I always earn more at the beginning of the month

Is that normal?

[yosmc]

For some reason, my affiliate earnings in the first half of the month are always (considerably) higher than for the second half. Is that a common pattern? I figured it might be for the simple reason that most people get their wages at the beginning of the month?!

[defanjos]

I have one affiliate program that does the exact same thing, and was never able to figure it out either.

[AmericanBulldog]

Hadn't noticed it.

Maybe something to do with the products your promoting?

[Jaze]

How many people get paid monthly? Get paid at end of month, spend at start of next month...

I hate being paid monthly.....

[AmericanBulldog]

Some affiliate sites pay weekly! You should seek a few out.

Majority are monthly and a few quarterly.

[defanjos]

Actually in the US most people get paid weekly or biweekly, so I don't think that explains it - not in my case anyway.

AmericanBulldog,
I don't think yosmc is talking about when you actually get paid, I believe is talking about the actual sales - at least, that is the way I understood it.

[vik_c]

It may have to do with the free revolving credit extended by credit card companies. You have a larger period ahead to pay your credit card bills if you're paying at the beginning of the month.

[Smiley]

Maybe it's something to do with when the sales are validated? Some merchants let the sales stack up and validate them the same time each month so it seems as if they all come at the same time.

[hobbnet]

Most people may get paid weekly or bi weekly in the states but that no where near means that all do.

I myself get paid monthly, as I'm sure many do. So, depending on how large the revenue gap you have 1st and 2nd halfs, this may explain the difference.

Another thing to consider would be that the beginning of the month probably has the largest flow of cash, rent, bills, etc.

[yosmc]

Thanks for the input! I'm experiencing this strange pattern with Commission Junction, and afak, they validate all sales pretty much on-the-fly, so it's probably not because of the merchants.

Anyway, I have been running my affiliate programs only since December, and in December (Chrismas) and March (War) there were probably good explanations why sales dropped during the second half of the month. So maybe it's statistically too early to speak of a real pattern, but I was just wondering why it's happening again this month.

In fact, in January it was the opposite way, but I figured that that month is an exception because at the beginning of the new year, a lot of people are on vacation and/or need to recover from a hangover / Christmas spending. :-)

[eWhisper]

>>>I have been running my affiliate programs only since December, and in December (Chrismas) and March (War) there were probably good explanations why sales dropped during the second half of the month<<<

The second half of December, usually the 10th-24th is the highest two week period I see all year. The sales from December 25th-Jan 7 is usually in the top 10 two week period of sales as people are now looking for after christman sale items, exchanging gifts for something else they want, etc.