Reference Checklist

Affiliate Program Audit Checklist

25 questions to diagnose your program's health across publisher mix, commission structure, tracking, and content.

Section 1

Publisher Mix

Active vs. dormant publisher ratio — flag anyone with no clicks in 90+ daysT1/T2/T3 balance — ensure no single tier drives >70% of GMVCategory coverage — verify publishers span all key verticalsTop-10 concentration risk — if top 10 drive >60% of revenue, diversifyNew publisher activation rate — month-over-month new recruits going live

Section 2

Commission Structure

Benchmark vs. category median — are your rates competitive for the vertical?Tiered commission structure in place — reward top performers with higher ratesBonus incentives — seasonal bonuses, GMV milestones, or activation bonusesHoldback period — is your return window aligned with your commission lock?CPA vs. CPS alignment — match payout model to publisher type and intent signal

Section 3

Tracking & Attribution

S2S (server-to-server) tracking deployed — pixel-only setups lose 15–25% of conversionsDe-duplication rules set — prevent paying multiple channels for the same orderMulti-touch visibility — understand which publishers assist vs. closeReturn window configuration — cookie duration matches product consideration cycleFraud detection active — invalid traffic filters and suspicious pattern alerts enabled

Section 4

Content & Compliance

FTC disclosures audited — confirm all publisher placements include proper #ad taggingBrand safety monitoring — review where your brand appears across publisher propertiesCoupon code governance — unauthorized codes kill margin; audit active codes monthlyTrademark bid monitoring — detect affiliates bidding on your brand keywords in paid searchContent quality standards — ensure review accuracy, no outdated pricing or discontinued SKUs

Section 5

Reporting & Optimization

Weekly performance review cadence — GMV, clicks, CVR, EPC tracked week-over-weekPublisher tier movement tracking — who moved up or down, and whyGMV trend analysis — identify seasonal patterns and benchmark against prior periodsPublisher NPS/satisfaction — direct feedback loop with top-10 publishers quarterlyQoQ growth targets — program has defined GMV and publisher count targets per quarter

Get a Free Expert Audit

Xark auditors run this checklist against your live program and deliver a written report with a 90-day action plan.

Get a Free Expert Audit →