Retail Media & Brand Partnerships Platforms: A Practical Guide for Advertisers

Retail media, also known as brand partnerships in the affiliate marketing world, is emerging as a powerful way for advertisers to reach highly engaged shoppers in closed environments. Instead of relying on broad public ads, brands can tap into closed user group advertising channels like order confirmation pages or loyalty apps to present exclusive discounts, checkout rewards, and gift-with-purchase offers to users who are already primed to shop. This strategy offers a win-win: advertisers gain new customer acquisition from a partner’s audience, while the host retailer earns extra revenue or improved conversion rates without cannibalising their own sales. For affiliate marketers, these retail media solutions combine the tracking and pay-for-performance model of traditional affiliate marketing with the creativity of cross-brand promotions. The result is gift with purchase advertising and post-purchase rewards that delight customers and boost sales for all parties.

In this article, Retail Media & Brand Partnerships Platforms: A Practical Overview for Advertisers, we provide an indepth overview of five leading retail media platforms for advertisers in this space: Tyviso, Sovendus, Rokt, THG Media, and BrandSwap, focusing on how advertisers can work with each to drive sales. This guide aims to be your comprehensive resource on how to use retail media for affiliate marketing and a guide to affiliate brand partnerships. For each platform, we’ll cover their advertising products, ideal advertiser profiles, requirements, differentiators, host partners, and other good-to-know facts.

Tyviso for Affiliate Advertisers

Tyviso is a plug-and-play brand partnership platform that makes it easy for advertisers to collaborate with complementary brands and reach new customers. Advertisers can join Tyviso either directly or via their existing affiliate network integration (Tyviso has partnerships with major affiliate networks for seamless setup). Once onboarded, you can white-label Tyviso’s technology onto partner retailers’ sites at no cost and set up campaigns through a self-service dashboard. In practice, this means an advertiser can “host” offers on their site or serve as an offer provider (or both). As an offer provider, you supply a compelling reward (e.g. a free gift or exclusive discount) that will be presented to shoppers on a host’s e-commerce site. Tyviso handles the targeting, tracking, and fulfillment via affiliate tracking links. Everything is performance-based, you pay only for results (e.g. a new customer sale generated), and the host earns a commission for each referred sale. The platform is user-friendly: advertisers can log in, drag-and-drop to create campaigns, and launch partnerships in minutes, accessing a network of potentially thousands of partner brands.

What are the different Tyviso retail media products available for advertisers?

Tyviso offers three core products for advertisers, all rooted in providing customer gifting and rewards:

1. Gift With Purchase (GWP) Advertising Affiliate

The advertiser’s product or offer is used as a free gift incentive during another brand’s purchase. For example, a skincare brand might offer a free product to customers who spend £X on a partner’s beauty site. This boosts the host’s basket completion rate and average order value, while introducing the advertiser’s product to new customers. Gifts are only redeemable post-purchase via a code or link emailed to the customer, ensuring the sales journey is not interrupted.  

2. Gift After Purchase (Post-Purchase Offers)

The advertiser’s offer is presented after the customer completes an order on the host’s site, typically on the order confirmation page. For instance, after buying from a fashion retailer, a customer might be offered a free trial or discount voucher from a partnering fitness or food brand as a reward. This enhances customer satisfaction for the host and drives traffic to the advertiser’s site. This is a key aspect of affiliate marketing on order confirmation pages.

3. Rewards Program Integration (Loyalty/Perks)

Tyviso can support ongoing rewards or loyalty programmes—such as “EE Rewards”. In this model, advertisers provide exclusive deals or freebies to be featured within a partner’s rewards portal or loyalty app. This offers a way to engage a closed, high-value user base with offers designed to drive repeat interaction.

Notably, Tyviso emphasises that host brands can replace traditional discounts on their own products with third-party sponsored promotions—preserving their margins while still incentivising sales. For the host brand, these rewards help reduce churn by delivering fresh, relevant perks; for advertisers, they deliver high-intent traffic from a trusted and engaged audience.

What kind of advertisers is each product aimed at?

Gift With Purchase

Ideal for advertisers with a product or service that can serve as a tangible reward and complements the host retailer’s offering. Typically, these are consumer brands that benefit from trial and sampling. For example, FMCG and beauty brands, subscription food boxes, or accessory and lifestyle products often use GWP to get their items into the hands of a lookalike audience. It works best for advertisers aiming to build brand awareness and acquire customers through product sampling in a highly targeted context.

Gift After Purchase (Post-Purchase Offers)

Can be used by a broader range of advertisers, including those whose “gift” is a voucher or digital offer rather than a physical item. Any advertiser looking for new customer acquisition affiliate strategies via exclusive promo codes or free trials can leverage this. It’s aimed at brands that want to ride the goodwill right after a successful purchase. This product is particularly relevant for post-purchase advertising for affiliates.

Rewards (Loyalty/Perks)

Suit advertisers who want visibility to a loyal customer community of another brand. Often larger brands or service providers participate here. If you’re an advertiser looking to be part of a curated perks catalogue, this product is for you. The emphasis is on brand alignment and customer lifetime value.

Across all products, Tyviso tends to work with mid-sized to large brands. However, advertisers of various sizes can participate as offer providers, as long as you can fulfill the incentive and track performance.

What are the criteria / minimum requirements for advertisers on Tyviso?

Tyviso’s model is relatively flexible and performance-driven, but there are a few key requirements for advertisers:

Affiliate Tracking Capability

Advertisers should either have an affiliate programme or be able to integrate with Tyviso’s tracking. Tyviso is already integrated with global affiliate networks, which means if you have a programme on one of those, activating Tyviso is quick. This ensures sales driven by the partnership can be tracked and attributed on a CPA (cost-per-action) basis. Essentially, Tyviso or the host will appear as a publisher in your affiliate programme to receive credit for referred sales. Pay-on-performance tracking is mandatory.

Compelling Offer Value

Advertisers need to provide a strong incentive, such as a high-value free gift or an exclusive discount affiliate offer.

Budget for Free Gifts or CPA Payouts

Be prepared to fund the cost of gifted products/discounts and pay a CPA commission for resulting sales. Tyviso enables increased CPA incentives to specific hosts to secure placement. Advertisers should be ready to be competitive with commissions. This aligns with the concept of targeted CPA placements in retail media.

Reciprocity for Rewards Programs

Being open to hosting other brands’ offers can be part of partnership deals, though one-way deals are acceptable if you bring a valuable brand.

Overall, Tyviso does not impose strict entry barriers; even relatively smaller brands can join if the offer is appealing. The self-serve platform and lack of fixed fees lower the friction.

What sets Tyviso apart from competitors in affiliate brand partnerships?

Tyviso differentiates itself through its technology-driven and “science-led” approach to affiliate brand partnerships.

White-Label & Seamless Integration

Tyviso positions itself as the “backbone” of brand partnerships. Their tech can be embedded directly into a host’s site (completely white-labeled), meaning the customer experiences the offer as part of the native site. This native integration, combined with one-click activation and no upfront cost, makes it very easy for retailers to adopt, increasing opportunities for advertisers. Tyviso offers a scalable platform rather than just a manual broker service.

Focus on Data and Testing

Tyviso emphasises the “science” of partnerships, using data analysis and A/B testing tools to optimise campaigns. This means advertisers benefit from continuous improvements to maximise engagement, resulting in higher conversion rates for your offers.

Scale of Network

Tyviso boasts access to an extensive network of brands.  As an advertiser, you enter a large matchmaking pool, allowing Tyviso to find hosts whose audience fits your target profile quickly. This scale and variety is a key advantage.

Self-Service with Support

Tyviso provides a self-serve portal to manage campaigns while also offering co-management support if needed.

In sum, Tyviso stands out for its tech-first, turn-key solution, its commitment to performance (no fees, all CPA-based), and a network approach that treats brand partnerships as a scalable channel

Who are Tyviso’s current retail media host partners?

