Daisycon distinguishes different media types to clarify how publishers promote advertisers. Each media type represents a specific way of generating traffic, leads, or sales.
To keep this clear and manageable, the media types are grouped into the following categories:
Category: Website
Blog
A blog is a website that regularly publishes articles, stories, or updates, usually around a specific topic, interest, or area of expertise. Affiliate links are often placed naturally within the content.
Because blogs often appeal to a clearly defined audience, traffic from blogs can be highly relevant and valuable.
Cashback / loyalty program
Cashback or loyalty platforms reward users for making a purchase. This reward is often a percentage of the order value, but can also consist of points, gift cards, donations, or other benefits.
These platforms usually have a loyal member base and can generate repeat purchases and strong conversion-focused traffic.
Closed user groups
This media type is used for websites or platforms with restricted access, such as members-only environments, private communities, or other gated platforms. Content and promotions are only visible to registered or approved users.
Because the audience is often more targeted and engaged, this media type can offer access to valuable niche groups.
Content site
Content sites are informative websites focused on a specific subject, niche, or audience. They often publish articles, guides, lists, or news items and may use affiliate links, banners, or product feeds where relevant.
These websites often perform well in search engines and can generate valuable traffic through strong organic visibility.
Daily offers
This media type focuses on daily deals, flash offers, auctions, or other short-term promotions. Offers change frequently and usually target bargain-oriented visitors.
Because these platforms often create urgency, for example through countdowns or limited-time deals, they can encourage faster purchase decisions.
Directory sites and startpages
These websites present collections of links, categories, or listings that help visitors navigate to relevant websites or services. Startpages and link overview sites fall into this category.
They often have a broad reach and can be especially useful for audiences that prefer a simple and structured way to browse online.
Apps & in-app promotions
This media type is used when a publisher promotes an advertiser through a dedicated mobile app, for example on iOS or Android. Promotion may take place inside the app and can direct traffic to the advertiser's mobile site, website, or app store page.
This only applies to specifically developed apps. Regular mobile websites fall under other media types in this article.
Free content
These websites focus on free products, free samples, giveaways, or competitions. Users often visit these platforms specifically to discover free opportunities or to participate in promotional campaigns.
This media type can be especially effective for lead generation and broad reach.
Coupon code and promotional sites
These websites provide overviews of discount codes, special offers, and promotions. In many cases, the visitor first clicks before the code is revealed. Many publishers in this category use the Daisycon promotion feed.
You can read more about promotional material here: Supplying promotional material for publishers.
Please note that a code of conduct applies to coupon usage: Code of conduct for coupon usage.
Forums & communities
This media type is intended for websites where users interact with each other through discussions, questions, answers, or shared interests. Examples include forums, discussion boards, and community-driven platforms.
Promotions on these platforms often work best when they are relevant to the conversation or community topic.
Reviews & ratings
These websites focus on customer experiences, reviews, product tests, rankings, and comparisons. It is important that reviews and ratings are obtained honestly and are genuine and unique.
Reviews can help convince potential customers and often provide the trust or final reassurance needed to complete a purchase.
Comparison / shopping portal
Comparison websites compare prices, features, or offers from different advertisers. These websites are often built using product feeds or comparison tools.
They allow consumers to compare products from a single overview and can generate strong traffic because of their ease of use and decision-supporting nature.
Category: E-mail marketing
Email marketing is allowed at Daisycon, but there are important rules that publishers must follow when promoting advertisers via email. Publishers using this media type must complete additional checks, and mailings often require approval before sending.
More information can be found here: Rules for e-mail marketing at Daisycon.
Email marketing incentive (cashback / loyalty program)
These publishers send commercial emails to large target groups where recipients are rewarded for engagement, such as opening an email or making a purchase. The reward is generally linked to the publisher fee.
This media type can generate high engagement because recipients actively monitor these messages for interesting offers.
Email marketing non-incentive (dedicated / newsletter)
These publishers send commercial emails without rewarding recipients for reading or purchasing. This includes newsletters, dedicated mailings, and behavior-based email campaigns.
Because these mailings can be personalized and triggered automatically, they can fit well into the customer journey.
Category: Advertising networks
Keyword marketing: search engines
Keyword marketing refers to promotion through paid search advertising on search engines and related search pages. Publishers buy keywords and direct traffic to the advertiser's website.
