Cookies - in relation to Affiliates

[lewey]

In using the Affiliate options available within Bluepark, how does it work for tracking visits and orders from a refering site? Particularly, how long are any cookies valid for? I have seen other affiliate program offered through some of the networks (paid for results, affiliate window etc etc) say that they offer Cookies for x length of time (30 days, or 60 days etc).

What is it if you use the in built Bluepark scheme? If someone visits from a refering site today, but then comes back direct to make the purchase tomorrow, will it register for that affiliate? And can this time frame be changed / specified at all?

If anyone is actually making use of the Bluepark system for affiliates to run their website affiliate program, any tips or suggestions on how you are finding it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

[Rich]

Returning users are indeed recognised by their cookie. The cookie is set to expire a year after its creation. Therefore, affiliate sales can be registered well after the user's first visit (it's not possible to define a timeframe). You'll probably find that the number of customers ordering more than a few months after their first connection to your site is very small indeed.

[lewey]

Rich, thanks for your answer. Just to confirm my understanding then, as the cookie is valid for a year, once a customer who has been referred from an affiliate makes a purchase, if they continue to return directly and make further purchases, those will still be recognised against the referring affiliate? So that the affiliate will benefit from all subsequent purchases, not only the first / initial purchase? And this will continue for one year from first visit. Then as long as they keep returning directly (not being referred from affiliate site) then after one year no further commisions will show against the affiliate account.

Just trying to ensure I understand correctly, as will be important in calculating what commission structure we could offer. Thanks.

[Rich]

Ah, now I understand the situation better. If a customer is tagged as a referral, that tag will be etched on all orders they place in the future - this affords us maximum flexibility in terms of commission calculation options.

There is a function in the Affiliate Editor to determine how commission should be calculated. It may apply to the First Order Only, otherwise it will apply on an Ongoing basis. Furthermore, this setting can be changed at any time. Therefore, commission is calculated "dynamically" depending on your settings.