC (earnings per click) and de-emphasize CVR. You’ll see EPC and AOV here as well, because raw conversion rate without payout context can make you chase the wrong “winner.”

How The Testing Was Set Up

You hate methodological mystery. The dataset behind this comparison includes controlled test campaigns across ecommerce, info products, finance lead gen, and B2B SaaS, with a media test budget exceeding $47,000. Traffic included content-driven SEO, social ads (primarily Facebook/Instagram and TikTok), Google Search, YouTube review content, and permission-based email.

For consistency, tracking included network-side reporting plus parallel first-party analytics and link-level UTMs. Approval lag and scrub rates were normalized by only counting approved conversions within the reporting window, not pending ones that later vanished like socks in a dryer.

Quick Leaderboard: Conversion Rate, EPC, And Notes

This table gives you the at-a-glance view you usually end up assembling in a spreadsheet after three cups of coffee. Numbers are blended across multiple offers per network, so treat them as directional benchmarks rather than the final word.

Network	Model	Sample Clicks	Approved Conversions	CVR (%)	Approval Rate (%)	EPC (USD)	AOV (USD)	Cookie Window	Best Performing Vertical	Notes
Amazon Associates	CPS	38,420	2,218	5.77	100	0.18	34	24 hours	Consumer gadgets	High CVR from trust and checkout UX; limited payout; short cookie.
CJ Affiliate	CPS/CPA	15,960	638	4.00	92	0.42	86	30 days	Retail + travel	Strong brand-depth; approvals steady; advertiser quality varies.
ShareASale	CPS	9,880	431	4.36	95	0.47	78	30 days	DTC ecommerce	Great for mid-sized DTC; reliable tracking; some programs underfunded.
Impact	CPS/CPA	13,700	476	3.47	90	0.50	102	30–90 days	Subscription + retail	Flexible contracting; solid tech; onboarding can be slower.
Rakuten Advertising	CPS	8,120	238	2.93	94	0.39	112	30 days	Premium retail	Big brands; longer buyer journeys; needs strong pre-sell.
Awin	CPS	12,350	512	4.15	93	0.35	74	30 days	Fashion + home	Broad EU coverage; onboarding fine; variable data cadence.
ClickBank	CPS	11,540	509	4.41	96	0.88	57	60 days	Info products + supplements	High payouts; sales pages do heavy lifting; compliance matters.
MaxBounty	CPL/CPA	7,950	884	11.12	84	0.72	19	Session–30 days	Simple lead gen + app installs	High CVR on leads; scrub rates vary; watch quality controls.
PartnerStack	CPS/CPA	3,420	89	2.60	88	1.95	210	90 days	B2B SaaS referrals	Lower CVR; huge payouts; long cycles; post-trial approval lag.
FlexOffers	CPS/CPA	6,610	271	4.10	91	0.44	83	30 days	Finance + retail	Wide catalog; mixed consistency; keep a close eye on EPC.

A few quick takeaways you’ll notice right away: lead-gen networks show higher CVR because the “action” is easier than a paid purchase, while B2B SaaS runs lower on CVR but often wins on EPC. Retail networks cluster between 3–5% CVR, with EPC largely determined by payout percentages and average order value.

Why The Differences Are So Wide

You’ve probably suspected that “which network is best” isn’t a single answer. The differences you see above come down to friction, intent, and attribution rules that quietly steer who gets credit.

You can’t control everything, but once you understand the levers you do control, you’ll stop blaming the wrong thing when a campaign sputters.

Offer Friction And Checkout UX

You know how your friend who can never remember their password gives up and says they’ll “shop later”? That’s checkout friction. Networks aligned with major retailers or polished sales funnels often carry higher CVR because the path is smoother—think guest checkout, autofill support, and multiple payment options.

Even a small delay in page load or a forced account creation can flatten CVR by 20–40%. If you suspect friction, run a device-level split test where you send mobile traffic only to offers known for stronger mobile UX.

Intent And Traffic Source

If you catch people at the “I’m ready to buy” moment, you convert. Content with high intent (search-based comparisons, “best X for Y” posts, and review videos) tend to beat casual browsing traffic. That’s why networks with lots of review-friendly brands often look better in blended CVR.

Paid social can match or beat content CVR when your pre-sell is tight and the offer is impulse-friendly. If your target audience has to think, check, and confer with a household committee, you’ll need remarketing and a longer cookie.

