LTV vs. Unit Economics: Why Your Affiliate Commission Strategy Needs a New Framework
Upcoming webinar
On-demand webinar
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February 25, 2026
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9:00 am

LTV vs. Unit Economics: Why Your Affiliate Commission Strategy Needs a New Framework

A framework for PPC-first brands to evaluate, structure, and scale affiliate and creator partnerships alongside paid media.

Stream now
Rolando Galeana
Marketing Manager
Lyle Swartz
Director of Publisher Development
Richie Carreon
VP, Marketing

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Transcript

Most brands evaluate affiliate commissions the same way they evaluate PPC; they look at their 10% TACoS benchmark and ask, "Why would I pay a creator 15-20%?"

That math is wrong. And it's costing you growth.

In this session, Levanta's Director of Publisher Development, Lyle Swartz, will break down exactly why comparing creator commissions to your TACoS is an apples-to-oranges mistake and give you a practical framework for how to think about it instead.

You'll walk away with:

  • PPC vs. Affiliate, Head to Head: The real differences between paid ads and creator-driven affiliate, from how traffic works to how consumers actually discover and buy today
  • The LTV Math That Changes Everything: A real-world example showing how a $9 commission can unlock $150 in lifetime customer value, and why unit economics is the wrong lens
  • A Brand Readiness Checklist: What creators and media buyers actually look for before they promote your product, so you know where you stand
  • Commission Benchmarks by Creator Type and Category: Actual rate ranges across deal sites, influencers, publishers, and media buyers so you can set competitive rates that win coverage

Plus, every attendee will receive two free tools: a PPC vs. Affiliate LTV Calculator and Category Commission Benchmarks to put this framework into action immediately.

Register now, and join us on February 25 at noon EST/9 am PST for the full webinar.

Most brands evaluate affiliate commissions the same way they evaluate PPC; they look at their 10% TACoS benchmark and ask, "Why would I pay a creator 15-20%?"

That math is wrong. And it's costing you growth.

In this session, Levanta's Director of Publisher Development, Lyle Swartz, breaks down exactly why comparing creator commissions to your TACoS is an apples-to-oranges mistake and gives you a practical framework for how to think about it instead.

You'll walk away with:

  • PPC vs. Affiliate, Head to Head: The real differences between paid ads and creator-driven affiliate, from how traffic works to how consumers actually discover and buy today
  • The LTV Math That Changes Everything: A real-world example showing how a $9 commission can unlock $150 in lifetime customer value, and why unit economics is the wrong lens
  • A Brand Readiness Checklist: What creators and media buyers actually look for before they promote your product, so you know where you stand
  • Commission Benchmarks by Creator Type and Category: Actual rate ranges across deal sites, influencers, publishers, and media buyers so you can set competitive rates that win coverage

Plus, every attendee will receive two free tools: a PPC vs. Affiliate LTV Calculator and Category Commission Benchmarks to put this framework into action immediately.