Tyviso works with a range of notable e-commerce and consumer brands as hosts (the retailers or platforms where offers are shown). Some of the UK’s biggest brands are in Tyviso’s roster. Examples include:

• Telecom & Utilities: EE, Plusnet, and Sky.
• Retail & E-commerce: Secret Sales, Online4Baby, and Pets at Home.
• Brands & Services: SharkNinja, Ninja Kitchen, Evri, and Clearpay.
• D2C and Others: Wild, Fussy, Parcel2Go, and Samsung.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but the key point for an advertiser is that Tyviso’s host network includes high-traffic, reputable UK brands, offering quality exposure.

What else is good to know about Tyviso for affiliate advertisers?

One useful thing to know is that Tyviso’s platform is highly flexible in commercial terms. Since it runs on a CPA model by default, advertisers can trial campaigns with relatively low risk. Tyviso even offers a free 60-day trial period for new hosts, which suggests a commitment to proving value through performance.

Another point: Tyviso enables fine-tuned partner customisation, allowing you to give a particularly strong offer or higher commission to a specific host to secure exclusive placement. This supports bespoke terms easily.

Tyviso’s use of affiliate network infrastructure means that joining is often as simple as approving Tyviso or their host partner as an affiliate in your programme. Tyviso can work through networks like Awin, CJ, Partnerize, etc, acting like a sub-network. This simplifies legal and tracking considerations. You likely won’t need a new contract, just an insertion order or an agreement on CPA and exposure details.

Tyviso’s early entry and portfolio of big clients give it credibility as a leader in retail media partnerships. If you’re considering testing out retail media partnerships, Tyviso is a good benchmark for a self-service, data-driven approach.

Sovendus for Advertisers

Sovendus is a pioneer in the post-purchase offer space, particularly known in Europe for its extensive voucher network. Advertisers can work with Sovendus in two primary ways: through its Voucher Network and its Checkout promotions. In essence, by joining Sovendus an advertiser can have their special offer or voucher presented to millions of online shoppers immediately after those shoppers complete purchases on other partner sites. This exposes the advertiser to a high-intent audience in a closed environment, whereby the user only sees the offers because they just bought something on a Sovendus host site, lending a sense of exclusivity.

The typical flow is: a customer makes a purchase on a Sovendus partner e-commerce site and reaches the order confirmation page. There, they might see a banner or prompt. On clicking, they’re taken to a Sovendus offers page (branded to the host) where multiple advertiser vouchers are displayed. If the customer chooses the advertiser’s voucher, they receive a code or link to the advertiser’s site. This drives traffic and new sales for the advertiser on a CPA-like basis. Sovendus essentially acts as an intermediary, aggregating advertiser offers into a one-stop rewards page for consumers.

Additionally, Sovendus offers a “Checkout Product” service where an advertiser’s offer can appear directly on the checkout page of the host site. This is a more integrated placement, and if the customer accepts, they might be emailed the offer or taken to the advertiser immediately after their purchase. In both cases, the advertiser gains a new customer lead or sale in a moment of high engagement.

From the advertiser perspective, working with Sovendus is relatively straightforward: you provide Sovendus with your promotion details and set up tracking. Sovendus then distributes your offer across its network of host retailers’ confirmation pages. Importantly, Sovendus operates on a closed-group principle, meaning your offer is not publicly listed on coupon sites; it’s only shown to users who qualify via partner sites, which helps preserve exclusivity and intent. Advertisers pay Sovendus only when a voucher is redeemed or a sale is made (performance model), plus potentially a small fee per lead in some cases. By plugging into Sovendus, advertisers can gain access to over 9 million shoppers per month across 2,600+ partner shops in Europe.

What are the different Sovendus retail media products available for advertisers?

Sovendus offers two key products for advertisers:

Sovendus Voucher Network

This is the flagship product, essentially a cross-shop voucher distribution network. Advertisers provide a special voucher or discount deal. These offers are then displayed to consumers after checkout on other shops. The customer is typically shown a selection of vouchers and chooses one to claim. Only one voucher can usually be claimed per purchase. For the advertiser, the Voucher Network is all about driving traffic and sales, where you’ll likely see new customers coming in using the voucher codes obtained via Sovendus. This product is excellent for broad promotions and is effectively affiliate marketing via post-purchase coupons.

Sovendus Checkout Product (Onsite Offers)

In this offering, an advertiser’s deal is presented directly within the host’s site interface (usually during or right after the checkout process) rather than on a separate vouchers page. This might include more interactive or content-rich offers, such as free trial subscriptions or product sample boxes. The “Checkout Product” is a more integrated and often more prominent placement, a premium placement where your offer is highlighted as a part of the host’s own checkout flow. This drives highly qualified leads, as the user actively opts in.

From an advertiser standpoint, both products require supplying an enticing offer and being ready to handle the incoming traffic. The Voucher Network gives you volume and reach, while the Checkout placement can yield higher engagement but typically on select hosts.

What kind of advertisers is each product aimed at?

Voucher Network

This is aimed at any advertiser who can benefit from increased traffic and sales via discount incentives, especially retail e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands. If your business is comfortable offering a decent discount to attract new customers, the voucher network is a great fit. Typical advertisers include fashion, beauty, footwear, general merchandise, and even service providers. It’s ideal for advertisers with wide appeal or those open to discovering new customer segments.

Checkout Product (Onsite Offers)

This is best suited for advertisers with offers closely aligned to the host’s audience or checkout context. Your product/service needs to complement their brand. Advertisers in categories like subscriptions, memberships, and high-value services do well here. These advertisers typically have strong customer lifetime value, enabling them to give a rich introductory offer. They also value the qualified leads they get. If you’re an advertiser with a generous trial offer or free sample to give, the Checkout placement is ideal. It’s also great for brands seeking a more curated association. To be in the Checkout Product, an advertiser must usually already be in the Voucher Network, implying checkout placements are a perk for those deeply integrated.

What are the criteria / minimum requirements for advertisers on Sovendus?

Sovendus has a few specific criteria given its cooperative model:

Reciprocity (“Give and Take” Principle)

A unique requirement is that to have your voucher distributed in the Sovendus Voucher Network, your own site must also host the Sovendus voucher portal on your confirmation page. This means if you want to advertise via Sovendus, you typically become a Sovendus host as well. This ensures every participating advertiser also contributes traffic into the network.

Minimum Traffic or Order Volume (for Hosts)

Sovendus usually onboards partners (hosts) that have a significant number of orders per month. As an advertiser, if you’re also becoming a host, your online shop should meet these volume thresholds. Sovendus tends to work with established retailers.

Attractive Offer (Value and Exclusivity)

Sovendus requires advertisers to provide a compelling discount or reward that is not readily available elsewhere. There’s also an expectation of exclusivity.

Affiliate/Tracking Setup

Sovendus can track redemptions via various methods, commonly through affiliate networks. You may need to approve Sovendus as a publisher in your affiliate programme. The key requirement is to have a tracking mechanism in place.

Checkout Product Prerequisites

Sovendus usually limits the Onsite Checkout Offers to advertisers who are already participating in the voucher network and performing well. Additionally, checkout placements might be offered only to those who also host such offers. Advertisers should have the flexibility to tailor creative and possibly pay a premium for this slot.

Performance Metrics (EPC)

Sovendus uses an algorithm that ranks advertiser offers by earnings-per-click (EPC) and conversion rates. If your offer doesn’t generate conversions, it might be shown lower or less frequently. Advertisers often experiment with different offers.

In summary, Sovendus expects advertisers to fully participate (by hosting the network too), to provide great deals, and to integrate tracking. It’s essentially joining a club of retailers helping each other.

What sets Sovendus apart from competitors in retail media?

Sovendus’s distinguishing features largely stem from its scale and experience:

Massive European Network

Sovendus has one of the largest established networks of online shops in Europe for this kind of cross-promotion. With over 2,600 partner shops and 9 million shoppers reached monthly, its footprint is hard to match. For advertisers, this means access to an extensive closed distribution network that can drive volume quickly.

Closed-Group, High-Intent Audience

Sovendus pioneered the idea of the “checkout voucher portal”. The user only sees it after a purchase, meaning they’re in a positive buying mood. The fact that it’s a closed user group gives consumers a feeling of exclusivity. Advertisers benefit from this incremental channel that reaches users at a time when other marketing channels have signed off.

