Use Affiliate Programs
Earn commissions through job board affiliate partnerships.
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JWhat are job board affiliate programs?
Job board affiliate programs can pay for tracked actions on partner content. The provider agreement determines whether a click, application, signup, or hire is payable. Cavuno does not supply the commercial relationship or pay commissions.
How affiliate programs work
You display approved partner content, send candidates through the provider's tracked URL, and reconcile accepted actions under your agreement. The provider controls attribution, validation, rates, and payment timing.
Commission models
| Model | Payout | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-per-click (CPC) | A validated outbound click is payable under the agreement | |
| Cost-per-application (CPA) | A provider-accepted application is payable | |
| Cost-per-hire | A qualifying hire triggers the agreed fee or share |
Major affiliate programs
Partner availability and terms change. Start with a provider that explicitly approves your use case and gives you a supported content feed plus tracked destination URLs. LinkedIn Talent Solutions APIs, for example, are restricted partner integrations rather than a general public affiliate feed. Do not describe a provider as supported until you have a current agreement and integration format from that provider.
Getting started
Apply to the provider, obtain approval and the current feed specification, confirm which URLs carry attribution, import the jobs, and compare Cavuno outbound-click data with the provider's accepted-action report.
If the provider supplies XML, upload it under Jobs → Import for a one-off batch or add its public URL as a recurring XML feed. Cavuno preserves mapped application URLs. It does not add partner tracking or infer which actions are payable, so verify a test click in the provider's reporting before launch.
These external affiliate programs are separate from Cavuno's backfill feature. Backfill populates your board with content from supported companies, while affiliate programs require direct partnerships with job aggregators and typically involve different commercial terms.
Balancing affiliates with direct revenue
The trade-off
Affiliate jobs can work against your direct posting revenue. Job seekers may apply to affiliate listings instead of paid employer posts. Employers may not feel the need to post directly if their jobs already appear via affiliates. And revenue per job from affiliates is typically much lower than what you earn from direct posting fees.
Finding the right balance
The balance shifts as your board grows. New boards benefit from heavy affiliate and backfill content to build volume and attract job seekers. Growing boards should gradually shift toward direct postings while keeping affiliates for categories where direct demand is weak. Established boards should rely primarily on direct postings, using affiliates as supplemental content and income.
Practical strategies
Prioritize paid listings in search results and category pages. Use affiliate content to fill categories where you don't have strong direct demand. Identify companies posting through affiliates and approach them about posting directly. Set a cap on what percentage of your total listings come from affiliate sources.
Maximizing affiliate revenue
Traffic quality matters
Affiliates pay more for quality clicks from targeted job seekers who are likely to apply. Niche traffic commands premium rates, and return visitors signal an engaged audience. Focus on attracting the right job seekers rather than maximizing raw traffic numbers.
Optimize placement
Where you show affiliate content affects revenue. Homepage visibility drives the most clicks, category pages provide relevance, and search results capture high-intent traffic. Test different placements and track which positions generate the best return.
Other affiliate opportunities
Beyond job listings, you can earn commissions by recommending services your audience needs.
For job seekers: resume writing, profile review, interview coaching, and relevant courses or certifications.
For employers: applicant tracking systems, background check services, payroll providers, and HR platforms.
When using affiliate links for services, disclose the affiliate relationship, follow FTC guidelines, and be selective about what you recommend. Your audience's trust is worth more than any commission.
Measure the result
Track outbound clicks in Cavuno and compare them with the provider's accepted, rejected, and paid actions. Investigate material discrepancies before changing placement. Keep affiliate content only when it remains relevant to candidates and produces a worthwhile measured return alongside direct employer listings.
Next steps
Obtain the provider's current feed specification and tracked URLs before importing anything. Then follow Recurring XML feeds and verify a test click in the provider report before making the imported jobs public.