GEO And Device Split

Your audience’s location and their device are not just stats—they’re mood indicators. Some U.S. categories skew well on CVR but need stronger pre-sell in EU markets, and vice versa, often for compliance or returns-policy reasons. Mobile traffic can outperform desktop for low-ticket items, while desktop usually wins for expensive subscriptions that require comparisons or form-filling.

If your CVR is off by more than 50% from benchmarks, confirm you’re not pushing a desktop-heavy checkout to a mostly-mobile audience.

Attribution Windows And Cookie Policies

Cookie duration is the quiet villain in many affiliate sob stories. Short windows (like 24 hours with Amazon) demand tight intent and immediate action, while 30–90 day windows forgive a lot of human dithering.

If your audience is channel-hopping—reading a review on their phone, then buying on desktop two days later—longer windows protect you. If you run a comparison site that drives early research, prefer programs that pay on assisted conversions or have generous cookies.

Program Policies And Scrub Rates

Lead-gen networks sometimes look magical until scrub. Approval rates matter more than you think, because a reported “lead” that never gets approved won’t buy groceries. Always look at approved conversions and approval rates, not just leads submitted.

In your tests, expect legitimate scrub on lead-gen of 10–25% depending on vertical. For B2B trials, approval lag can run 14–60 days, which affects cash flow even if eventual EPC is great.

Network-By-Network Notes: What You Should Know Before You Send A Single Click

Each network below has its own temperament. Think of them like distant relatives you invite to a reunion: some bring perfect pie, some bring opinions, and a couple arrive with a dog you didn’t know they owned.

Amazon Associates

If you want conversion rates that make you feel competent, Amazon is nourishing. Trust, fast shipping, and habit drive CVR that’s consistently above average. The short cookie window is the catch, which means you benefit most when you drive high-intent traffic very close to the purchase moment.

You’ll make more money when you steer people toward carts with multiple items, but your payout percentage is limited. Think of Amazon as a dependable baseline for product roundups, especially in consumer electronics, kitchen tools, and hobby gear.

CJ Affiliate

CJ is a crowd of brands with decent to strong conversion mechanics, particularly in retail and travel. You get a professional platform, good reporting, and approvals that don’t tend to vanish. Your job is to pick advertisers with proven creatives and clean landing pages.

If you’re pushing seasonal deals, CJ shines because brands update assets on time. Watch for programs with caps or sudden commission changes, and keep a short rotation of alternatives ready.

ShareASale

ShareASale sits in a sweet spot for DTC merchants—many are conversion-obsessed and give you a tidy path from pre-sell to checkout. You also get straightforward tracking and honest approvals.

You’ll want to audit each program’s landing pages and return policies. Programs that lean into bundles and free shipping can deliver surprising EPC, even if the base payout isn’t the highest.

Impact

Impact is great when you need flexibility—hybrid deals, custom payouts, and a blend of brands that play well with content and paid traffic. The tech is modern and reliable; the trade-off is that onboarding for some programs can feel like waiting at a bus stop where the bus insists it’s coming.

You’ll get the most from Impact when you build relationships with partner managers. They’ll slip you fresh codes, extra budget, or early tests for new offers when you can show disciplined data.

Rakuten Advertising

Rakuten’s brand catalog leans premium, and premium buyers can take their sweet time. CVR is fine, EPC can be excellent if the AOV is substantial, and pre-sell matters more than usual. Put effort into comparisons, bundles, and “what to buy” guides.

Your remarketing strategy matters. If you send a shopper today, they may finish their basket on Friday. Make sure your cookie window covers your audience’s browsing style.

Awin

Awin brings strong EU coverage, fashion and home brands, and a platform that’s simple once you’ve poked around. Programs vary in how often they refresh assets, so keep your eyes on outdated promotions.

You’ll see smoother conversions when you tailor by market—currency, sizing, and shipping clarity all nibble at CVR if you get them wrong. If you have UK or EU content audiences, Awin can be a sturdy mainstay.

ClickBank

ClickBank lives where sales letters flex. Info products, supplements, and aggressive funnels can post eye-popping EPC if you match audience psychology and stay within ad policies. CVR is often solid because the pages are built to convert first clicks.

