How brands work with creators on a performance basis

What is performance-based influencer marketing?

In a traditional influencer deal, a brand pays a fee for a post, whatever it sells. In a performance-based deal, the brand pays commission when a tracked sale is approved.

That shifts the risk. The brand pays for results, and creators are rewarded for the sales they actually drive.

Why do brands pay on results?

• Spend follows sales. Commission is paid on approved sales, so returns and cancelled orders are usually declined.
• Less outreach. On CreatorLounge, an offer published once is available to every approved creator, with no contracts or onboarding per partner.
• Clear reporting. Clicks and sales are reconciled against the brand's own affiliate network.

How do you connect an existing Awin, Impact or CJ programme?

CreatorLounge is not a replacement for your affiliate network. It sits on top of it, and sales keep reconciling on your network on your normal terms.

In the brand portal, go to "Affiliate accounts" and choose "Add Account". You enter your network details by hand, such as your advertiser ID, click URL and default commission. There is no one-click sign-in to a network, and an admin approves the connection.

For Awin, search for CreatorLounge as a publisher using Publisher ID 822891. For Impact, CJ or any other network, contact partnerships@creatorlounge.io.

The For Brands page describes three steps: connect your network, set your offers and geo-targeting, then approved creators add your offers to their lounges. Offers without geo-targeting stay hidden until it is set.

How do codes and tracking work?

Every creator click goes through CreatorLounge, where bot traffic is filtered out, and then on to your affiliate network with the creator identified, so the sale is credited to the right person. Each click carries the creator's username and a private creator tracking ID: clickref and clickref2 on Awin, SubId1 and SubId2 on Impact, and sid on CJ.

Offers can carry:

• A single shared code on the offer.
• A pool of unique codes, so each shopper gets a different one.
• No code, just a tracking link to an existing promotion.

Offers can be always-on or run between set dates. You can add, pause or remove offers in your brand portal, so expired codes do not linger in creators' lounges. Your brand dashboard shows figures such as Clicks, Sales, Commission, Conversion Rate, Creators Activated and Top Performing Offers.

How does a brand get listed?

Brands join through the For Brands page. You sign up with your email, brand name and website. The "Getting Started" steps in your dashboard then take you through:

1. Complete your brand profile.
2. Set your website and domain.
3. Add categories.
4. Connect your affiliate network.
5. Create your first offer.
6. Get approved. An admin reviews your brand and offers before they go live.

There is no signup or monthly platform fee for brands. You pay your normal network commission, which is split 50/50 between the creator and CreatorLounge.

Brands do not pick individual creators on the public marketplace. Creators are vetted by CreatorLounge, and every approved creator can add your live offers. If you want a named roster of creators, see the ambassador programme.

What about agencies?

Agencies can manage several client brands and creators from one login. Client brands are assigned to the agency account. See the For Agencies page.

Do creators need to disclose these partnerships?

Yes. In the UK, affiliate content is advertising and should be clearly labelled, for example with "#Ad" (ASA: affiliate marketing). On CreatorLounge, creators label posts with "#ad" at the start and every lounge shows an "Ad disclosure" line.

Frequently asked questions