Recurring Commissions

Wondering about future customer actions

[Chrisweg]

Here goes:

I've seen programs that have "lifetime" commissions for referred sales. I've seen programs that leave cookies that give you credit for sales for the next 90 days. My question is:

If I have a site with an affiliate link and someone buys today and then comes back to my site 6 months later, clicks the link again, and buys again, do I get both commissions from CJ, LinkShare or any of the other big affiliate programs? If they don't, which big operators payout that way?

I cannot find the answer to this anywhere!

[hunderdown]

Unless the program specifies that you ONLY get paid for new customers, why wouldn't you get paid for a repeat customer? Your scenario has them using your affiliate link, so you would get paid again. The length of the cookie or whatever doesn't matter--they used the affiliate link.

[SusaninMontreal]

There's a big difference between 'lifetime' commissions versus multiple occurrences within that lifetime. I suggest reading the fine print of each of your Merchant Terms and Conditions (it won't be in the Network Terms and Conditions). If you don't see it clarified there, contact the Affiliate Manager of the specific program directly with that question.

If they tell you it's for the first sale only, then push back hard and tell them to update their T&C's so other affiliates' expectations will be managed properly.

It all boils down to merchants versus the networks.

Hope this helps,

Cheers, Susan

[jomaxx]

You've got to read the small print of the specific program(s) to know what is really going on, but a reasonable assumption is that a merchant is never going to be in a position where they have to pay two commissions on one sale.

[Chrisweg]

Hunder - I guess it is the definition of "NEW" customer that concerns me, because no merchant seems to define it. If they have bought through anyone's (including my) link from the affiliate, maybe they are not considered a new customer. Can anyone verify that commission is still paid on the second referral, either from a merchant's mouth or seeing the second commission in their stats (obviously you'd have to be a master tracker).

Susan - thanks, you just shook the brain loose about the "lifetime" customer idea.

jomaxx - the question related to paying 2 commissions on 2 separate purchases by the same customer 6 months apart.

[hunderdown]

All the companies I've worked with--admittedly all of them online bookstores (Amazon, Alibris, abebooks, Powells, B&N, and a few others)--paid commissions on repeat customers. I wouldn't have worked with them otherwise.

[Chrisweg]

So if I sign up with CJ, I will be able to read each commission payout rule structure for each separate vendor (not just percentages) and determine if they pay for every sale initiated by a referral click from my site? Sorry for being picky, but I agree with Hunder - repeat business should be rewarded.

[SusaninMontreal]

You should be able to read each Merchants terms once you sign up. If you can't get in touch with them and ask...

Our merchants pay for repeat business from the same customer, they wouldn't be with us otherwise.

[onlineleben]

All the companies I've worked with--admittedly all of them online bookstores (Amazon, Alibris, abebooks, Powells, B&N, and a few others)--paid commissions on repeat customers. I wouldn't have worked with them otherwise.

hunderdown,
do you still get commissions from amazon for repeat business (without going through your affiliate-link)?
I have never seen this in their affiliate programs (US, UK, DE).
Would like to get an idea when this was part of the program.

[hunderdown]

Sorry, I wasn't clear in my post. The distinction I was making was that all those companies, including Amazon, DO pay commissions on all orders made via their affiliate links, NOT just on the first one (which would be a new customer referral only). They don't necessarily pay for repeated visits unless they are made via the affiliate links--though there are circumstances in which a customer's return visit qualifies, they are pretty limited.