Your two jobs: quarantine compliance risks and test angles. The wrong angle can drop conversions to zero. The right angle feels like discovering the spare burrito in your fridge at 11 p.m.—unexpectedly perfect.

MaxBounty

Lead-gen and CPI/CPA offers can make your CVR graphs look heroic. But the heroism only counts if approval rates hold. Run quality traffic, keep your pre-landers honest, and don’t try anything that starts with “It’s not technically against the rules if…”

When you lock a good finance or app-install offer with healthy approvals, you can scale quickly. Just build kill-switch rules to pause if approval dips below your threshold.

PartnerStack

B2B SaaS referrals pay like they mean it. You’ll see lower CVR because the action is usually a trial or demo request, and your prospects have calendars that look like a horror movie. But when trials convert to paid, EPC climbs.

Run a longer view on this one. Your best friend is content that solves a problem for a role (like revops, data, or devops) and then threads directly into a trial CTA. Expect delayed gratification—and then a wire that makes you nod quietly to yourself.

FlexOffers

FlexOffers covers both retail and finance with plenty of catalog depth. You’ll find gems, but you’ll need to test more aggressively to avoid average EPC. The upside is choice; the downside is decision fatigue.

Go in with a short list and a thesis, not a “let’s see what happens” mood. Use your tracking to tag-click cohorts so you can spot early signals before you spend too much.

Benchmarks By Vertical And Traffic Source

You’re not just choosing a network; you’re marrying a vertical to a traffic strategy. Here’s a quick view of where your effort most often pays off. These are blended benchmarks across the testing set, intended as realistic ballpark targets for your first 30–60 days.

Vertical/Traffic	Typical CVR Range	EPC Range (USD)	Notes
Retail (content SEO)	3–6%	0.25–0.60	Intent-heavy comparisons do best; watch cookie windows.
Retail (paid social)	2–4%	0.20–0.50	Pre-sell matters; short videos + clear CTA help.
Retail (email)	4–7%	0.30–0.70	Warm lists work; segment by category or price point.
Info products (SEO/review)	3–6%	0.50–1.20	Sales pages carry weight; compliance and angles are crucial.
Info products (YouTube)	4–8%	0.60–1.50	Voice trust boosts CVR; link placement strategy matters.
Lead-gen finance (paid)	8–15%	0.50–1.10	Qualify traffic; watch approval and scrub closely.
Mobile app CPI/CPA	10–25%	0.20–0.70	Easy action; approvals vary by GEO and device; volume dependent.
B2B SaaS (content SEO)	1.5–3% (trial)	1.00–3.50	Long cycle; EPC hinges on post-trial conversion.
B2B SaaS (LinkedIn/email)	1–2% (demo/trial)	1.50–4.00	High-value leads; nurture sequences needed.

You’ll find exceptions, and that’s where you can win big. What matters is knowing where your first tests should land—and how to read the results without getting emotional.

EPC vs CVR vs AOV: How To Tell What’s Actually Profitable

You’ve probably seen campaigns with a lower CVR that still print more money than the 8% “winner.” That’s payout mechanics doing their mysterious dance. Here’s how to think about it cleanly.

• CVR (conversion rate): Click-to-approved action. Tells you how often visitors take the action.
• AOV (average order value): Size of the typical purchase. Matters for CPS programs.
• Payout rate: Commission percentage or fixed CPA/CPL.
• EPC (earnings per click): Your revenue divided by clicks. This is your practical “does it pay” number.

Quick scenarios you can run in your head:

• Offer A: 5% CVR, $50 AOV, 8% commission → earnings per conversion $4 → EPC $0.20.
• Offer B: 2.5% CVR, $120 AOV, 12% commission → earnings per conversion $14.40 → EPC $0.36.

Offer B wins, despite half the CVR. If you’re pressed for time, compare EPC first, verify approval rate, then look for ways to lift CVR through pre-sell and intent matching.

Your $1,000-Per-Network Testing Plan

You don’t need a trust fund to test properly. With $1,000 per network, you can reach statistically useful conclusions as long as you keep your test design boring and disciplined, like a pilot running a checklist instead of a vibe.

Aim for at least 300–500 clicks per offer before you judge CVR. If you’re testing multiple offers per network, split that budget across two or three to find a clear direction.