Algorithm-Driven Offer Ranking

Sovendus’s system uses performance data to decide which offers to show and in what order, aiming to show the most appealing ones higher. This optimisation means the network as a whole yields good results.

Quality Control and Partner Requirements

Sovendus’s model of requiring partners to reciprocate and maintain certain standards means the network is curated. When a consumer lands on the voucher page, they often see well-known retail names.

Beyond Vouchers (Multi-channel)

Sovendus has expanded its offerings to include email marketing and newsletter sign-ups. Few competitors in the post-checkout space have that multi-channel breadth.

Partnership with Major Retailers & Agencies

Sovendus powers the post-checkout offers for THG Media’s portfolio.

In summary, Sovendus is set apart by being a long-established, algorithmically optimised network of reciprocal retail partnerships. It offers unmatched scale in certain regions and a proven model that yields “bonus sales” for advertisers.

Who are Sovendus’s current retail media host partners?

Sovendus originally launched in the DACH region and has since expanded across Europe including the UK. Some current host partners in the UK include:

• LookFantastic
• Myvitamins
• grüum
• Fragrance Direct

Across Europe, Sovendus counts big names as hosts like MediaMarkt, Tchibo, and Decathlon. For an up-to-date UK list, Sovendus’s press releases or website might list partners. Clearly, THG’s retail sites are a notable chunk, plus independent retailers like Gruum.

What’s good to know about Sovendus for advertisers?

One important insight: Sovendus requires a commitment to the model. It’s more an ongoing partnership, not a one-off campaign platform. Advertisers should be prepared for a long-term approach.

It’s also good to know that Sovendus’s performance can depend on your offer’s competitiveness. Because Sovendus uses an algorithmic display, if your EPC (earnings per click) is low, your offer might appear less frequently or in a less prominent position. Advertisers often experiment with different offers on Sovendus to find what resonates.

If you’re primarily UK-focused, Sovendus can still be useful as it’s expanding in the UK, but its network is strongest in Germany, Austria, etc.. Advertisers who can sell and fulfil internationally may get extra value.

For Checkout Product placements, note that these are highly coveted slots. If you aspire to be the featured post-checkout offer on a site like LookFantastic, it might involve coordination with THG Media and Sovendus together. If you perform well in the voucher network, you’re more likely to be invited into the checkout placements.

Lastly, consider the customer experience: when a Sovendus voucher is claimed, typically the user is emailed the code or lands on your site with the code applied. Ensure that journey is smooth. Also, because these customers come right after a purchase elsewhere, they might not buy immediately. Sovendus leads can have a bit of lag. Set cookie periods accordingly. Basically, treat Sovendus-acquired customers with a nurturing mindset.

Rokt for Advertisers: Driving Sales at the Transaction Moment

Rokt is an e-commerce technology platform that enables advertisers to reach shoppers at the very moment of purchase on other websites. In practice, advertisers work with Rokt by placing highly targeted offers on the order confirmation pages (and sometimes in-cart or post-transaction modals) of Rokt’s partner retailers. This means when a customer has just completed a purchase on a host site, they might see a native ad or offer from the advertiser, presented as a next step or complementary offer.

To get started, advertisers typically engage with Rokt’s team and platform much like they would with an ad network. You would set up a campaign, define your targeting preferences, and provide creative assets and offer details. Rokt’s system uses machine learning to match offers to the right moments and users. As an advertiser, you specify your cost-per-acquisition goal or budget, and Rokt will display your offer to users where it predicts a high likelihood of conversion.

Importantly, Rokt’s placements are native and integrated, meaning the offer usually appears as part of the host site’s flow. This integration is designed to make the offers feel like a logical extension of the checkout experience. Advertisers pay Rokt on a performance basis, commonly a cost per engagement or cost per conversion. Rokt’s model can involve dynamic bidding for placements, optimising bids to meet your CPA target. If the user accepts your offer, they might be prompted to enter details or taken directly to your site, with Rokt tracking this and charging accordingly.

In summary, to work with Rokt, an advertiser will: allocate a budget (usually substantial), set up campaign targeting, provide the offer/creative, and then let Rokt’s AI place that offer across its network. The result is engaging high-intent consumers right at the “Transaction Moment” when they’re most receptive. Rokt essentially turns others’ confirmation pages into a customer acquisition channel for advertisers.

What are the different retail media solutions available for advertisers on Rokt?

Rokt’s offering to advertisers is often described collectively as Rokt Ads, the network through which your ads/offers appear on partner sites. However, within that, there are a couple of placements and product variants:

Rokt Placement on Order Confirmation Pages

This is the core product. Your advertisement is displayed on the confirmation page once a user completes a purchase on a partner e-commerce site. It’s typically presented as a native ad unit at checkout.

This product excels at customer acquisition because you’re catching the user at a peak moment of engagement.

Email Confirmation Insertion

Rokt also allows advertisers to place offers in transactional emails that some retailers send (order confirmation emails). This provides another touchpoint for post-purchase advertising.

Targeted Upsells and Payment Offers

Rokt partners with retailers to present relevant upsells or payment-related offers during checkout. This is a specialised product for certain verticals, such as financial advertisers.

The key is that all these placements are native and AI-driven to maximise relevance. You choose audience/vertical targets, and Rokt finds the placements.

What kind of advertisers is each product aimed at?

Rokt’s network supports a diverse range of advertisers across many verticals, but generally it’s best for advertisers who have a broad appeal or a strong cross-sell potential with other retail audiences. Common types include:

Subscription Services and Memberships

These are heavily seen on Rokt, as they can snag customers right after a purchase with free trials or special deals.

Financial Products

Credit card offers, insurance quotes, and “buy now, pay later” services also use Rokt, leveraging its ability to target by transaction context.

Retail & D2C Brands

Large retailers or direct-to-consumer brands advertise via Rokt to drive new sales. These advertisers typically have a mass market appeal.

Apps and Digital Services

App-based companies leverage Rokt to get users by offering discount codes or incentives.

Travel and Experience Brands

Travel advertisers sometimes present upsells after a purchase, reaching customers who just bought a related product.

In essence, Rokt is aimed at advertisers who have a reasonable budget and want to target consumers based on real-time purchasing context. It particularly shines for non-endemic advertising. Because it requires a significant budget and has a sophisticated system, Rokt tends to be used by mid-to-large advertisers.

What are the criteria / minimum requirements for advertisers to use Rokt?

One of the known hurdles with Rokt is the minimum budget commitment. Advertisers typically need a fairly substantial budget to get started, often around £20,000 (approximately $25k+) as a minimum investment. This can be prohibitive for smaller advertisers. So, the first criterion is budget.

Aside from budget, other requirements include:

Optimisation Commitment

Rokt’s platform uses machine learning, and advertisers need to be willing to run tests and allow the algorithm to adjust bids and targeting.

Compelling Creative & Offer

Advertisers should prepare tailored creatives that match different host environments and a clear offer. Landing pages or sign-up flows on your end must also be optimised.

Conversion Tracking & Tech Integration

Rokt needs to track conversions, which might involve placing Rokt’s conversion pixel or sharing conversion data. Advertisers must integrate Rokt’s tracking.

Vertical/Product Fit

Rokt doesn’t accept every advertiser if the content isn’t appropriate for their network or host policies. Mainstream retail-friendly categories are generally fine.

Willingness to Pay for Premium Inventory

Advertisers should be prepared that to get on the most valuable partner sites or to reach certain high-value demographics, you may need to bid up or have a strong CPA. This implies a requirement of competitive bidding for targeted CPA placements.

In summary, to succeed with Rokt, an advertiser needs substantial budget, good creative and offer, proper tracking, and an optimisation mindset.

What sets Rokt apart from competitors in retail media?

Rokt is often cited as a leader in transaction marketing due to several unique strengths:

Exclusive Access to “Moment of Purchase”

Rokt specialises in reaching customers at the exact point of transaction completion. It has carved out partnerships with some of the world’s largest e-commerce players (over 500+ top companies) to integrate its offer placements. This scale and quality of Rokt’s host network is a key differentiator.