Important rules for keyword marketing can be found here: What is allowed, what is not allowed in keyword marketing?
Product listing ads (PLA)
Publishers use product feeds to advertise products through shopping ads on channels such as Google Shopping or Bing Shopping. These ads contain product information directly from the advertiser's data feed.
More information about CSS and Google Shopping can be found here: Working with Google's Comparison Shopping Services (CSS).
Media purchasing: social media platforms
This media type applies when publishers buy paid traffic or sponsored placements through advertising systems on social media platforms, such as Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, LinkedIn Ads, or similar tools.
This concerns paid media buying. Unpaid promotion through a publisher's own social profile belongs to the Social media category.
Media purchasing: marketplaces / auction sites
Publishers promote advertisers through paid placements on marketplaces or auction platforms such as Marktplaats, eBay, or similar websites.
This media type can provide additional exposure through publishers that understand these platforms and their audiences well.
Media purchasing: display networks
This media type applies when publishers buy display advertising inventory through display advertising platforms and networks, for example Google Display Network, Criteo, or similar display advertising solutions.
These promotions usually appear as banners, display ads, retargeting placements, or other visual ad formats on third-party websites and apps. This media type is specifically intended for paid display advertising and should not be confused with affiliate subnetworks.
Subnetworks
Subnetworks are intermediary affiliate platforms that allow a broader group of sub-publishers to promote advertiser campaigns. Instead of working directly with individual publishers, advertisers gain access to a network of partners managed by the subnetwork.
These platforms often provide tools such as centralised access to campaigns, link generation, product feeds, and automation features. Some subnetworks also offer link replacement technologies, where regular links are automatically converted into affiliate links.
Subnetworks can consist of a wide variety of publishers, including content sites, coupon websites, influencers, media buyers, or niche specialists. This allows advertisers to scale their reach efficiently through a single integration.
Transparency is essential for this media type. It should be clear where and how traffic is generated. Daisycon actively monitors subnetworks and may apply additional requirements or guidelines to ensure quality and compliance.
More information can be found here: Code of Conduct for Subnetworks.
Category: Social media
Affiliate marketing through social media and influencers is possible within Daisycon. This can be focused on branding, performance, or a mix of both. Publishers must comply with the applicable guidelines.
More information can be found here: Guidelines Social Media / Influencers & Affiliate Marketing.
This media type is used for promotion through a personal profile, company page, fan page, or public group on Facebook. Paid promotion through Facebook Ads falls under Media purchasing: social media platforms.
This media type is used for promotion through an Instagram profile, page, posts, stories, or similar organic visibility. Paid promotion through Instagram's advertising tools falls under Media purchasing: social media platforms.
TikTok
This media type is used for promotion through a TikTok profile or channel, for example via organic videos, profile links, or creator content. Paid promotion through TikTok advertising tools falls under Media purchasing: social media platforms.
Video content / streaming
This media type applies to promotion via recorded video, livestreams, or links placed around video content. Examples include YouTube, Twitch, Vimeo, and similar platforms.
This category is intended for content-driven video promotion. Paid advertising placements on video platforms do not fall under this media type.
Other social media platforms
This media type can be used for social media platforms other than Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. Examples include Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, Tumblr, and similar platforms.
Paid advertising through the advertising systems of these platforms falls under Media purchasing: social media platforms.
Category: Technology partners
Onsite optimisation & retargeting
This media type is used for partners that help advertisers improve onsite performance or re-engage visitors based on previous behavior. This can include retargeting solutions, personalization tools, conversion optimisation technologies, and similar solutions.
These partners often support advertisers in improving conversion rates, increasing relevance, or bringing back visitors who did not convert immediately.
Browser extensions & plugins
This media type covers browser-based tools such as extensions or plugins that enhance the user experience while browsing. Examples include tools that show available discount codes, cashback opportunities, or relevant offers.
These tools must always be transparent and safe to use. Any misuse, including malware or misleading software behavior, is strictly prohibited.
Web app & other tools
This media type is used for technical solutions such as web apps, widgets, calculators, selectors, integrations, comparison tools, or other interactive tools that help users discover, compare, or interact with advertiser offers.
It is intended for innovative technical solutions that do not clearly fit under the more traditional website or advertising media types.