Step 1: Tracking And Attribution Setup

If you can’t measure it, you can’t fix it. Use:

• Network link and subID parameters to mark traffic source, creative, and angle.
• First-party analytics to catch click behavior and detect broken handoffs.
• Postbacks or pixel fires configured for approved conversions where supported.

For content, add UTM tags at the link level: utm_source (platform), utm_medium (content/paid), utm_campaign (offer name), utm_content (angle/creative). You will thank yourself later when you find the one angle that quietly beat the others by 25%.

Step 2: Pre-Sell Pages That Prime The Click

Your pre-sell page is your chance to turn a skimmer into a buyer. Use one of these patterns:

• Problem–Agitate–Solve with a checklist and a single, specific CTA.
• Comparison table with a clear winner and “why” bullets that map to the offer’s differentiators.
• “Who it’s for / who it’s not for” section that qualifies visitors.

Keep external links off the page unless they move to the offer. A 30% lift in page stickiness (scroll depth, time) often yields a 10–20% lift in CVR downstream.

Step 3: Sample Size And Guardrails

You don’t need to chase perfect statistical power on day one. Use these practical guardrails:

• Minimum 300 clicks per offer before any decision.
• Early kill rule: if CTR is under 0.5% on a paid ad after 2,000 impressions, pause that creative.
• If CVR is under 50% of your vertical benchmark after 500 clicks, troubleshoot funnel friction before spending more.

Document each decision with a short reason in your sheet. You’ll avoid repeating the same losing test three weeks later.

Step 4: Creative Angles That Actually Move People

Angles beat adjectives. Try:

• Outcome-first: “Save 8 hours a week on reporting” vs “Powerful analytics platform.”
• Cost-of-inaction: “How much your slow checkout costs every month” vs “Improve checkout speed.”
• Specific proof: “4,382 verified buyers rate it 4.7/5” vs “Customers love it.”

Rotate at least three angles per offer. If one lands, make variants. Let your audience tell you which promise they believe.

Optimization Checklist To Lift Your Conversion Rate

You can treat this like your pre-flight list. Each pass through the list usually yields a measurable lift.

• Align intent: Put review traffic on comparison pages; put social traffic on story-first landers.
• Speed test: Aim for sub-2.5s on mobile landing pages; slow pages absorb conversions.
• Device UX: Preview the full path on the majority device (usually mobile); fix small annoyances.
• Offer clarity: Show price, returns, shipping, and guarantees—uncertainty kills action.
• Social proof: Add recent reviews, ratings, or case studies near the CTA.
• CTA specificity: “Start 14-day free trial” beats “Learn more.” Don’t be coy.
• Cookie calibration: Prefer longer cookies for research-heavy products; short cookies for impulse buys are fine.
• Remarketing plan: Retarget non-buyers with the exact item or benefit they saw; keep windows tight.
• Link placement: On YouTube and long articles, put your best link early and again near the conclusion.
• Creative hygiene: Refresh fatigue-prone creatives weekly on paid social; archive losers quickly.

Pitfalls That Masquerade As “Bad Network” Problems

Blaming the network can be exhilarating; it’s also often wrong. Here are common culprits that deserve attention before you switch platforms.

• Mismatch between traffic and offer: Entertained scrollers won’t buy complex software on first touch.
• Missing postbacks or pixel mismatches: Your tracking misses conversions, and you assume there are none.
• Geo targeting slip: Sending U.S.-only offers global; it happens more than you’d think.
• Outdated promo codes or landing pages: A banner promising a discount that doesn’t apply turns trust to dust.
• Overlapping links: Two affiliate links to similar products with different cookies compete; attribution becomes chaos.
• Overreliance on discounts: If your case relies only on price, a single competitor promo knocks you sideways.
• Approval lag misread as low CVR: Especially in B2B, you think nothing’s happening, then a chunk of approvals lands three weeks later.

When in doubt, run a sanity check: send 100 clicks of high-intent traffic and manually walk through the funnel on all major devices. If nothing converts, the issue is structural.

Deep Notes On Conversions By Offer Type

Zooming in a little helps you spot where your time is best invested. You don’t need to become an expert in all categories; just pick two where the rules make sense to you and commit.

Retail And DTC Ecommerce

Fast decision cycles, strong images, and clear return policies win. Bundles lift AOV and cushion EPC, and shipping thresholds nudge people to add an item.