Advanced AI and Personalisation

Rokt’s tech uses machine learning to ensure relevancy and to optimise bids and placements in real time. This level of intelligence sets it apart from more rules-based networks.

Global and Multi-Vertical Reach

Rokt aggregates a broad range of non-endemic inventory under one roof. Advertisers can reach users across retail, travel, entertainment, and financial services sites all via Rokt. This breadth is a key differentiator.

High Engagement Format (Native Offers)

Rokt’s offer units are interactive, often offer-based modules that feel like part of the checkout. This leads to very high engagement rates compared to typical display ads.

Full-Service & Managed Approach

Rokt provides a fully managed service to its advertisers, aiming to meet your target CPA by adjusting behind the scenes. This expert support is a core aspect.

Focus on Incrementality

Rokt often pitches itself as delivering truly incremental customers, reaching folks you wouldn’t get via normal channels.

In short, Rokt’s secret sauce is combining big data-driven targeting with exclusive inventory at the transaction moment.

Who are Rokt’s current retail media host partners?

Rokt has an impressive roster of host partners, e-commerce sites and apps that have integrated Rokt to monetise their confirmation pages. Some notable ones include:

• Ticketmaster / Live Nation: One of Rokt’s earliest and flagship partners.
• Travel & Hospitality Sites: Many airline and travel booking sites use Rokt, such as AirAsia, eBookers, and Jetstar.
• Retailers & Marketplaces: Ulta Beauty, Albertsons, and Kogan are examples. Shopify also has a Rokt app for merchants.
• Financial Services & Telecom (as Hosts): Some banks and telecoms with online portals act as Rokt hosts.
• Big Tech/Software: Companies like GoDaddy and Intuit have been clients.

Essentially, over 500 e-commerce sites globally use Rokt. For an advertiser, this host network means your offers could appear on household-name sites.

What’s good to know about Rokt for advertisers?

If you’re considering Rokt, a crucial thing to know is that Rokt is a premium channel in terms of cost and management. The £20k minimum spend means you should be confident in the potential return.

Another point: Rokt’s interface and metrics might differ from typical affiliates. Expect to monitor things like CTR, conversion rate, eCPA, and Rokt’s own relevance scores. Patience in the early “learning” phase is needed.

‍Competition: Rokt’s network is closed, but you do effectively compete with other advertisers for placements. If another advertiser is willing to pay more for a certain audience, Rokt’s algorithm will favor them. You can often remedy low impressions by adjusting your bid or improving your offer. This is more continuous optimisation than a typical affiliate dynamic.

Privacy and data usage is another factor. Rokt’s solution sits in the transaction flow, so they handle customer data carefully. They tout themselves as GDPR-compliant.

One practical tip, creative tuning. Rokt offers often appear in a small modal or section, therefore succinct and clear messaging is critical. The offer has to be instantly understandable and attractive.

Finally, consider the customer journey: a user just finished a purchase elsewhere; your offer helps if it’s contextually logical. Rokt’s personalisation can insert the host name or relevant context.

In summary, Rokt is a powerful but resource-intensive channel. It’s like getting a VIP pass to the checkout lines of top retailers, extremely valuable if used right.

THG Media: Driving Sales Through Owned Retail Media and Brand Partnerships

How can advertisers work with THG Media to drive sales?

THG Media is the retail media and brand partnerships arm of The Hut Group (THG), which owns a portfolio of popular e-commerce brands like LookFantastic, Myprotein, and Zavvi. THG also powers other companies’ online stores through its Ingenuity platform. Advertisers can work with THG Media to access these closed customer bases by providing partner offers and gifts that are integrated into the shopping journey on THG’s sites and selected partner sites that THG powers. In essence, THG Media acts as a facilitator for brand partnership campaigns within its network.

There are two main avenues for an advertiser: Gift with Purchase promotions on THG sites, and post-checkout offers on THG sites (powered by Sovendus). Additionally, THG Media arranges partnerships for external clients, meaning if you want to reach the audience of those companies, THG Media might be handling those deals too.

For a Gift with Purchase, an advertiser (typically a brand with a physical product) would provide their product or a sample to be included as a free gift when customers purchase qualifying items on a THG-owned site. THG Media identifies a fit, and you supply the product units and possibly a fee. THG handles the logistics of adding the gift to outgoing parcels and promoting the offer on their site. This drives trial and sales for the advertiser and boosts conversions for the host. THG Media essentially brokers and executes this collaboration.

For post-checkout offers, THG Media has integrated Sovendus on some of its sites’ confirmation pages. This means after a customer completes a purchase on, say, LookFantastic.com, they are offered third-party deals. THG Media manages which offers appear and ensures they align with the brand. If you as an advertiser want your offer to show up to THG’s customers post-purchase, you can arrange that via THG Media, likely by also being part of Sovendus’ network. You’d provide a compelling voucher or reward, and THG Media would slot it into the “Plus” or “rewards” section after checkout on their sites. THG Media can also incorporate brand partnerships in other channels, such as including an insert in orders or a dedicated email.

To engage with THG Media, an advertiser would typically contact their Media Solutions team. It’s a more bespoke, account-managed process compared to self-serve platforms. Essentially, by working with THG Media, advertisers can plug their brand into the customer journey of THG’s own retail brands and select clients’ brands, leveraging those closed ecosystems to drive sales and awareness.

What are the different retail media products available for advertisers?

THG Media offers two primary “products” for brand partnerships:

Gift With Purchase (GWP) Campaigns

Advertisers supply a product to be offered as a free gift or an exclusive discount, which is presented to customers during their purchase journey on a host site. THG Media runs these GWP campaigns across many of its platforms, handling both the creative messaging and fulfilment. This approach is highly effective for brand sampling and trial generation. While the offer is shown pre-checkout to encourage conversion, the gift or discount is only redeemable post-purchase via a code or link emailed to the customer—ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted checkout experience.

Post-Checkout Partner Offers (Digital Rewards)

On certain THG sites, after completing an order, customers are presented with special offers from partner brands. This is powered by Sovendus technology. For the advertiser, your offer (likely a voucher or free trial link) can appear in a pop-up or on a confirmation page section after a purchase. This Checkout Rewards product is digital and works on a CPA basis. It's akin to being part of a "reward wall" or offers page on THG's site, integrated right in the checkout confirmation

THG Media can combine these with other media, such as homepage banners or social media shoutouts. They can also set up similar partnership placements for THG-powered brands, extending these products beyond THG-owned brands.

What kind of advertisers is each product aimed at?

Gift with Purchase

This product is particularly aimed at advertisers who have a physical product that aligns with the host retailer’s theme, and who are keen on product sampling and instant exposure. Typically, CPG brands, beauty and personal care brands, health and wellness products, and food & drink do well. It is ideal for advertisers with new product launches or wanting to penetrate a new market. The aim is to delight the customer and entice them to seek out the advertiser’s brand later. This is very much a brand awareness and trial play.

Post-Checkout Digital Offers

This format suits advertisers who might not have a physical product to give, or who prefer a wider reach with less upfront cost. It’s great for services, digital products, or retailers willing to give a strong discount. For instance, a subscription service or a travel company can use this to offer free trials or vouchers. This product is aimed at brands that want customer acquisition and can entice users with a coupon or promo code. Verticals that do well here include online services, finance products, other retail categories, and high-value consumer goods. THG likely filters for non-competing offers.

What are the criteria / minimum requirements for advertisers for each product?

For Gift with Purchase campaigns via THG Media:

Product Supply and Logistics

Advertisers must be able to provide the agreed number of gift units within the required timeframe, delivered to THG’s fulfillment centers.

Value and Relevance of Gift

The gift should genuinely add value to the host’s customer and be free with no strings attached.

Campaign Contribution (Optional/Negotiable)

While providing free products is often the main cost, THG might sometimes request a listing fee or marketing contribution.

Brand Fit and Approval

THG will vet that your brand aligns with their values and customer expectations, requiring proper product certifications and a decent reputation.

Affiliate/Tracking (for post-campaign effect)

It's smart for advertisers to have an affiliate programme or tracking in place if THG includes a promo code or call-to-action with the gift.

