Affiliate Dogma : Affiliates -> Sales -> Profits

Voucher Codes THE solution

There has been alot of talk of inappropriate voucher code use, click to reveal voucher codes and general affiliate abuse of voucher codes.

Well here is the solution for merchants.

It will nullify voucher code fraud, it will mean that any non affiliate vouchers are not abused, it will mean that voucher code fraudsters who display non existant vouches will not get commission after another affiliate has done the pre sale.

ONLY display the voucher code box at the checkout when a visitor has used a URL specific to the vouchercode. This may be a magazine or TV advert, PPC advert, flyer or other. It is your right to have this URL / voucher combination IGNORE the affiliate tracking code from the network.

Many merchants already do this on their PPC campaigns. If the PPC campaign is the last referrer for the sale the sale is not reported to the affiliate network.

So if a user sees your advert and discount code in a magazine /catalogue/on tv or whatever and uses your link - something like merchant-name.xxx/offer a cookie would be triggered to show the vouchercode box on your website. The same cookie would deactivate the affiliate netwrok tracking code. Customer gets the discount, the sale is trackable and the merchant doesnt fork out commission when the user searches for a discount vocher for the product.

When the affiliate link is clicked no voucher code box is shown so customers will not abandon the shopping cart looking for a voucher.

Also the merchant wouldnt lose the sale to a competitior selling the same/similar product when searching for a discount code.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Slashdot
  • Technorati
  • Bumpzee

November 21st, 2008 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | 2 comments

Best and Worst Networks, Personal Opinion

Just through my own personal experiences I thought I would list my favourite affiliate networks so far Christmas 2008. I have excluded a number of indy programs - I have to keep some secrets…

Amazon (I know it is not a network, but it just performs so well)

AffiliateWindow

Paid On Results

All Posters (again not a network, just a VERY lucrative program)

CJ.com 

I think that this is a very good list for those new to affiliate marketing, but of course it is not the be all and end all of affiliate programs.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Slashdot
  • Technorati
  • Bumpzee

November 17th, 2008 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | no comments

Win (again) With Purely Diamonds

Congratulations to Barry at Mirror Ten Limited who won our last competition.

We have a new competition open to all PurelyDiamonds affiliates.

This is a simple fast competition - closes Friday 21st November 2008 and we will draw soon after.

Entering is simple, you dont even need to make a sale.

All we ask you to do is make a new blog post / page on your gift/shopping/jewellery/christmas site and mention out current hotpics.

The text needs to be original and link to the hotpicks, just a slist of these is not going to cut it I am afraid.

Below if the list of current hot pics and affiliate IDs - just replace !!!id!!! with your affiliate id.

Competition prize is a box of luxury christmas chocolate. We may have some runners up prizes too.

Once you have made your entry just email me the url to brian [at] scifind.com and you will be entered

ChristmasTop Sellers

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Slashdot
  • Technorati
  • Bumpzee

November 17th, 2008 Posted by admin | Uncategorized | no comments

Voucher Code Backlash

So is this the beginning of the end of voucher code only sites?

Rules have been suggested for best practices. One BIG merchant has publically kicked off a big affiliate for not playing by their terms and conditions and with a number of othes tightening voucher use and terms that would restrict cross population of discount vouchers enforced by docking of commissions and potentially blocking affiliates has the day of reckoning for the the voucher site arrived at last?

Well the big point to make is - do voucher code affiliate sites make a positive impact to a merchant?

It is a subject that the morals and ethis can be bandied about for hours. Basically I believe discount sites, like cashback sites do have there place (just like cashback sites). Though not all of them are welcome.

Both are here to stay, and it is up to all affiliates to adapt and survive in what can be a dog eat dog business.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Slashdot
  • Technorati
  • Bumpzee

November 14th, 2008 Posted by admin | affiliate marketing | no comments

Paypal I love you!

paypal_logo.gifWhich! Has been on breakfast TV this morning basiaclly saying that paypal is not a good option for buying online outside ebay, basically as it is not a credit card and if something goes wrong - you ar enot covered.

Now I would always say that if you are buying something BIG online or offline (TV, PC, Laptop etc) that you should use a credit card, bue to the insurance that they offer, and protection against non delivery and company going bust etc.

But for buying every day items (dvds, books, cds) through a respected merchant you have the same protection you have when using cash or debit card. It really all comes down to the merchant. Checking online reviews, testimonials (although both of these can be faked) how long the company (not just the website) has been running etc are more important.

Using your credit card with a dodgy merchant is more likely to lead to identity fraud, best use paypal and have a minute %age chance of loosing your £9.99 for the DVD than possibly having your card maxed out through to fraud.

Views that paypal should be regulated like a bank are something I do respect, and I am actually supprised that they havent been challenged before now.

Basically PayPal is a fantastic little service and it is the best thing to happen to online startups. Paypal is safe, but a little caution about the merchant should be exercised.

There does not seem to be a video or text report about this story as covered this morning on the BBC breakfast website, if they show this on iPlayer - it was on about 9.30 Saturday

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Slashdot
  • Technorati
  • Bumpzee

November 8th, 2008 Posted by admin | paypal | one comment