affiliate progra http referrer and GoogleBot

[golloween]

I sell my software online via my website, and I'm thinking about launching an affiliate program. I'm going to implement an in-house tracking system that will use HTTP Referrer info to track sales generated by my affiliates.

Here's how it works: every time a visitor enters my site following an affiliate link, a script detects that she was referred from one of my affiliate sites by looking at her HTTP Referrer info, and then she gets a cookie that will be used to track "deferred" sales.

Yes, I know that I can use affiliate links like www.mysite.com?affiliate=Bob instead of looking at HTTP Referrer, but such links may be considered by GoogleBot as leading to duplicate content (dufferent affiliate IDs > different URLs > point to the same content).

Is using HTTP referrer to track affiliates a good idea?

[gsx]

No.

Firewalls and other software often block the referrer information.

[Drastic]

Referrers are highly unreliable.

I would not promote a program using that type of tracking system.

[jomaxx]

I agree. It would be nice if the referrer was a reliable field, but it's only about 90-95% accurate. Even if you explain that you intend to pay higher commissions to make up for the discrepancy, I doubt most affiliates would go for it.

A high degree of trust is required for an affiliate relationship to work, and completely accurate reporting of visits and sales is crucial.

[mfishy]

Why not just purchase a tested affiliate script? There are a few threads in this forum comparing the various options.

Or try [google.com...]

Many of these options will be "in house"

Using such an unreliable way of tracking is not fair to your affiliates and not good business. Also, how would you credit the affiliates for referals that purchased on a return visit?

[golloween]

Thanks everyone for the input. I don't have any experience with affiliate programs, so your replies are very helpful.

Drastic, Jomaxx, what type of 'correct' tracking would you suggest?

[jomaxx]

Unique URL with longterm cookies. Quite frankly, rather than reinventing the wheel I would use a company that has a track record doing this. You'd have to pay setup and ongoing fees, but it's better than spending hundreds of hours rolling and maintaining your own system. A place like Quinstreet, or Regnow (who are geared specifically towards software downloads).

[golloween]

Thanks Jomaxx!

[killroy]

Why not simply 301 the affiliate links to the linkless page once the affiliate has been captured? Usign cookies or even server side environment variables for example...

SN

[mfishy]

It's not so much being able to track sales that's the issue, as there are a variety of ways you can peform this.

The issue is, without a nice interface and detailed reporting, one is highly unlikely to attract good affiliates. Also, the issue of trust is paramount.

Unless you have a ton of time on your hands, I can't think of any reason why you don't just buy affiliate software.

If you are not financially solid, it probably isn't a great idea to start an affiliate program yet anyway.