CPL (Cost Per Lead)
CPL, or cost per lead, is a pricing model where the advertiser pays a fixed amount for each qualified lead — such as a form submission, quote request, or signup — generated, common in lead-generation affiliate programs.
CPL is a specific form of CPA where the paid-for action is a lead rather than a sale. It suits businesses with longer sales cycles — insurance, finance, education, B2B — where the immediate goal is capturing interested prospects.
Programs define what makes a lead 'qualified' (for example a verified email or a completed application) to prevent low-value or fraudulent submissions from triggering payouts.
See also
- CPA (Cost Per Action)
CPA, or cost per action (also cost per acquisition), is a pricing model where the advertiser pays only when a specific action — a sale, signup, or lead — is completed, aligning cost directly with results.
- CPC (Cost Per Click)
CPC, or cost per click, is the amount an advertiser pays each time someone clicks their ad or link, a common pricing model in paid search and display and a key metric for PPC affiliates.
- Conversion
A conversion is the qualifying action — such as a sale, signup, lead, or subscription — that triggers an affiliate commission.
- Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model in which a business pays external partners a commission for each customer or sale they refer.
- Performance Marketing
Performance marketing is an umbrella term for digital marketing where advertisers pay based on measurable results — clicks, leads, or sales — rather than upfront for exposure, with affiliate marketing as a core channel.
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