Job Board Affiliate Programs

Note: 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

1. Prioritize paid listings: Show direct posts first
2. Segment by category: Backfill in areas you don't monetize well
3. Use for discovery: Backfill companies you want as direct customers
4. 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

Realistic benchmarks

Affiliate income as percentage of total revenue:

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