How are micro SaaS founders thinking about affiliate programs as a growth channel?

I have been thinking about affiliate programs as a growth lever for micro SaaS products, especially those in the content and marketing space. Paid acquisition can get expensive fast, and SEO takes time. Affiliates seem like a logical middle ground if incentives are aligned properly.

While researching different models, I looked into the HeyOz Affiliate Program. What stood out was the structure rather than hype. It offers a 20 percent recurring commission for up to twelve months, a 30 day tracking window, monthly payouts, and a clear dashboard for affiliates. That kind of setup seems designed around subscription retention instead of one time spikes.

For a micro SaaS, this raises an interesting question. Does recurring commission encourage affiliates to create better educational content that supports long term user success instead of quick conversions?

Curious how other founders here think about margins, retention, and affiliate incentives. Are affiliate programs viable early on, or more of a scaling stage strategy?