For Post-Checkout Offers (Sovendus-powered):

Sovendus Network Membership

To get on THG’s checkout, you will likely need to join Sovendus’s voucher network, which often includes reciprocal hosting of offers. This means you should be willing to participate in Sovendus’s programme broadly.

High-Quality Offer & Commission

Your offer should be attractive and from a category that makes sense, and your EPC and commission rates should be competitive.

No Direct Competitors

THG will not allow certain categories that conflict with their business; your product should be non-competing but complementary.

Volume and Scale

Advertisers' offers should be able to handle potentially significant volume, ensuring your website can handle bursts of traffic and inventory is available.

Campaign Timeline

Be prepared to maintain the offer for a decent duration to gain traction.

What sets THG Media apart from competitors in retail media?

THG Media’s proposition is distinct in a few ways:

Integration with Owned Retail Ecosystem

THG Media directly controls a portfolio of prominent e-commerce sites, allowing seamless, native execution of partnerships from on-site messaging to fulfillment. This leads to a high-quality customer experience.

End-to-End Capability (Full Service)

THG Media offers an end-to-end solution, handling placement, distribution (digital and physical), and performance data. They combine the role of network, agency, and media owner in one.

High-Value Closed Audiences

THG’s brands cater to loyal, niche customer segments, providing access to attractive audiences. Advertisers gain credibility by association. THG can leverage its loyalty and membership programs for deeper engagement.

Combination of Physical and Digital Channels

THG Media uniquely combines physical gift placements with digital offer placements. This omni-channel approach to partnerships allows them to hit the customer at multiple touchpoints.

Partnerships for Non-THG Brands (Ingenuity clients)

THG Ingenuity powers other retailers like Matalan, and THG Media extends partnerships to them, effectively scaling brand partnerships beyond their own portfolio.

Data & Personalisation via Ingenuity

THG Ingenuity likely has robust customer data and personalisation capabilities, allowing them to tailor partnerships (e.g., showing a high-end partner gift only to high-spending customers).

In essence, what sets THG Media apart is that it’s brand-owned retail media at its finest.

Who are THG Media’s current retail media host partners?

"Host partners" in the context of THG Media refer to two categories: THG’s own brands (where campaigns run) and external companies for whom THG runs partnerships.

THG’s Own Brands/Sites

These are effectively the "hosts" where your offers or gifts can appear. Key ones include:

• LookFantastic
• Myprotein
• Myvitamins
• Glossybox (and beauty box subscriptions)
• Zavvi
• AllBeauty
• And many others like Coggles, IWOOT, Probikekit.

External Retailers Powered by THG Ingenuity:

• Matalan
• Fragrance Direct
• Procter & Gamble (as a partner, potentially providing gifts).
• Other companies known to sign with Ingenuity include Nestlé, Nintendo UK store, and Homebase.

Effectively, THG Media’s hosts include all THG-owned consumer sites and selected client sites using THG’s e-commerce solutions. This wide array allows advertisers to target one or multiple of those, offering breadth across beauty, fitness, fashion, entertainment, etc.

What’s good to know about THG Media for advertisers?

One key thing: THG Media is a managed service, not an open network. This means any partnership will be the result of discussions and agreements, requiring advertisers to plan ahead and align with THG’s timelines.

Another insight: Measurement. THG Media likely provides results reports, and advertisers should set clear KPIs with THG Media.

Also, cost structure: Many THG Media partnerships for GWP don’t involve money changing hands except the advertiser giving free product. However, some arrangements might involve fees for exclusivity or operate on a pure CPA model via Sovendus.

THG’s own strategy might influence campaigns, meaning flexibility is needed to avoid conflict with THG’s marketing calendar.

If you’re a smaller brand, working through THG Media can sometimes be a fast-track to exposure you couldn’t get on your own. THG often supports up-and-coming brands by featuring them.

Finally, consider the customer perspective: THG’s customers are bombarded with marketing, but partnerships arranged by THG Media tend to feel natural. This subtlety means higher acceptance, and advertisers benefit from a "halo effect", an indirect endorsement by THG.

BrandSwap: A Retail Media Platform for Brand-to-Brand Reward Partnerships

How can advertisers work with BrandSwap to drive sales?

BrandSwap is a retail media platform that connects online retailers (hosts) and advertisers in a brand-to-brand reward network. Advertisers can work with BrandSwap by providing special reward offers that partner retailers will embed in their customer journey, typically at checkout or post-purchase, in exchange for performance-based payment (usually a CPA commission). In simpler terms, BrandSwap allows advertisers to “swap” incentives with retailers: you pay to offer your reward to their customers, gaining new sales, while the retailer earns commission and gives their shoppers extra value.

To get started, an advertiser would join the BrandSwap platform, which has integrations with major affiliate networks and tag managers for quick onboarding. Once onboarded, you can list the reward offers you want to put out to partner sites. BrandSwap’s system then matches your offers to suitable retail hosts based on data profiling, looking for audience similarity and offer relevance. Retailers can choose to feature your offer in one of several placements: pre-purchase incentive, post-purchase reward, or on a reward wall page.

When a retailer (host) features your offer, it will appear to their customers at the designated point. For instance, a Smart Gift with Purchase placement might show a customer a message like “Add your FREE gift: 1 month of [Your Service]” in their cart. If it’s a post-checkout reward, a pop-up might appear after completing their order: “Thank you for your purchase! Choose a reward: [Your Brand’s offer] among others”. In a Reward Wall scenario, your offer might be listed on a dedicated “Rewards” section or loyalty page.

As customers claim or click through your offer, BrandSwap tracks it. Typically, the customer will either be emailed a promo code or be redirected to your site via a tracking link to redeem the offer. As the advertiser, you pay BrandSwap (and the host) only when a customer actually takes the desired action, usually a sale on your site (CPA). The host effectively becomes a publisher/affiliate earning commission from you via BrandSwap. BrandSwap provides a central dashboard where you can manage all this.

In summary, advertisers work with BrandSwap to access a marketplace of retailers eager to present third-party offers. By placing an enticing reward via BrandSwap, you drive sales from a high-intent audience at the point of purchase, and in return you pay a commission for those sales.

What are the different retail media products available for advertisers?

BrandSwap offers three main product formats for advertisers, corresponding to where and how your offers appear on partner retailers:

Smart Gift With Purchase (Smart GWP)

This is a pre-checkout incentive embedded in the retailer’s cart or product page. Up to three advertiser offers can be presented to a customer before they complete their purchase. It’s called “smart” because BrandSwap uses AI to select the most relevant offers for that user/cart. This product is ideal to incentivise conversion, helping the host close the sale while you gain a potential customer.

Smart Post-Checkout Rewards

This is a post-purchase offer shown on the order confirmation page or in an immediate post-checkout pop-up. Similar to Smart GWP, the host can display up to three offers after a purchase. For advertisers, post-checkout rewards are great for acquiring customers who are in a good mood after buying and potentially open to another offer; it's a pure customer acquisition play.

Reward Wall

This is essentially a dedicated rewards page or hub on the host’s site listing all available partner offers. It’s often accessible post-login or post-purchase. For advertisers, being on a reward wall gives you exposure to the host’s customer base whenever they check the rewards section. This product is good for ongoing exposure, especially in loyalty or membership contexts.

By default, BrandSwap runs on CPA (cost-per-acquisition), meaning these product placements cost you nothing upfront; you pay only for the sales you get. However, BrandSwap also offers tenancy options for enhanced placement, such as paying to be the sole offer or top-listed. This allows for paid sponsorship for exclusivity or highlight.

What kind of advertisers is each product aimed at?

Smart Gift With Purchase (Pre-checkout)

This product is aimed at advertisers whose offer can serve as a compelling instant incentive to complete a purchase. It works best for brands who can give something fairly immediate and attractive, often digital services or memberships, or low-cost physical add-ons. It’s ideal for advertisers who want to boost trial or sign-ups by leveraging that psychological nudge.

Smart Post-Checkout Rewards

This format is quite broad and can accommodate almost any advertiser that benefits from getting in front of new customers. It’s suitable for subscription services, financial products, retail brands seeking new customers, travel offers, and more. It's especially suitable for advertisers with a clear target demographic that overlaps with certain retail audiences. It's also a great place for lead generation offers.

