It looks like affiliate marketing is getting even harder. I was checking the links on one of my sites with IE8. When I got to the checkout page, it said Affiliate=none. Tried it with FireFox and my affiliate id was there. It turns out that IE8 offers a new feature called “InPrivateâ€. InPrivate gives users more control over how their browser information is saved and shared. So, what does this mean? It means you better think long and hard about selling ClickBank stuff or any other products that rely on setting cookies for your commission. Zeek
Once word gets out (and it already is), I'm sure the affiliate networks will be scrambling for a work around or they'll be out of business. Linkshare already has their own proprietary tracking system in place that does not rely on cookies, so I know it can be done!
MS wants to remove everybody's stuff and fill your computer with their junks and promote them as the champion of privacy rights. Go figure
Hmm this will certainly throw us through a bit of a loop, hopefully the networks I use shape up quickly.
The networks will figure out a different way to keep track of sales and stats that do not require cookies. If not then they will be screwed.
Meh I'm not so concerned. We use cookies for our affiliate program, but it's relatively easy to build a system to track where visitors came from with or without cookies. In the end, it should be even better, because people can easily clear their cookies, and then the affiliate doesn't get the commission. The change should make it more reliable, most likely using a database to track IPs & referrers.
I did not realize that, this is definitely bad news. At leat 80% of my business is affiliate maerketing. Carol
What has already happened is that the Publishers aren't going to see a slow down in sales. In fact they should see a big increase in profits because they don't pay an affiliate commission. Clickbank is a good example. Many folks selling CB products saw a drop in sales a little while back. The publishers didn't because they got full credit for the sale. I have no proof of that, it is just what I think. They won't complain to CB until we stop promoting their products and they have to rely on their own advertising. Then the money stops coming in and then, something might be done. I don't think that changing the tracking methodology is an easy thing to do for an affiliate program. If the owners aren't programmers, they will have to pay someone. It won't be that easy or inexpensive. Just my 1 cent worth. Zeek