Busy Is Not Profitable
Traffic and clicks are activity, not profit. Compare commissions and all attributable campaign costs on the same line.
How To Calculate Affiliate ROI
ROI = (commissions earned minus costs) divided by costs, times 100. A positive result means the campaign made money; a negative result means it cost money.
The Metrics That Matter
Track clicks, conversions, conversion rate, commission per conversion, earnings per click, ad spend, cost per acquisition, and net profit per campaign.
Track Per Campaign, Not In Aggregate
Separate offers, traffic sources, and campaigns so profitable work does not hide losing work.
Product recommendation
Recommended DaveWays Resources
Google Ads Launch Kit
Campaign planning sheets, launch checklists, and tracking templates for search ads.
FAQ
How do you calculate affiliate marketing ROI?
Subtract costs from commissions, divide by costs, then multiply by 100.
What affiliate metrics should I track?
At minimum, clicks, conversions, conversion rate, commission, costs, and net profit.
Why can a busy campaign lose money?
Its cost per acquisition can be higher than its commission.
DaveWays content is educational and does not replace professional financial, legal, tax, medical, or mental-health advice.