Reward Wall

Advertisers on a reward wall likely have ongoing offers or evergreen deals that they are happy to present continually. This suits advertisers who want constant exposure to a loyalty audience. It can host many categories, so advertisers here range widely: insurance, telecom, travel, automotive, large retailers, etc.. This product is aimed at those who want persistent visibility and are targeting a loyalty audience. It can deliver very high-intent traffic when the context is right.

BrandSwap caters to both large and smaller advertisers, as long as the offer is attractive.

What are the criteria / minimum requirements for advertisers to use BrandSwap?

BrandSwap’s general model is very accessible for advertisers, with few hard barriers.  

Affiliate Program or Tracking Setup

Since BrandSwap primarily operates on a CPA basis, advertisers should have a way to track referred sales, typically via an affiliate network integration or a tracking pixel/tag.  

Attractive Offer Value

While there’s no official discount requirement, your offer must be compelling enough to interest retailers and customers, often meaning a strong discount or freebie. Offers should ideally be exclusive or better than public promotions.

Commission & Commercial Terms

By default, BrandSwap is CPA-only. Advertisers should be comfortable with typical affiliate commission levels or a bounty. There is no minimum budget mandated; you could run and only pay per sale.

Offer Redemption Mechanism

You need to have a mechanism to fulfill the offer to the customer, such as universal or unique codes, or a landing page with the discount auto-applied.

Tenancy (if desired)

If you want a guaranteed or exclusive placement, there will be a cost (tenancy fee).

Responsive Communication

Advertisers should be prepared to respond to any issues promptly and keep offers updated.

Reciprocity (Not required)

Unlike Sovendus, advertisers are not required to host offers in return.

In summary, BrandSwap’s requirements are quite minimal: you need a good, trackable offer and willingness to operate on a CPA. They pride themselves on “little-to-no minimum spend requirements” in the evolving retail media space.

What sets BrandSwap apart from competitors in retail media?

BrandSwap has several features and approaches that differentiate it in the retail media and brand partnerships landscape:

AI-Driven Relevance Engine

BrandSwap heavily emphasises its smart matching technology, using AI to match advertiser offers to the right customers based on factors like lookalike shopping journeys, cart contents, and past purchase behavior. This can set them apart by delivering better performance and a more personalised experience.

Seamless Integration & Ease for Retailers

BrandSwap has made it easy for hosts to integrate via affiliate network tags or GTM, and manage partnerships in one login. This benefits advertisers because it means the network of available hosts can grow quickly. They also emphasise one platform to manage all partnerships.

Performance-Only Model with Option for Tenancy

BrandSwap defaults to “pay on performance,” which is attractive because it aligns cost with actual sales. At the same time, they allow tenancy fees for enhanced placement. This flexibility sets them apart from platforms that might be strictly CPA or charge hefty entry fees.

Focus on Retailer’s Full Customer Journey

BrandSwap enables retailers to monetise “across the whole customer journey”. It covers pre-purchase incentives, post-purchase rewards, and loyalty (reward wall), allowing advertisers to engage customers at multiple points via one platform.

Newness and Innovation

BrandSwap only started in 2023, meaning it’s a new entrant with fresh tech. This often translates to being more agile and open to custom solutions.

Collaboration with Major Affiliate Networks

BrandSwap is notably partnered with Awin and Rakuten technology programs. This means integration could be as easy as approving BrandSwap as a publisher on Awin.

Publisher (Host) Acquisition of Big Names Quickly

They claim to have onboarded “some of the UK’s biggest retailers” within their first year, including B&Q. This signals that as an advertiser, you can get placements on high-traffic, reputable sites that might otherwise be difficult to approach.

BrandSwap realises the true potential of retail media by focusing on relevance. For brand hosts, that means instantly unlocking the value of their first-party data to bring targeted opportunities out to advertisers, which subsequently maximises their revenue. For advertisers, that means targeting relevant, in-market customers to create a powerful acquisition channel. Meanwhile, those customers get rewards based on who they are and what they're buying, which improves their chances of conversion. With our unique approach and smart technology, every side wins.

James Norris – General Manager, BrandSwap

Who are BrandSwap’s current retail media host partners?

BrandSwap’s host partner list is growing and includes.

• B&Q
• Currys
• Screwfix 
• Check-a-trade

BrandSwap is live with leading retailers and has quickly expanded to several other top UK retail brands. The calibre of hosts is significant.

What’s good to know about BrandSwap for advertisers?

For advertisers considering BrandSwap, here are a few extra pointers:

No Long-Term Commitment or High Barrier

BrandSwap’s CPA model means you can test the waters without a large commitment, as there are no setup fees or monthly fees by default.

Offer Management is Flexible

You can easily update offers in the BrandSwap dashboard and retain control over your campaigns.

Retailer Control (Implication for Advertisers)

Hosts have the ability to choose which offers to show. Gaining and keeping distribution depends on performance and retailer preference, so optimising your offer is key.

Customer Experience is Prioritised

BrandSwap emphasises native integration, meaning your offer will appear in a way that feels trustworthy and not spammy, leading to higher customer engagement.

Analytical Insights

Being tech-driven, BrandSwap likely provides insightful data, potentially sharing which categories or host types yield the best results for you.

Growing Network

BrandSwap is expanding, meaning new host opportunities will come online regularly. Staying active ensures you benefit from that growth.

Test Different Approaches

With tenancy options, you can experiment with pure CPA versus paid placements to measure ROI.

Competitive Edge in Niche Pairings

If you have a product that naturally pairs with a certain retail category, BrandSwap is excellent for exploiting that, delivering very high-intent traffic when the context is right.

Given all the above, BrandSwap appears to be an innovative and flexible platform for advertisers. It merges the reliability of affiliate tracking with the creativity of retail media placements, allowing advertisers to reach customers in trusted environments with minimal risk and high relevance. Engaging with it now, while it’s on the rise, could give advertisers a first-mover advantage in capturing new customers through these partnership channels.

The EngageMore summary. Embracing retail media solutions for strategic customer acquisition.

Retail media and brand partnership platforms like Tyviso, Sovendus, Rokt, THG Media, and BrandSwap represent cutting-edge ways for advertisers to boost customer acquisition and sales. By presenting “checkout rewards” or “gift with purchase advertising” in closed, high-intent environments, advertisers can tap into engaged audiences they might otherwise miss.

Whether it’s leveraging Tyviso’s science-led partnerships to offer a free gift and avoid self-discounting, joining Sovendus’s vast voucher network to reach millions in a closed user group setting, running a targeted upsell via Rokt’s AI-powered placements on 500+ top e-commerce sites, collaborating with THG Media to insert your brand directly into the customer journey of leading retail brands, or deploying through BrandSwap’s smart platform to serve highly relevant offers at scale, the opportunities for advertisers are diverse and powerful.

Each solution has its unique strengths: Tyviso’s self-service ease for gift & reward partnerships, Sovendus’s proven confirmation-page voucher system, Rokt’s data-driven approach to non-endemic ads at purchase, THG Media’s hands-on integration of partnerships across its premium retail portfolio, and BrandSwap’s innovative, AI-fueled model.  

Advertisers should consider their goals and resources to choose the right partner. Many forward-thinking brands use a combination. For example, running simultaneous performance-based campaigns via BrandSwap and Tyviso, while investing in a Rokt campaign for a specific demographic, or sending product samples through THG Media’s GWP program for high-touch brand exposure.

What’s clear is that “retail media solutions” and “brand partnerships platforms” are becoming indispensable in the advertising toolkit. They allow advertisers to reach consumers at the most impactful moments with exclusive deals, gifts, and rewards, driving not only immediate sales but also long-term loyalty from those new customers. By tapping into these closed network environments, whether it’s a confirmation page available only to a retailer’s shoppers, or a loyalty portal for members, advertisers can achieve high engagement rates far above standard ads, as the audience perceives the offers as added value rather than noise.

