Publisher Earnings and Payouts
How publisher earnings accrue and how payouts work in the marketplace.
Publisher earnings accrue from completed placements, and payouts transfer those earnings to the publisher. This guide covers how publisher earnings accrue and how payouts work in the marketplace. See Publisher Operations in the Backlink Marketplace for the full guide.
How earnings accrue
Earnings accrue when a placement is completed — published, verified, and compliant. The publisher's fee minus the marketplace commission is credited to the publisher's account. Earnings do not accrue for placements that are rejected, not published, or non-compliant.
| Event | Earning status |
|---|---|
| Placement approved and published | Earnings accrue |
| Placement rejected | No earnings |
| Placement published without disclosure | Earnings withheld until corrected |
| Placement removed by publisher | Earnings may be reversed |
How payouts work
Payouts transfer accrued earnings to the publisher. The payout schedule and minimum threshold vary by plan. Publishers receive the payout through the payment method on file. Payouts are logged with the amount, date, and payment method.
Tracking earnings
- Track earnings per placement (fee minus commission).
- Track total earnings per period.
- Track payout history (amount, date, method).
- Reconcile earnings against completed, verified placements.
Primary sources
- Link spam policies — Google Search Central (accessed 2025-01-15)