Because affiliate is a performance-based channel, clear, trustworthy measurement is non-negotiable. A solid measurement strategy proves impact, guides smarter decisions and unlocks scale.

In this guide, we walk through how LATAM advertisers can track affiliate success with confidence. From defining meaningful metrics to avoiding the most common mistakes.

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First, define what performance means to you

Not every campaign is about sales. Some are about leads, app installs or new user registrations. Affiliate marketing is flexible and that means success can look different depending on what you’re aiming for. But your remuneration model should match that goal:

🔶 Looking for sales? Use a Cost per Sale (CPS) model and track Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) to measure revenue efficiency.

🔶 Focusing on user acquisition? Go with Cost per Acquisition (CPA) and monitor conversion rates to ensure you're getting quality users at a sustainable cost.

🔶 Want to grow awareness or traffic? Consider Cost per Click (CPC) or pay-per-visit models. Track clicks, site visits, and engagement rates: but make sure you're working with publishers who can deliver high-quality traffic.

No matter the goal, start by defining the key actions ("conversions") that matter most to your business, then build your KPIs and compensation model around them.

What should you be tracking?

Once your campaign goals are clear, it’s time to focus on the metrics that help you measure real performance. Here are the core metrics every affiliate advertiser should have on their radar:

⚫️ Clicks

How many users are clicking on affiliate links?

⚫️ Conversions

Are those clicks turning into meaningful actions (sales, sign-ups, installs)?

⚫️ Conversion Rate (CVR)

What percentage of clicks convert?

Low CVR? Time to review your creatives or partner fit.

⚫️ Revenue

How much revenue is being generated from affiliate activity?

⚫️ Average Revenue per User (ARPU)

How much revenue is each user generating on average?

Helps you measure user quality, not just volume.

⚫️ Cost per Acquisition (CPA)

How much are you paying per conversion?

⚫️ Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

How much did it cost to bring in a new customer through affiliates?

Compare it with other paid channels.

⚫️ Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

Revenue generated versus what you spent.

High ROAS = a campaign that’s doing its job.

⚫️ Lifetime Value (LTV)

Not all conversions are equal.

Track how valuable affiliate-acquired users are over time.

⚫️ Publisher Performance

Not every partner delivers the same value.

Identify your top performers and optimize your spend.

⚫️ Click-to-Conversion Time

How long does it take for users to convert after clicking?

This helps you fine-tune attribution windows and campaign pacing.

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How to Track Affiliate Partners the Right Way

Align with your publishers.

Start with a strong campaign brief. Share your goals and KPIs, and set clear expectations from the beginning so partners can optimize for what actually matters.

Track by partner, not just channel.

It’s not enough to say “affiliate worked”, you need to know who made it work. With our platform, you can track each partner’s performance in detail and spot what’s really driving results.

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Don’t stop at conversions.

Conversions are just the starting point. A strong affiliate strategy keeps evolving, finding new ways to lower costs, scale results, and shift toward smarter, more meaningful metrics.

“We always encourage advertisers to go further. Evolving your KPIs is a sign of a healthy campaign. For example, tracking ARPU instead of just downloads, or looking at LTV over basic conversions.” – Sebastián Sarbia, Head of Sales & Marketing at Affluxo

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Tracking Alone Won’t Grow Your Campaigns

Tracking for the sake of tracking won’t move the needle. The real value comes from what you learn and how fast you act on it.

Think: pausing underperforming publishers, adjusting commission models, or doubling down on creatives that actually convert.

Real-time dashboards help you monitor daily performance and make faster, smarter decisions with metrics that update as you go.

And don’t forget your partners. Creating feedback loops and sharing learnings can turn good campaigns into great ones.

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TL;DR?

Affiliate marketing is trackable, measurable and ROI-friendly when you set it up to be. In LATAM, that means setting clear KPIs, aligning with the right partners, and using real-time data to guide decisions. Tracking alone won’t grow your campaigns, action does.

Start with clarity. Grow with confidence. 🤜🤛

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Photo by Michael Myers on Unsplash