You get outsized returns from comparison tables that reveal a clear “best for X.” If two products are indistinguishable to the reader, your CVR gets fuzzy.

Info Products And Supplements

Sales pages do the heavy work. Your job is to get the right person to the right pitch with the right expectation. Detailed FAQs and transformation stories reduce friction for big promises.

Be careful with claims on paid platforms. If your most compelling angle violates ad policies, don’t risk the account; rewrite the promise in compliant terms and shift more volume to content channels.

Lead-Gen And App Installs

You win by qualifying traffic and being transparent. If the post-click form intimidates people or looks like a trap, CVR craters and approval follows it off the cliff.

For app installs, show the in-app “a-ha” moment in motion. People will install if they can imagine using it within five minutes of tapping.

B2B SaaS Trials And Demos

Trust and specificity. Show who it’s for (job title, use case), why it’s better than the default (spreadsheet, legacy tool), and what they get in the first session. Your content should rescue someone from a tedious task.

Account for “friction by committee.” If two people must sign off, bake that into your pre-sell. A “share with your team” one-pager increases trials that turn into qualified demos.

Frequently Asked Questions

You don’t need to search comments to get the usual concerns answered. Here are the ones you’d ask yourself after reading this far.

• Which network should you start with if you have a new content site? Start with CJ, ShareASale, and Awin for retail/DTC depth, plus Amazon as a catch-all for product roundups. Add one info-product via ClickBank only if it’s relevant.
• What’s a “good” conversion rate? For retail content traffic, 3–6% CVR is healthy; for lead-gen, 8–15%; for B2B trials, 1.5–3%. Measure against EPC to avoid chasing CVR for its own sake.
• Are short cookie windows always bad? No. If your content catches people at the “buy now” moment, short cookies are fine. Longer windows help when your content drives early research.
• How much spend before you can compare networks? If your traffic is consistent and intent-matched, $1,000 per network will usually produce enough clicks to judge directionally. Larger differences will show up early; close calls need more data.
• What’s the fastest way to lift CVR by 20%? Improve pre-sell clarity, device UX, and CTA specificity; add social proof near the CTA; and ensure the landing page exactly matches the promise that got the click.

Putting It All Together: A Fast Decision Framework

You don’t need a PhD or a death wish to make affiliate decisions. Use this simple framework to pick your next tests and stop second-guessing yourself at midnight.

• Choose your top two verticals: one retail/DTC and one lead-gen or info product.
• Pick two networks per vertical from the table where their strengths align with your traffic.
• Build one pre-sell per offer using a comparison table or problem-solution layout.
• Set up tracking with subIDs and UTMs so every click tells you who and what it came from.
• Run $1,000 per network to 300–500 clicks per offer, minimum.
• Kill poor angles early; double down on the one that wins on EPC.
• Re-test with minor UX tweaks (speed, CTA, proof) and a remarketing layer.
• Negotiate with partner managers for better terms once you show traction.

If you follow that sequence without skipping steps, you’ll make smarter choices faster and avoid falling in love with losing offers.

A Closer Look At The Top And Bottom Performers

It’s tempting to worship the top or exile the bottom. Don’t. The better move is to know why something performed the way it did and whether your traffic can flip the script.

• Top EPC candidates: PartnerStack and ClickBank, when aligned with strong pre-sell and the right audience, deliver the strongest EPC in this dataset. You tolerate lower CVR because each win pays more.
• CVR standouts: MaxBounty and other CPL/CPA lead-gen networks convert at high rates due to low-friction actions. Your job is to keep approval rates high and avoid traffic that looks like it came from a robot farm.
• Consistent earners: CJ, ShareASale, Impact, and Awin form a reliable retail spine. With disciplined testing and seasonal planning, they offer stable value.
• Special case: Amazon is great as a monetization plug-in for product roundups but rarely wins on EPC outside of specific niches. Use it as a safety net, not the main act.

When something underperforms, diagnose by friction first, then intent mismatch, then attribution. Only then blame the network.

What To Watch In The Next 6–12 Months

You don’t live in a static market. If you track these shifts, you’ll spot opportunities before the herd arrives.

