Affiliations
Affiliate marketing consists of promoting third-party products or services through tracked links that award a commission to the promoter when the user completes a predefined conversion, usually a purchase or subscription. The system relies on attribution technologies to trace the source of the conversion. Although performance-efficient, this model may encourage the creation of content optimised for engagement and conversion rather than accuracy or educational value. As a result, recommendations may be influenced by commission rates rather than an unbiased evaluation of the offer.
CPA
The cost-per-action model charges a fee every time a user completes a specific action, such as filling out a form, subscribing to a mailing list, requesting a phone call or creating a free account. Unlike affiliate marketing, no direct purchase is required, which makes CPA particularly attractive for lead generation campaigns. This approach emphasises volume over intent, which can lead to the promotion of messages designed to elicit immediate action. The emphasis on conversion metrics may shift the focus away from the informational value or long-term reliability of the content.
ADS
Online advertising is based on the insertion of visual, text or video ads within digital content, generating revenue every time the user views or interacts with these spaces. On social media, where the volume of views is high, this model is particularly popular due to its ability to monetise even non-specialised or low-engagement content. In the context of information, however, the systematic insertion of advertisements can lead to a structuring of content that is oriented more towards visibility and virality, rather than the actual depth or reliability of the information proposed.
Sponsorships
Sponsored content is articles, videos or posts produced in collaboration with a company, which offers a fee in exchange for visibility. Although the content retains an editorial form, the message is agreed with the client and reflects their promotional interests. This model tends to favour already known topics or products that are prominent in the market, leading to content that is often similar to each other and lacks depth. The need to adapt to sponsorship guidelines may also limit editorial freedom and discourage the production of truly independent or original analysis.