Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where individuals (affiliates) promote products or services of a company or merchant and earn a commission for every sale or action generated through their referrals. It involves three parties: the merchant, the affiliate, and the customer.

The process typically involves the following steps:

1. The affiliate signs up for an affiliate program offered by a merchant or joins an affiliate network.
2. The affiliate selects products or services to promote from the merchant's offerings.
3. The affiliate uses their unique affiliate link or code to promote the products or services through various marketing channels like websites, blogs, social media, email marketing, etc.
4. When a customer clicks on the affiliate's link, they are redirected to the merchant's website, where they can make a purchase or perform a specified action, such as signing up for a free trial or filling out a form.
5. If the customer completes the desired action or makes a purchase, the affiliate is credited with a commission, usually a percentage of the sale value.
6. The affiliate receives their commission either directly from the merchant or through the affiliate network, depending on the program structure.

Affiliate marketing offers benefits to all parties involved. Merchants can expand their reach and boost sales, affiliates can earn passive income and monetize their online presence, and customers can discover new products or services through credible recommendations.

Overall, affiliate marketing has gained popularity due to its low entry barriers, flexible working arrangements, and the potential for high earning potential.[color=#990000][/color]