For advertisers in 2025 and beyond, working with these platforms is a chance to supercharge your customer acquisition strategy. It’s about being strategic and collaborative: crafting offers that excite customers and meet platform criteria, and in return enjoying premium placement in shopping journeys where your brand can shine. The interchangeability of terms “retail media” and “brand partnerships” underscores the convergence of advertising and partnership marketing. Whatever you call it, it’s about brands helping each other grow by sharing audiences and rewarding those audiences. Embracing this approach will position your brand at the forefront of innovation, unlocking new revenue streams in a highly cost-effective, performance-driven way.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Frequently asked questions about retail media & brand partnerships platforms for advertisers.

General Definitions & Concepts

Q: What is retail media, and how does it differ from traditional affiliate marketing?
A: Retail media is also known as brand partnerships in the affiliate marketing world. It is emerging as a powerful way for advertisers to reach highly engaged shoppers in closed environments. Unlike broad public ads, brands tap into "closed user group" advertising channels like order confirmation pages or loyalty apps. For affiliate marketers, retail media solutions combine the tracking and pay-for-performance model of traditional affiliate marketing with the creativity of cross-brand promotions. The article emphasises that "retail media solutions" and "brand partnerships platforms" are becoming indispensable in the advertising toolkit.

Q: What are brand partnerships in the context of e-commerce?
A: Brand partnerships are emerging as a powerful way for advertisers to reach highly engaged shoppers in closed environments. They allow advertisers to reach consumers at the most impactful moments with exclusive deals, gifts, and rewards. The interchangeability of terms “retail media” and “brand partnerships” underscores the convergence of advertising and partnership marketing. It's about brands helping each other grow by sharing audiences and rewarding those audiences.

Q: Why is the "post-purchase moment" so important for advertisers?
A: Advertisers can tap into engaged audiences by presenting "checkout rewards" or "gift with purchase advertising" in closed, high-intent environments. This strategy catches the user at a peak moment of engagement, right after buying something. Customers are typically in a positive buying mood and often more receptive to another offer at this point. It's considered an incremental channel that reaches users at a time when other marketing channels have essentially signed off (after the sale). Customers are also attentive to rewards after completing a purchase.

Platform Functionality & Benefits

Q: How do these platforms (e.g., Tyviso, Sovendus, Rokt) facilitate customer acquisition?
A: Platforms like Tyviso, Sovendus, Rokt, THG Media, and BrandSwap allow advertisers to boost customer acquisition and sales. They do this by placing highly targeted offers on order confirmation pages or within the purchase journey. Rokt, for instance, uses machine learning to match offers to the right moments and users, optimising for CPA goals. Sovendus aggregates advertiser offers into a one-stop rewards page for consumers, exposing advertisers to a high-intent audience. Tyviso provides customer gifting and rewards, including Gift With Purchase and Gift After Purchase, to introduce advertiser products to new customers. THG Media offers physical gift placements and digital offers, integrating partner brands into their own retail ecosystem. BrandSwap connects advertisers and retailers in a brand-to-brand reward network, matching offers to suitable retail hosts.

Q: What are "Gift with Purchase" campaigns, and how do they benefit advertisers?
A: Gift With Purchase (GWP) is a product where an advertiser’s product or offer is used as a free gift incentive during another brand’s purchase. It's a physical in-basket promotion where advertisers provide a product to be given as a free gift when customers shop on a host site. Benefits include driving trial and sales for the advertiser, as customers might love the freebie and return to buy more from the advertiser’s own store. It's great for brand sampling and trial generation, getting the product into the hands of target consumers at the point of purchase. For advertisers, it's a way to boost trial or sign-ups by leveraging the psychological nudge of getting a free gift for ordering.

Q: How do "checkout rewards" or "post-purchase offers" work?
A: These offers are presented after the customer completes an order on the host’s site, typically on the order confirmation page. For instance, after buying from a fashion retailer, a customer might be offered a free trial or discount voucher from a partnering fitness or food brand as a reward. They are presented as a value-add "reward" for having shopped, appearing after the transaction is completed, so they don’t influence the current purchase. The customer can typically click "Claim" for the one they like, and they will either be emailed a promo code or directed to the advertiser’s landing page to redeem the offer. For advertisers, post-checkout rewards are excellent for acquiring customers who are in a good mood after buying and are potentially open to another offer.

Q: What is a "closed user group" advertising model?
A: A "closed user group" advertising model involves tapping into channels like order confirmation pages or loyalty apps. In this model, the user only sees the offers because they have just completed a purchase on a host site, which lends a sense of exclusivity. Offers are not publicly listed on coupon sites; they are only shown to users who qualify via partner sites, which helps preserve exclusivity and intent. This approach gives consumers a feeling of exclusivity, as if "this is a reward for completing my order".

Q: Do these platforms offer performance-based payment models?
A: Yes, these platforms widely utilise performance-based payment models. Tyviso operates on a pay-for-results basis, commonly Cost-Per-Action (CPA), where advertisers pay only for a new customer sale generated. Sovendus also operates on a performance model, where advertisers pay when a voucher is redeemed or a sale is made. Rokt charges advertisers on a performance basis, typically a cost per engagement or cost per conversion, often involving dynamic bidding to meet CPA targets. THG Media's digital post-checkout offers work on a CPA basis, meaning you only pay if the customer actually redeems or converts via your offer. BrandSwap primarily operates on a CPA (cost-per-acquisition) basis, where advertisers pay a commission for each conversion.

Requirements & Suitability

Q: Are these platforms suitable for small businesses or primarily for large brands?
A: While some platforms tend to work with larger brands, others are more accessible. Tyviso tends to work with mid-sized to large brands on the host side, but advertisers of various sizes can participate as offer providers, provided they can fulfill the incentive and track performance. Their self-serve platform and lack of fixed fees lower the friction, making them accessible. Rokt typically requires a substantial minimum budget, often around £20,000+, making it more suited for mid-to-large advertisers. In contrast, BrandSwap’s model is very accessible, with few hard barriers and no minimum budget mandated; advertisers can run and only pay per sale. THG Media supports both large companies and up-and-coming indie brands, particularly in beauty and wellness, as long as they can meet requirements like producing enough samples.

Q: What are the typical budget requirements for working with these platforms?

• Tyviso: Does not charge upfront fees (no setup or monthly fees). Advertisers fund the cost of gifted products/discounts and pay a CPA commission for any resulting sales.
• Sovendus: Advertisers pay on a performance model (per redemption or sale), plus potentially a small fee per lead in some cases. While no minimum budget is publicly stated, its "give and take" principle typically requires the advertiser to host offers in return.
• Rokt: Requires a fairly substantial minimum budget commitment, often around £20,000 (approximately $25k+) as a minimum investment.
• THG Media: For Gift with Purchase (GWP) campaigns, the main "cost" for the advertiser is providing free product. Digital post-checkout offers are CPA-based. Some arrangements might involve additional fees for exclusivity or sponsorships
• BrandSwap: Defaults to a "pay on performance" model with CPA-only, meaning there are no setup fees or monthly fees by default. The platform positions itself with "little-to-no minimum spend requirements".

Q: Do advertisers need an existing affiliate program to integrate with these platforms?

• Tyviso: Advertisers should either have an affiliate programme or be able to integrate with Tyviso’s tracking. Tyviso is already integrated with global affiliate networks (like Awin, Partnerize, CJ), which means if you have a programme on one of those, activating Tyviso is quick. If not, Tyviso can likely accommodate tracking via their platform.
• Sovendus: A common way to track redemptions in the UK is through affiliate networks, with Sovendus often appearing as a publisher. Thus, you may need to approve Sovendus (or its entity) in your affiliate programme.  
• Rokt: Requires conversion tracking, which might involve placing Rokt’s conversion pixel or sharing conversion data. It operates more like a programmatic ad exchange embedded in checkouts.
• THG Media: For post-checkout offers, being part of the Sovendus network is typically a prerequisite, which in turn often requires an affiliate tracking setup. For GWP, while not strictly required for the gift itself, it's smart for advertisers to have an affiliate programme or tracking in place for post-campaign effect.
• BrandSwap: Requires an affiliate program or tracking setup, as it primarily operates on a CPA basis and integrates via major affiliate networks (Awin, Rakuten) or tracking pixels/tags.

