CPA vs. Affiliate Marketing: Which is Right for You?

If you are jumping into the world of affiliate marketing, you’ve likely come across the concept of CPA marketing in your research. So, what is it exactly? Should you be considering trying CPA marketing as well? Both CPA and affiliate marketing are types of marketing models. Still, there are some key differences in CPA vs affiliate marketing to consider when deciding the right focus for your efforts.

Affiliate Marketing Explained

Affiliate marketing is an online marketing model that revolves around an affiliate promoting a product or service in exchange for a commission based on sales. If you’re considering joining the industry, it’s essential to know what an affiliate marketer is called in technical terms: a publisher.

Here is a basic breakdown of what a publisher does in the affiliate marketing process:

1. Chooses and extensively researches a niche (a specialty within the market like finance, lifestyle, beauty, etc.).
2. Applies to be an affiliate with a company that sells good products within their niche. For example, if your niche is finance, you’d partner with finance-related products or services, like Round Sky’s affiliate program offers.
3. Once approved, the publisher receives a unique affiliate link to a product or services page.
4. The publisher then promotes the product via ads, websites, social media, etc., and shares their affiliate link.
5. A commission goes to the affiliate marketer or publisher whenever a user uses that link to buy something.

CPA Explained

CPA marketing is a type of affiliate marketing but is very different in practice. So what does CPA stand for in affiliate marketing? CPA is most commonly known as cost per action but is commonly referred to as cost per acquisition. A publisher is still used as a middleman for promoting a brand for this marketing method. However, the marketing goal can extend beyond just a sale—The goal is ultimately action.

Whether the action is simply getting clicks, joining a mailing list, or downloading a guide varies by company. CPA marketing is sometimes considered easier because this goal is easier to meet; people are much more willing to download free material than buy something new on a whim. However, just because it is easier on paper doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice for publishers looking to make an income.

Key Differences to Understand

Now that you know the basic difference between them, there are many questions to consider. Is affiliate marketing worth the hype? How much can you earn from CPA marketing? Do you need a website for CPA marketing? Here’s everything you need to know when considering CPA vs. affiliate marketing:

Earnings

Since CPA marketing doesn’t rely on a sale, commissions are much lower than what you would receive as a traditional affiliate marketer. The mode of how you make money is very different, so the pay will naturally reflect that. So, if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, CPA is a good route for a little bit of extra cash with less effort required.

Websites and Workload

While CPA doesn’t necessarily need a website for success, affiliate marketing does. With CPA, running ads or posting on social media is usually sufficient, as you’re not convincing consumers to spend their money on something.
Keep in mind that there will be more initial work like website creation, click-funnel setup, and market research. If you want the best of both worlds, you don’t have to choose. You can do both! However, if you want to make a full-time living as a publisher, affiliate marketing is the way to go.

Work Style

If you want to work solo with no management or overhead, affiliate marketing is a better fit than CPA. With CPA marketing, there are usually interview processes required to get started. Once you’re in, you can communicate with managers and staff in the CPA network, depending on the company. This can be a big turn-off for people looking for a side hustle.

Try Affiliate Marketing with Round Sky

Now that you know which marketing model is a good fit, don’t waste time. Round Sky has the top paying affiliate program and it’s easy to join. Check out Round Sky today!