5starAffiliatePrograms
07-13-2005, 01:52 PM
I blogged about this last night, but thought I would come and start up a discussion here about 800# leaks and 800# phone tracking.
Merchant 800# Phone Leaks - A HOT Debate Going On
The issue of 800# phone leakage has always been a hot topic in our industry. I have been a strong proponent of phone tracking, because affiliates deserve to be paid for their traffic regardless of where the sale happens. Merchants need an 800# for customers that don't want to order online or have questions. They may need to pay customer service staff to man the phones, but the affiliate that sent that new customer still deserves to be paid. When I have discussed the issue with merchants many times it's not that they don't want to pay affiliates for their efforts, it's just lack of time or tech resources. I always try to push it, but sometimes it does not fly.
There is currently a heated but VERY intelligent 4 page discussion going on at WMW that really presents all sides of the issue well. "Losing Affiliate Commissions to Merchant's Phone Number."
Merchants - Do you track affiliate phone orders? Yes or no and why? There are lots of different ways to do it. How do you track them?
Affiliates, what do you think? Do you drop merchants that have 800 leaks and don't track phone sales or does it depend? If so, on what???
Linda
Merchant 800# Phone Leaks - A HOT Debate Going On
The issue of 800# phone leakage has always been a hot topic in our industry. I have been a strong proponent of phone tracking, because affiliates deserve to be paid for their traffic regardless of where the sale happens. Merchants need an 800# for customers that don't want to order online or have questions. They may need to pay customer service staff to man the phones, but the affiliate that sent that new customer still deserves to be paid. When I have discussed the issue with merchants many times it's not that they don't want to pay affiliates for their efforts, it's just lack of time or tech resources. I always try to push it, but sometimes it does not fly.
There is currently a heated but VERY intelligent 4 page discussion going on at WMW that really presents all sides of the issue well. "Losing Affiliate Commissions to Merchant's Phone Number."
Merchants - Do you track affiliate phone orders? Yes or no and why? There are lots of different ways to do it. How do you track them?
Affiliates, what do you think? Do you drop merchants that have 800 leaks and don't track phone sales or does it depend? If so, on what???
Linda