Staying a step ahead

Critical warning signs affiliate managers shouldn't ignore

- DHIRAJ GUPTA

AFFILIATE MARKETING IS undeniably a lucrative channel for brands to connect with their target audience, but it has also become a hotspot for fraudulent activities. As an affiliate manager, vigilance is key. Here are the critical warning signs that may indicate fraudulent activities in your campaigns:

Too-good-to-be-true KPI performance: In digital marketing, perfection is rare—and affiliate campaigns are no exception. If an affiliate consistently meets or exceeds every KPI, such as lead or sales targets, it's time to investigate. While their performance may appear stellar, it could be a cover for deceptive tactics like cookie stuffing, click spamming, and injections. Affiliates hijack organic traffic and share it as their paid traffic. Brands end up paying for their own sales/leads (which were coming organically).