Affiliate marketing isn’t a traditional advertising model where you pay for clicks or impressions. Instead, it works purely on a performance basis – commissions are only paid when an actual sale or desired action takes place.

That’s why a “test” in the classic sense doesn’t really apply. There’s no risk of unnecessary costs, since payments are made only for real results. While other marketing channels involve fixed budgets and scatter loss, affiliate marketing is a long-term sales strategy.

Advertisers have two main options:

• Build their own sales team – which is time-consuming and expensive
• Or use affiliate marketing – where publishers generate leads and sales for a commission, without fixed costs

A simple “trial run” wouldn’t reflect the true power of the model. Its real impact only becomes visible when it’s seriously integrated into the overall marketing mix. So affiliate marketing is a strategic decision: ideal for those looking to grow reach and revenue without heavy upfront investment.

Bottom line: affiliate marketing can’t really be tested – but it’s still risk-free, because you only pay for real results.

Tip: Want to dive deeper into strategies? Check out the “Strategy Coaching” add-on.