Tracking return customers

Most purchases on the internet do not occur the first time a visitor comes to a page.  Often they will bookmark the page and return to the site hours, weeks, or sometimes months later to purchase.  Using a combination of cookies, IP tracking, and domain referral tracking; affiliates can still receive commissions on customers that do not make immediate purchases.  While the exact window of customer action may vary from program to program, most affiliate tracking companies use the same tracking methods (cookies or IP tracking) across all of their programs.

Traffic and Sales Reporting

A practice so common as to be considered standard, affiliate tracking companies allow affiliates to log on and review the traffic and sales that they have generated over certain date periods.  Some companies allow affiliates to create campaigns by which they can track the effectiveness of different marketing methods.  The type of reporting available tends to be consistent across all affiliate programs a company tracks.

Payment Frequency

The industry standard is to send commission payments on a monthly basis when an affiliate’s earnings reach a certain minimum balance.  Some programs send checks more or less frequently.  On rare occasions a company will not send checks automatically, instead requiring that affiliates log on and request a payment.  This is often a sign of an untrustworthy company trying to avoid paying all commissions due.  Anything other than automatic payment is uncommon.

Network of Programs

Some tracking companies cater to affiliates who wish to participate in multiple programs.  An affiliate who is part of their network can examine and join other programs they track, pending the approval of each program manager.

Training

Any program that leaves training of affiliates solely in the hands of their tracking company is doing their affiliates a great disservice, but the tracking company can help.  Kowabunga, for example, provides affiliates with a database of affiliate marketing articles, FAQs, and a quick start guide.  A tracking company can’t provide training for a specific product or service, but they can educate affiliates on the general aspects of the industry.    Clay Mabbitt