Job Board Affiliate Programs
Earn commissions through job board affiliate partnerships.
What are job board affiliate programs?
Job board affiliate programs let you earn commissions by displaying jobs or services from partner platforms. When job seekers click through to apply or sign up, you earn a fee per click, application, or hire. While not your primary revenue stream, affiliate income can supplement job posting fees and subscriptions.
How job board affiliates work
The basic model
- Display partner content: You show jobs or recommend services from partner platforms on your board
- Track clicks: Job seekers click through to apply or sign up on the partner site
- Earn commissions: You receive a fee per click, application, or conversion
- Get paid: Payments arrive monthly based on your traffic volume
Types of affiliate income
Cost-per-click (CPC):
- Earn $0.10-$0.50 per click
- Lower barrier, immediate revenue
- Volume-dependent
Cost-per-application (CPA):
- Earn $1-$10+ per application
- Higher payouts, lower volume
- Quality traffic matters
Cost-per-hire:
- Percentage of placement fee
- Highest payouts (hundreds of dollars)
- Rare and competitive
Major affiliate programs
Indeed
The largest job site offers affiliate partnerships:
- Model: CPC or CPA depending on arrangement
- Requirements: Apply through Indeed Publisher program
- Integration: XML feed or API
- Payout: Net 30-60 days
ZipRecruiter
Partner with ZipRecruiter for job content:
- Model: CPC with strong rates
- Requirements: Publisher application required
- Content: Quality job listings
- Support: Dedicated partner resources
LinkedIn Jobs offers partnership opportunities:
- Model: Varies by agreement
- Requirements: Significant traffic typically required
- Integration: API-based
- Brand value: Premium job content
Specialized networks
Industry-specific networks for niche boards:
- Healthcare job networks
- Tech job aggregators
- Remote work platforms
- Regional job networks
Implementing affiliate programs
Getting started
For major affiliates:
- Apply: Submit your application to the partner program
- Get approved: Traffic requirements vary by program
- Integrate: Connect their feed or API to your board
- Optimize: Track performance and adjust placement
These external affiliate programs are separate from Cavuno's backfill feature. Backfill helps populate your board with content, while affiliate programs require direct partnerships with job aggregators.
Balancing affiliates with direct revenue
The trade-off
Affiliate jobs can cannibalize direct posting revenue:
- Job seekers may apply to affiliate jobs instead of paid listings
- Employers may not need to post if their jobs appear via backfill
- Revenue per job is typically lower than direct posting fees
Finding the right balance
New boards: Heavy on backfill/affiliates to build content and traffic
Growing boards: Mix of affiliate and direct, gradually shifting
Established boards: Primarily direct postings, affiliates as supplement
Strategies for balance
- Prioritize paid listings: Show direct posts first
- Segment by category: Backfill in areas you don't monetize well
- Use for discovery: Backfill companies you want as direct customers
- Cap affiliate content: Limit percentage of total listings
Maximizing affiliate revenue
Traffic quality matters
Affiliates pay more for quality clicks:
- Targeted job seekers convert better
- Niche traffic commands premium rates
- Return visitors indicate engaged audience
Optimize placement
Where you show affiliate content affects revenue:
- Homepage visibility drives clicks
- Category pages for relevance
- Search results for intent
Track performance
Monitor affiliate metrics:
- Click-through rate (CTR)
- Revenue per visitor
- Conversion rates
- Revenue by job category
Other affiliate opportunities
Career services
Recommend services job seekers need:
- Resume writing: 10-30% commission
- LinkedIn optimization: $20-50 per referral
- Interview coaching: 15-25% commission
- Skills courses: Varies by platform
HR software
Recommend tools to employers:
- Applicant tracking systems
- Background check services
- Payroll providers
- HR platforms
Disclosure requirements
When using affiliate links:
- Disclose affiliate relationships
- Follow FTC guidelines
- Maintain trust with your audience
- Be selective about recommendations
Revenue expectations
Typical benchmarks
Affiliate income as percentage of total revenue:
| Board Stage | Affiliate % |
|---|---|
| Launch | 0-20% (focus on content first) |
| Growing | 10-30% |
| Established | 10-20% |
| Mature | 5-15% (supplemental) |
When affiliates make sense
Focus on affiliate revenue if:
- You're just starting and need content
- Your niche has limited direct posting demand
- You're building an aggregator model
- Supplemental income fits your strategy
Prioritize direct revenue if:
- Employers are willing to pay
- You have significant traffic
- Premium positioning matters
- You want maximum revenue per job