Cost Per Action Affiliate Marketing

Cost per Action/Acquisition, CPA, advertising is an internet marketing method where you only compensate when a desired action is completed. This performance based online advertising payment system only makes payment when a qualifying action such as a lead, sale, or registration is completed. This usually entails filling out a form and requesting a free product sample, signing up for a trial offer or trying a product by making a very minor purchase. 

The definition of the lead, sale, or registration can vary from one CPA affiliate to another.  A lead or sale may simply be no more than the visitor providing his email address and/or name.  While, in another instance, the web site visitor must complete a more complex document that may be one or two pages long.  And, in still another instance, the site visitor may be required to complete a survey in order for the contact to be considered a "sale".  Another example of a lead or sale may simply be the site visitor completing a website form and paying the shipping and handling for the designated product to be mailed to his home address.  As you can see, the definition of a "sale" or "lead" can be very, very different depending up the CPA Affiliate's current needs. 

The CPA campaign requires that the consumer/visitor take an action more than just clicking on a link. The great thing about CPA marketing is there is not a lot of competition in this arena.  CPA is a very new field and has not become saturated with Internet marketers. 

Presently, here are approximately 100 or so CPA networks that have payouts for leads from $1.00 to about $25.00. The one very good advantage of a CPA Network is you are paid by the network for all sales, leads, or registrations completed within a single month.  Usually, you receive payment within 30 day of the close of the month.  For illustrative purposes, let’s assume that you earned $500 in February.  You can expect payment of those earnings by March 31.  It is advisable to avoid networks that will not pay within 30 day of the month's end.