What is CPA: Are you ready to take your affiliate marketing campaign to the next level?

Most affiliate marketers are very familiar with commission per sale (CPS) models, but there are also other models available, such as cost per action models. Cost per action (CPA), sometimes called (PPA), is when an affiliate is payed for specific actions performed by a website visitor via a linked activity.

For instance, there are certain types of CPA offers that create lead generation type campaigns conducted through the originating CPA network. Let’s say that someone clicks on your link and types in their name and email address, you can get paid for that. In some cases a person might only enter in their zip code and you get paid too.

In some cases, the person who clicks through your link will have to do a bit more in order for you to get paid. Perhaps they need to sign up for an offer, make a purchase, or take some other type of action. It is important to know, however, that before you start promoting a CPA offer that you determine what is required in order for you to get paid. What you decide to promote should be determined by your niche (the focus of your website) and what conversion rate you are looking for.

The one thing to know is that the more complicated, or involved, the process is for the person who links through your site, the more you’ll get paid. Just getting zip code information won’t pay that much, but getting a complete mailing address will pay more. The biggest pay day for you would be when purchases are made through you link.

Companies that originate CPA campaigns usually work through CPA networks. These networks or organized like Commission Junction or Clickbank as they provide a streamlined and intigrated system. So as an affiliate you can sign an agreement with the CPA network and then get the links to start promoting specific offers. Just search through the CPA network and look for an offer that best fits your area of focus.

Before you can start promoting a CPA offer, you must get accepted, or approved, by the CPA network, The requirements are greater than getting accepted by a standard affiliate network. Don’t worry though. Just do your homework and make sure you’re comfortable with the whole process and the way things operate and there should be no problem. it’s important for you to be able to demonstrate to the network how you are planning to promote the offer.If you’ve developed a plan then it should be a relatively easy process.

There are quite a few CPA networks to work with. Some of the bigger outfits are: Azoogle, Clickbooth and Never Blue, but there are others to choose from. You should look up the site OfferVault.com so you can get a feel for what kind of offers are currently available and which offers would best fit your circumstances.

Please be aware, however, that CPA networks typically reject the “newbie” applicant the first time around. From what I’ve seen, that’s pretty typical. Some people have told me that they have called a specific CPA network up on the phone and spoke with a live person to explain their marketing and promotional plans for specific offers. If you do something like that and demonstrate your professionalism, then you should have no problem getting accepted.

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