CPA vs. CPC Retailers: What’s the Difference and How to Use Both to Maximize Earnings

When it comes to affiliate marketing on ShopYourLikes, not all retailers work the same way. That’s because we offer two types of monetization models: CPA (Cost Per Action) and CPC (Cost Per Click).

Understanding how these models work, and how to strategically use both, is the key to unlocking more consistent and higher earnings across your content. Especially when you understand how your CPC Quality Score works!

What Is a CPA Retailer?

CPA retailers pay you a commission when someone makes a purchase through your affiliate link. These earnings are typically a percentage of the total sale. CPA links tend to perform best when your audience is already primed to buy, whether that’s through a product recommendation, a personal review, or a seasonal buying moment like back-to-school or holiday shopping. You’ll know it’s a CPA retailer if you see a commission rate.

CPA strategies work best when:

• You’re sharing products you’ve personally used or love
• You’re posting evergreen content or gift guides
• You have a highly engaged audience ready to make a purchase

What Is a CPC Retailer?

CPC retailers pay you every time someone clicks your link, regardless of whether they purchase. But it’s important to note that conversion still matters.

ShopYourLikes uses a CPC Quality Score to determine your CPC rate for each retailer. This score reflects how well your traffic converts. The better your clicks convert into purchases, the higher your Quality Score, and the more you can earn per click!

This means creators with high-quality content and shopping-intent audiences can see their CPC rates increase significantly over time, often earning more per conversion than a traditional CPA model.

You’ll know it’s a CPC retailer if you see a dollar amount for the rate (for example: $0.05).

Top CPC retailers on ShopYourLikes include:

• Wayfair
• Macy’s
• Kohl’s
• Michael Kors
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• e.l.f. Cosmetics

Why Conversion Still Matters (Even with CPC)

It’s easy to think CPC means you don’t need to focus on sales. But the truth is, the higher your conversion rate, the higher your CPC rate. That’s why it's still important to share the right product at the right time, speak directly to your audience’s interests, and post with purpose.

Your CPC earnings can grow fast when you:

• Share clickable content that drives interest and intent
• Create clear calls-to-action that encourage both clicks and shopping
• Choose products and retailers that naturally align with your audience

Even if you're earning per click, your long-term success depends on how well your clicks convert into purchases. So content strategy still plays a big role.

How to Use CPA and CPC Together

To maximize your ShopYourLikes earnings, the smartest approach is to use both CPA and CPC retailers strategically.

Use CPC when...

• You’re sharing time-sensitive content (like flash deals, new arrivals, or trending products)
• You want to earn on quick, high-interest clicks
• You’re driving volume-based traffic and want daily, consistent income

Use CPA when...

• You’re sharing tried-and-true product recs that convert well
• You’re highlighting a specific item or brand you love and trust
• You’re creating deeper content (reviews, guides, or styling tips) that leads to a purchase

Mixing both allows you to balance high-volume click earnings with higher-ticket conversions, depending on the content you’re creating.

Best Practices when linking with CPA and CPC Retailers

• Don’t rely on just one model. Test different retailers to see what resonates with your audience.
   
• Track your performance in the ShopYourLikes Dashboard to learn which retailers are driving earnings.
   
• Keep your CPC Quality Score high by posting products with strong buying intent and a clear path to purchase.
   
• Stay consistent. The more you share, the more data you gather, and the more you can refine what works.

At the end of the day, your biggest earning potential comes from knowing your audience and matching them with the right products at the right time, whether it’s CPC, CPA, or a mix of both!

Check out the Active Retailers page and use the dropdown to see a full list of CPA and CPC retailers you can start linking to today!