Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
PPC is a compensation model where advertisers or vendors pay a partner a fixed amount for each click generated through the partner's promotional efforts, regardless of whether the click leads to a conversion.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is a performance-based pricing model in which a vendor or advertiser pays a partner or publisher a fixed amount each time a user clicks on a promotional link, ad, or banner. Unlike pay-per-sale or pay-per-lead models, PPC compensates for traffic generation regardless of downstream conversion outcomes.
PPC is most commonly associated with search engine advertising (Google Ads, Bing Ads) but is also used in affiliate and partner programs, particularly when the goal is brand awareness or website traffic rather than immediate sales. Partners are incentivized to drive volume, which can be beneficial for top-of-funnel campaigns.
The risk of PPC for the vendor is paying for clicks that do not convert. To mitigate this, programs often set click quality filters, cap daily or monthly click payouts, and monitor for click fraud. Many partner programs prefer performance models like pay-per-lead or pay-per-sale for better ROI alignment.
PartnerPulse supports PPC commission structures alongside other models, with built-in fraud detection and click quality monitoring to ensure you are paying for legitimate, high-quality traffic from your partners.
Set up PPC commissions in PartnerPulse
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Set up PPC commissions in PartnerPulseRelated Terms
Pay-Per-Lead (PPL)
PPL is a compensation model where partners earn a fixed amount for each qualified lead they deliver. It rewards lead generation regardless of whether the lead ultimately converts into a paying customer.
Pay-Per-Sale (PPS)
PPS is a commission model where partners earn a payout only when their referral results in a completed sale. It is the lowest-risk model for vendors because costs are tied directly to revenue outcomes.
Performance Marketing
Performance marketing is a results-driven marketing approach where advertisers pay only when specific actions occur, such as clicks, leads, or sales. Affiliate and partner programs are core performance marketing channels.
Commission Structure
A commission structure defines how and how much partners are paid for generating results. Structures vary from flat-rate payments to percentage-based revenue shares and can include tiers, bonuses, and accelerators.