In LeadConduit, relationships exist between Entities. When a relationship exists between two Entities, it means the two Entities are able to see eachother through their accounts. Depending on the nature of the relationship, an Entity will assume one of two roles: Affilate or Advertiser.
The Basic Relationship
All Entity Relationships in LeadConduit are based around a basic relationship between the following two roles:
- Advertiser (a.k.a. Lead Recipient, Lead Buyer, Master)
- Affiliate (a.k.a. Lead Source, Lead Provider)
In this relationship, Leads flow from Affiliates (Lead Sources) to Advertisers (Lead Recipients). The following diagram shows this relationship:
Here is the same relationship using different terminology:
An Entity can assume the role of an Affiliate, an Advertiser, or both. In the situation where the Entity is both an Affiliate and an Advertiser, the Entity is in the role of Affiliate in one relationship, and in the role of Advertiser in another relationship. The roles of Affiliate and Advertiser are contextual. They depend on the nature of the relationship with another entity.
Example 1: Company A becomes an Affiliate of Company B
In a situation where Company A begins to supply leads to Company B, the following relationship is created:
Company A is now in the role of an Affiliate for Company B who is in the role of an Advertiser.
Example 2: Company B becomes an Affiliate for Company C
In a situation where Company B begins to supply leads to Company C, the following relationship is created:
Within this relationship, Company C is in the role of the Advertiser and Company B is now in the role of an Affiliate for Company C.
Example 3: Company B is both an Affiliate and Advertiser
In this situation, Company B is involved in two relationships. Relationship 1 is Example 1 (above). Relationship 2 is Example 2 (above). In this new situation, Company B is both an Affiliate and an Advertiser.
In LeadConduit, relationships are often referred to as “Affiliations”.