🤔Affiliate vs Referral Deals

Two common ways creators share value

Most creator deals fall into one of two categories: affiliate deals or referral deals.

Both work well on Aardvark — and you don’t need to choose just one.


Affiliate deals

Affiliate deals usually involve:

  • A unique link or code

  • Commission earned when someone makes a purchase

These are common with larger brands and affiliate networks. On Aardvark, affiliate deals can appear as:

  • A promo code

  • A tracked link

  • Or both


Referral deals

Referral deals typically involve:

  • A referral link

  • Credit, rewards, or payouts tied to referrals

These are often used by newer brands or subscription products, and they work just as seamlessly on Aardvark.


Which should I use?

Use whatever the brand gives you.

Aardvark doesn’t require you to structure deals in a specific way — it simply helps surface them clearly and at the right moment.

Many creators use a mix of both affiliate and referral deals.


From the user’s perspective

Regardless of the type:

  • The deal appears when it’s relevant

  • Instructions are clear

  • Attribution is transparent

Users don’t need to understand the difference — they just see a deal from a creator they trust.

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