What is an affiliate program (and how to choose the right one)
An affiliate program is the set of rules - commission, cookie, attribution, and payment - under which you promote another brand's product and receive if it generates a result. In Brazil this appears in three different forms: one store program (Amazon, Shopee, Magalu), affiliate network (multiple brands in a single panel) and infoproduct platform (Hotmart and similar). Choosing the right type matters more than choosing “any program.”
This text is the map to choose from. Registration with Lomadee is in the Lomadee affiliate program; the channel walkthrough and first link are in the signup guide.
Three types of programs in Brazil
Hostinger and FluxoPromo explain "what is a program" in the generic. What is missing in the Brazilian market is separating the type of agreement - because commission, cookie and public completely change.
One store program (Amazon, Shopee, Magalu)
You enter the program of that brand and only divulge its catalog. Simple to understand, limited to growing: if the audience asks for another store, you don't have the link. Cookie and commission are those of that operation, not of a network.
Affiliate network (Lomadee and equivalents)
A network aggregates dozens or hundreds of brands in a single registration. You choose campaign by campaign, generate link or coupon, and track everything on a dashboard. It makes sense when the audience buys from multiple stores - fashion, home, beauty, electronics - and you don't want a contract per advertiser.
Infoproduct platform (Hotmart and similar)
Here the "product" is course, mentoring, software. Percentage commission is usually high (30% to 60% is not rare) because the digital margin is different. Don't compare this to brick-and-mortar retail: 8% of a $400 cart may be worth more than 40% of an infoproduct your audience doesn't buy.
What to look for before entering
Cookie and Attribution
After the click, a cookie saves who indicated it. If the person buys on time, the commission is yours. In Brazilian retail the cookie is usually 30 days, but it varies by brand - read the program, not the internet average.
Attribution tells who gets the credit if the person clicked on more than one link. Last click is still the most common. First click and linear exist, but you only evaluate the return of your channel if you know which rule is valid.
CPC, CPA and CPL
CPA paid per completed sale - is the retail standard. CPL pays per registration or lead. CPC pays per click, with or without purchase. CPM pays per thousand impressions. For those who indicate a physical product with an audience they already trust, CPA is usually the model that best matches the real conversion.
Retail commission is not course commission
“Average 30% to 50% per sale” or “35% of affiliates earn more than $20,000 per year” numbers describe infoproduct and mixed markets, not Brazilian retail. In a brand network, the commission is a lower percentage on a ticket that the person was already going to spend on e-commerce. What matters is: the brand sells to its audience, the cookie covers the decision cycle, and the payment (Pix, term) is predictable.
When Lomadee makes sense
Lomadee is a retail network, not the program of a store and not a platform for you to sell the course itself. It makes sense if you want 300+ brands in a registration, links and coupons, real-time dashboard and withdrawal by Pix - including without CNPJ.
It doesn't make sense if your game is just your own infoproduct, or if you're only going to refer a single store forever. No exclusivity: you can be on Lomadee and other shows at the same time.
To enter the Lomadee program, the path is to register in lomadee.com.br/en/affiliates. The walkthrough of My Channels and first link is in the guide on how to be a Lomadee affiliate
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a network and a store program?
In a store's program, you only advertise that advertiser. In the network, a registration opens the catalog of several brands. Lomadee is the second case.
Is the commission from 30% to 50% valid for retail?
Not as an e-commerce average. This track appears in infoproduct. In retail, look at each brand's commission on the dashboard - and the average ticket of what your audience already buys.
Do I need a CNPJ to join a program?
It depends on the program. At Lomadee, individuals register and receive via Pix. Some company programs require CNPJ - check that advertiser's rule, not a universal rule.
How does the cookie work?
The click writes an identifier to the browser. If the purchase (or lead) happens within the term of the program, the conversion is yours. The deadline changes by brand; 30 days is common in retail, it is not the law.
If the choice is already a retail chain in Brazil, join the Lomadee affiliate program