Table of Contents
Why ClickBank gravity does not equal profitability
The gravity shortcut
ClickBank gravity is often treated as a shortcut metric.
High gravity suggests:
* Many affiliates are promoting the offer * Sales are occurring consistently * The offer is “proven”
Affiliates frequently assume high gravity equals high profitability.
This assumption is incomplete.
CBSplit was built to reveal why.
Gravity measures activity, not margin
Gravity reflects affiliate activity.
It does not reflect:
* Refund-adjusted revenue * Traffic acquisition cost * Subscription retention * Net profitability after churn
An offer can have high gravity while producing thin or unstable margins.
CBSplit separates popularity from profitability.
High gravity attracts competitive traffic
As gravity increases:
* More affiliates enter * Ad costs rise * Audience fatigue grows * Angle saturation increases
Increased competition reduces profit margins.
Gravity may rise while profitability declines.
CBSplit measures profit durability, not marketplace popularity.
Gravity does not account for refund behavior
Gravity counts sales momentum.
It does not weigh:
* Refund frequency * Refund timing * Chargeback exposure * Cohort-level dissatisfaction
An offer with high gravity and high refunds can quietly erode margin.
CBSplit evaluates revenue after refunds settle.
Gravity ignores subscription churn
For recurring offers, gravity does not reflect:
* First rebill failure rates * Early churn patterns * Subscription longevity * Long-term LTV
An offer may attract many affiliates while losing customers quickly.
CBSplit incorporates rebill-adjusted outcomes.
Gravity blends traffic quality
Gravity aggregates all affiliate traffic.
It hides:
* Source-level performance differences * Geographic variance * Messaging alignment issues * Retry dependence
Blended metrics conceal structural weaknesses.
CBSplit preserves segmentation to expose them.
Popularity does not equal stability
High gravity signals momentum.
Momentum can be driven by:
* Temporary trends * Aggressive angles * Short-term payout spikes * Limited-time promotions
These factors inflate gravity temporarily.
CBSplit evaluates long-term stability.
Profitability requires net revenue clarity
True profitability depends on:
* Acquisition cost * Refund-adjusted revenue * Payment stability * Subscription durability
Gravity alone cannot measure these variables.
CBSplit integrates them into evaluation.