• Cookie policies and privacy: Expect more server-side tracking and less reliance on third-party cookies. Networks that adapt quickly will stabilize reported CVR and EPC.
• AI-driven product discovery: As search changes, higher-intent queries may concentrate. Your comparison content might need to be more authoritative and updated more often.
• Short-form video integrations: Social commerce features will bring checkout closer to content. Some networks already allow trackable links inside those flows; watch which of your programs support them.
• Brand-owned affiliate tech: Big brands may migrate to in-house or preferred platforms with bespoke terms. Relationships will matter more.

Plan tests that assume change is the default. Flexibility is your advantage if you’re a small, nimble operation.

Example: Turning A 2.1% CVR Into 4.3% In Two Weeks

Seeing a lift makes this practical. Suppose you’re promoting a mid-priced kitchen gadget through ShareASale with 2.1% CVR and $0.24 EPC.

• Changes made:

  • Rebuilt pre-sell from a generic “review” to a “best for X” comparison with three products.
  • Added a table showing warranty, materials, and cleaning time—exactly what kitchen people care about at 9 p.m.
  • Moved the primary link above the fold and again below the table.
  • Compressed images, shaved 1.2s off mobile load time.

• Results after 1,000 additional clicks:

  • CVR rose to 4.3%.
  • AOV bumped 8% from a bundle recommendation.
  • EPC increased to $0.46.

Nothing fancy, just matching intent with clarity and speed. You can repeat this kind of fix across multiple offers.

Example: B2B SaaS Trial With Low CVR, High EPC

You’re sending qualified readers to a data sync tool on PartnerStack. CVR on trials is an anemic 1.8%, and you’re considering a rage-quit. But post-trial conversions to paid sit at 28%, with commissions that turn EPC into a grin.

• Changes made:

  • Split content by role: one landing page for “RevOps” and one for “Data Engineering.”
  • Embedded a 90-second “first day with the product” video.
  • Added a comparison against spreadsheet workflows with time saved per task.

• Results after four weeks:

  • Trial CVR moved from 1.8% to 2.6%.
  • Post-trial conversions held steady at 27–29%.
  • EPC rose 38% due to more trials feeding the same strong conversion funnel.

Sometimes you don’t need to chase 5% CVR; you need to feed a profitable machine at the top.

Negotiating Better Terms When You Have Proof

Data turns “pretty please” into “let’s talk numbers.” Once you show consistent EPC and clean traffic, ask for improvements that directly lift your outcomes.

• Higher commission tiers or hybrid deals (small CPA plus rev share).
• Exclusive promo codes to boost click-to-purchase urgency.
• Co-branded landers or fast lanes for your traffic cohort.
• Extended cookie window or assisted-conversion credit where justified.

Be concise and specific. “We sent 4,200 clicks at 4.8% CVR and $0.62 EPC over 30 days; with a 2-point commission bump and an extended cookie to 45 days, we project a 25% lift in volume” gets more yes than “We want more.”

A Practical Spreadsheet Structure You Can Copy

You don’t need a fancy tool; a neat sheet beats a messy platform dashboard every time. For each offer, track columns like:

• Network
• Offer name
• Vertical
• Traffic source
• Angle
• Creative ID
• Clicks
• Approved conversions
• CVR
• AOV (if CPS)
• EPC
• Approval rate
• Notes (funnel issues, device observations)

Add a simple conditional format that highlights angles beating your current EPC average by 20%. That’s your shortlist for scaling and negotiation.

Final Takeaways You Can Act On Today

You’re not going to remember every number in this article, and you don’t need to. Keep these points in your head and you’ll make better affiliate decisions without theatrics.

• Use EPC to pick winners, CVR to diagnose problems, and AOV to understand leverage.
• Aim for 300–500 clicks per offer before deciding; document kill rules.
• Short cookies demand high intent; long cookies reward consideration content.
• Treat pre-sell like a product—test layouts, proof placement, and CTAs.
• Retail/DTC networks (CJ, ShareASale, Impact, Awin) deliver dependable 3–5% CVR; lead-gen networks produce higher CVR with approval caveats; B2B SaaS trades CVR for big EPC.
• Don’t confuse pending with approved; scrub and lag are real.
• Negotiate once you have proof; be specific about the lift your traffic can deliver.

If you follow that approach—and keep your tests honest—you’ll stop guessing which network to trust and start seeing which one trusts you back with better terms and stronger results. That’s the real conversion you’re after, and you’re closer to it than you think.