What is Brand Bidding in Affiliate Marketing?

What is Brand Bidding in Affiliate Marketing?

Brand bidding (also known as PPC brand bidding) is the practice of bidding on a third-party advertiser’s branded keywords or terms in paid search campaigns. This tactic ensures your ads appear when users search for that specific brand name, with the goal of driving traffic to the advertiser’s website.

Brand bidding can be done on platforms such as Google Ads, Yahoo!, and the Bing Network. However, it can also increase the cost-per-click (CPC), as more advertisers bidding on the same branded term will raise competition and advertising costs.


Example of Brand Bidding

Publisher A is promoting Advertiser A and decides to bid on Advertiser A’s brand name as a keyword — for example, “Advertiser A” — in a Google Ads campaign.

When a user searches for “Advertiser A,” Publisher A’s ad may appear alongside Advertiser A’s own paid search ad.



Risks of Brand Bidding

Using third-party brand names without permission can be considered trademark infringement, which may result in legal action or account penalties. Always check the advertiser’s terms before engaging in brand bidding.


What Happens If You’re Caught Brand Bidding?

If an advertiser detects you engaging in brand bidding:

  • All conversions generated will be reviewed for program violations.

  • You may be blocked from promoting the advertiser’s future campaigns.

  • Commissions for the offer may be approved or rejected at the advertiser’s discretion.

  • You will receive an email notification if brand bidding is detected.

For clarification or disputes, contact your Account Manager or email us at wecare@involve.asia.