Commission Strategy

Pay for Performance.
Protect Your Margin.

A flat commission rate is the least effective way to run an affiliate programme. It rewards every publisher the same regardless of the value they add. We build commission structures that incentivise the right behaviour, protect margin on high-value products, and give you levers to drive performance when you need it.

Commission structures
that align incentives.

We design commission frameworks that pay publishers fairly for the value they create, protect your margin on low-margin SKUs, and create performance incentives that drive the publisher behaviours you actually want.

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  • Commission rate benchmarking vs competitors
  • Margin analysis by product category
  • Publisher tier design and criteria
  • Performance escalator structure
  • Basket-level commission rules (exclude items, cap values)
  • New customer vs returning customer commission split
  • Seasonal and promotional rate management
  • Voucher code commission policy
  • Network commission interface configuration
  • Quarterly commission performance review

How it works

01

Margin Analysis

We work with your finance team to understand margin by product category and set commission ceilings that protect profitability. Affiliate revenue is only valuable if it's profitable revenue.

02

Benchmark

We analyse commission rates across competitor programmes and your publisher base to understand what rates are competitive without being excessive. Overpaying is as damaging as underpaying.

03

Design Tiers

We design a tiered structure with clear criteria: standard, silver, gold, and exclusive tiers based on revenue contribution, publisher quality, and strategic value. Each tier has different rates and benefits.

04

Implement & Monitor

We configure the structure in your network interface, communicate changes to publishers, and monitor the performance impact. Commission changes always include a 30-day monitoring window.

Common questions

What is a tiered commission structure?

A tiered structure pays different commission rates to different publishers based on their performance or value. A publisher driving £100,000 per month deserves a higher rate than one driving £1,000. Tiering aligns incentives and rewards the publishers who invest in your programme.

Should we pay different rates for new vs returning customers?

Almost always yes. New customers have higher lifetime value than returning ones. Paying a premium commission for new customer acquisitions incentivises publishers to target new audiences rather than recycling your existing customers.

How do we protect margin on sale items?

With basket-level commission rules. Most networks allow you to set different commission rates by product category, exclude sale items entirely, or cap commission on discounted orders. We configure these to protect your margin during promotions.

How often should commission rates change?

Structural changes quarterly at most. Tactical rate changes for promotions or publisher incentives can happen more frequently. Too many changes confuse publishers and damage relationships. Stability matters as much as optimisation.

Fix your commission
structure this quarter.

Share your current commission rates and we'll tell you what you're overpaying for and what changes would drive more revenue. No charge.