I noticed that some affiliate programs don't give you a 30 day or 90 day cookie. If somebody you referred to their site comes back a week later and buys their product, you don't get credit. Most people don't have their credit/debit cards out to make a purchase the first time they visit the website so this happens A LOT. Should you only promote affiliate programs that offer you a cookie (sounds yummy!)?
Some affiliate programs will tell you that. A few of the programs on CJ tell you that as well. Unfortunately, that 's voluntary and I don't think there's a way for you to find out without contacting the person who is in charge of that program.
I would say so. Most sales occour right away anyway. Odds are your cookie will be overwritten by another affilaite/spyware/cookiestuffer way before the 30-90 days would expire.
I wouldn't say that most sales occur RIGHT AWAY. I'm sure you can remember more instances when you had to think about buying something and didn't purchase the first time you heard about, then other times when you were immediately sold the second you landed on the seller's website or saw an infomercial on tv. If you're a smart buyer, you will often explore your other options before buying from the first website you come across.
I am just going by my experiences. 98% of my ringtone leads happen within 24 hours. The lowest percentage is Omaha steaks which only happens within 80% within 24 hours. From my data (using timestamps in subids) shows most buy within the first 24 hours ( I am guessing most are right away but the delay in tracking makes it difficult to track).
To some degree the time from 1st visit to buy depends on the market. Freebies and lead based programs that don't requite anyone to pull out a CC typically happen 1st visit. Smaller dollar items and easy impulse buys can happen pretty quickly. If you have PPC ads that say "Buy the green xyz123 model # widget now - 10% off" a larger percentage of your traffic will convert quick vs an ad that says "learn all about general widgets here." Typically the products that have a longer buying cycle are bigger ticket items and products that people shop, compare and analyze like computers and electronics. All that said MOST pro-active programs have long cookies. All our programs are more than 90 days and many are 1- 10 years. Not that a cookie is going to last that long, like Jeremy said. It's just that pro-actively managed programs do everything they can to stack the deck in the affiliates favor and that includes nice long cookies. But if there is a product you really want to promote and the best looking merchant only has 30 day cookies, I would not worry about it. Still lots better than Amazon's 1 day cookie!
great points from 5 star. Here is another thing to think about.... Omaha steaks is one thing... someone might goto omaha steaks and buy directly and have been cookied by you. BUT to expand more on what 5star said like for ringtones where you do not have to pull out the credit card if nobody buys right away its not going to happen. Everyone is coming from affiliates and odds are not good they will repeat from yours
I would think that it's best to go with a program that doesn't have a cookie that is less than 5 days. Although you can still earn good money from programs that has cookies that are less than 5 days, the longer the cookie, the better. So in other words, I would prefer to use programs that have a 30+ days cookie. Even though Shoemoney says around 90% of his sales happen straight away, you still are loosing out on that other 10% of sales that you have a chance of still getting if you had longer cookies.
It's hard to believe that 90% of all sales happen the FIRST time that person visits the website. Affiliate programs that don't give you a cookie will still not give you credit even if the person comes back a second time later in that day. Often times when I see an offer I like I will save it to my favorites and check it a few days later when I have a little more money in my bank account.
There are many types of affiliate tracking server side and client side. What is said above is just from my experience. It really varies on the offer. Just test a bunch and let the stats tell you what works.
You must be giving the person your affiliate link and kindly asking them to purchase the product through that link if they decide they want it. In that case there's no possible way you could conclude they purchased the first time they visited the website.
To "GregDavidson" While I am new to this forum, I most certainly do know what I am doing and would most certainly take the advice of the ShoeMan if I was lucky enough to get it. Bottom line is I think a quick brush up on your Marketing insight would clearly be a good call, everyone has a different need, time frame and bank account... For Example I ordered the new Macbook Air right after the Keynote, #1 I dont need it, I am not even really sure what good it will be other than on planes, ( Which I am on all the time ) #2 I love my 17 Inch Macbook Pro and in fact I am typing on it right now and it is thin enough. #3 My Main Rig is a New 8 Core Mac Pro that I have hooked up to 2 x 30" Cinema Display.. Bottom line is I am a Macfreak but here is the kicker, I wont use an Iphone because I prefer my blackberry 8800. So if Sherlock Holmes were here what would that cocaine smoking super sleuth conclude ? If he wanted to have real success he would be best to focus on an active and larger interest problem that people share and are simply willing to throw money at to have solved. The buying cycle of the buyer depends on what there needs are at that very moment, find products that are in demand and easily consumable quickly and consistently. Volume will create huge payouts for you in time and if you know what you are doing with your PPC campaigns for example your page quality will bound to improve and keeping your fingers crossed lower your cost structure. Anyways just my 2-cents, Bottom Line: Find A Problem Shared By as many people as possible, Niche the problem down to 5 sets of separate active demographic groups within that market and then target them like your life depends on it. I have done quite well using this very simple system over the last several years, Dont Reinvent the wheel just improve on it, make a system out of it and make it a part of your business.... Best of luck
I personally only promote programs with at least a 30 day cookie. Of course I make exceptions if the product is really good. But it just makes me feel better if it has a cookie.
I think everybody has a different opinion. I am not a guru at affiliate marketing and have only earned a total of about $200 with affiliate programs. Half of my responses are theories and speculations so you may very well be right.