Q: What are the main differences between Tyviso, Sovendus, Rokt, THG Media, and BrandSwap?

• Tyviso: Known for its self-service ease for gift & reward partnerships and a "science-led" approach to avoid self-discounting, emphasising technology-driven and white-label integration.
• ‍Sovendus: A pioneer in the post-purchase offer space with a vast European voucher network and a proven confirmation-page voucher system, operating on a closed-group principle with algorithmic offer ranking. It often requires advertisers to host offers in return.
• ‍Rokt: Specialises in reaching customers at the exact "transaction moment" on order confirmation pages, leveraging advanced AI for highly targeted, non-endemic ads. It typically has a higher minimum budget requirement and operates like a programmatic ad exchange.
• ‍THG Media: The retail media arm of THG's owned portfolio, offering hands-on integration of physical gift placements and digital offers across its premium retail brands and Ingenuity clients. It provides an end-to-end solution.
• ‍BrandSwap: An innovative, AI-fueled brand-to-brand reward network focusing on AI-driven relevance across the retailer’s full customer journey (including pre-checkout, post-checkout, and reward walls). It offers a performance-only model with options for tenancy and positions itself with little-to-no minimum spend

Q: Are there any industry-specific restrictions for advertisers?
A: Yes, there can be industry-specific restrictions for advertisers, as well as rules regarding brand fit and non-competition with host partners:

• Content Policies: Platforms generally adhere to mainstream content policies. Industries like online gambling or certain adult products might not be allowed, as hosts may forbid those categories. Advertisers should align with the platform’s content policies.
• Host Discretion: Host partners often have control over which categories of ads are shown on their site. If an advertiser is in a sensitive category (e.g., vaping products or aggressive financial schemes), the platform might have limited inventory or restrict which hosts they can work with.
• Non-Competition: Most platforms and hosts will not allow direct competitors to advertise on a host’s page. For example, another beauty retailer's voucher likely won't appear on LookFantastic’s page. The general rule is that offers should be non-competing but complementary.
• Regulatory Compliance: For physical gifts or certain product types (like consumables or cosmetics), platforms like THG Media require proper product certifications and ensure all regulatory compliance.

Comparisons & Differentiators

Q: What are the main differences between Tyviso, Sovendus, Rokt, THG Media, and BrandSwap?
A: Each platform offers unique strengths:

• Tyviso: Known for its self-service ease for gift & reward partnerships and a "science-led" approach aimed at avoiding self-discounting. It's a technology-driven platform that makes it easy for advertisers to collaborate with complementary brands.
• Sovendus: A pioneer in the post-purchase offer space, known for its vast European voucher network and a proven confirmation-page voucher system, operating on a closed-group principle with algorithmic offer ranking.
• Rokt: Specialises in reaching customers at the exact "transaction moment" on order confirmation pages, leveraging advanced AI for highly targeted, non-endemic ads. It typically has a higher minimum budget requirement.
• THG Media: The retail media arm of THG's owned portfolio, offering hands-on integration of physical gift placements and digital offers across its premium retail brands and Ingenuity clients. It provides an end-to-end service, acting as a network, agency, and media owner in one.
• BrandSwap: An innovative, AI-fueled "brand-to-brand reward network" focusing on AI-driven relevance across the retailer’s full customer journey (including pre-checkout, post-checkout, and reward walls). It offers a performance-only model with options for tenancy and positions itself with little-to-no minimum spend requirements.

For more detailed information on each platform, please refer to their dedicated sections within the article.

Q. Do advertisers need to provide physical products for "Gift with Purchase" offers?
A: It depends on the platform and the specific campaign:

• For Tyviso, the "Gift With Purchase" product can involve the advertiser's physical product or offer, used as a free gift incentive. These are often consumer brands that benefit from trial and sampling with a physical product.
• For THG Media, advertisers typically provide their physical product or a sample to be included as a free gift. This is considered a physical in-basket promotion.
• For BrandSwap's "Smart Gift With Purchase," while it can be a physical add-on, it often excels with digital services or memberships that serve as an instant incentive. BrandSwap handles emailing the reward later if it's not an immediate digital product.

Therefore, while some campaigns explicitly require physical products (like THG Media's GWP), other platforms or product types can accommodate digital offers or vouchers as a "gift."

Q. Is reciprocity required (e.g., hosting others' offers) when joining these networks?
A: Reciprocity requirements vary significantly by platform:

• For Sovendus, reciprocity is a unique and generally mandatory requirement. To have your voucher distributed in their Voucher Network, your own site must typically host the Sovendus voucher portal on your confirmation page. If you are not willing to place other brands’ vouchers on your site, Sovendus is likely not an option (with rare exceptions).
• For Tyviso, reciprocity is generally not a formal requirement. While being open to hosting other brands’ offers can be part of partnership deals, Tyviso can also arrange one-way deals.
• For BrandSwap, advertisers are explicitly stated as not being required to host offers in return. However, if an advertiser also operates an e-commerce site, they could choose to become a host to earn additional revenue, but it is optional.
• For Rokt, there is no mention of reciprocity being required from advertisers.
• For THG Media, if participating in their post-checkout offers powered by Sovendus, the reciprocity requirement of Sovendus typically applies. For their physical GWP campaigns, some partnerships might involve "contra deals" where you host their gift later in return, but it's not a fixed rule.

Strategy & Optimisation

Q. How can advertisers ensure their offers are effective and competitive?
A: To ensure offers are effective and competitive, advertisers should provide a strong incentive that genuinely adds value to the host’s customer and is not readily available elsewhere. Typically, this means offering a strong discount or compelling freebie, often exclusive or better than public promotions. Advertisers should prepare tailored, succinct, and clear creatives that match different host environments. Platforms like Sovendus and BrandSwap use algorithms that rank offers by performance metrics like Earnings-Per-Click (EPC) and conversion rates, so monitoring results and optimising the offer (e.g., increasing the incentive if uptake is low) is crucial to remain competitive and gain prominent placements. Optimised landing pages and smooth sign-up flows are also essential to ensure users convert after clicking the offer.  

Q. How is campaign performance tracked and optimised on these platforms?
A: Campaign performance is typically tracked and optimised through various methods:

• Affiliate Tracking: Many platforms like Tyviso, Sovendus, and BrandSwap integrate with advertisers’ existing affiliate programs or appear as publishers, using affiliate tracking links or pixels to attribute sales and conversions.
• Performance-Based Models: All discussed platforms operate on a performance basis (Cost-Per-Acquisition or CPA), meaning advertisers generally pay only for results such as sales or leads generated.
• AI and Machine Learning: Platforms like Rokt and BrandSwap heavily utilise AI and machine learning to match offers, optimise bids, and adjust placements in real time to maximise relevance and conversion. Tyviso also uses data analysis and A/B testing tools for continuous improvement.
• Dashboards & Reports: Advertisers typically access a central dashboard or receive performance reports to manage offers, view metrics (like CTR, conversion rate, eCPA, EPC), and adjust strategies. This data helps advertisers refine their offers and targeting to maximise ROI.

Q. Can advertisers target specific demographics or purchasing behaviour?
A: Yes, advertisers can target specific demographics or purchasing behaviours to varying degrees across these platforms:

• Platform-Level Targeting: Advertisers can often define their targeting preferences, such as which types of partner sites or customer profiles they want to reach. Platforms like Tyviso can find hosts whose audience fits the advertiser's target profile quickly.
• AI-Driven Matching: Rokt, BrandSwap, and Sovendus utilise AI and algorithms to match offers to the right moments and users based on purchase data, Browse history, cart contents, and user profiles. This ensures offers are selectively presented where they are most likely to convert.
• Host Selection & Fit: Host retailers can choose which offers to display, often selecting ones that closely align with their audience or checkout context. This naturally leads to more targeted placements based on the host's customer base.
• First-Party Data (THG Media): THG Media can leverage its robust internal customer data and personalisation capabilities to tailor partnerships, potentially targeting specific customer segments with particular offers based on their first-party data.
• Vertical/Category Targeting: Advertisers can often specify or be matched to hosts within relevant verticals, and platforms may also allow vertical blocking to avoid unsuitable placements.