What's better for affiliates... cookie tracking, url tracking, or combo?
 

There's been some discussions about this in previous threads, but I haven't seen a discussion that really breaks down each method and how it affects affiliates. There's probably affiliate programs who've done many studies on where tracking can leak, and I'm guessing software like NATS has a built-in standard.

I definitely want to get better educated on this and would love to see some experts chime in. Maybe we could also get programs to post how they track signups from linking codes and why it's better than others.

So questions I have...

1. Is there an industry standard and if not, why?

2. If only url tracking is used, there seem to be many ways the affiliate might lose that sale (user returns later by typing in the site's domain, user removes the affiliate tags, etc). Why aren't cookies added to help prevent this loss?

3. For cookie tracking, what's the "optimal" or fairest expiration period? (The way I understand expiration is that the initial affiliate to refer a customer holds the rights to that customer until the expiration period has elapsed.)

4. For programs that incorporate a combination of url and cookie tracking, I assume cookies override url tracking (when cookie exists) and url tracking is used when cookies aren't enabled. Do I understand that correctly?

The way I see it, most affiliate programs don't want holes in their referral tracking. Even if they could financial benefit from leaks, they'd rather their affiliates make more money with their program and retain that affiliate long-term. That's also why I think tracking methods should be fully understood and even disclosed upfront to potential affiliates (assuming the various methods can make a difference to everyones bottom line).

Look forward to hearing some expert opinions...

Business talk anyone? ;)

bump for ya rick.

Hard-coded tracking is the best. Use all other means like cookies, ip's etc.. as additional to compliment the core hard-codedness.

You can see in a standard XPays account how we trap surfers in the webmaster's directory with us. That includes every link in the whole network tracking for the webmaster including the webmaster referral link and exit's and 404's. sample: http://www.xpays.com/clients/00025/xx/list.html

Good info Evan, thanks bro!

So if the user got curious with the url and re-typed the site domain (removing the affiliate directory), you guys use cookies/IP I assume to link the user back to the affiliate if they signup that direction?

To me, that sounds pretty solid btw!

Would love to hear how other programs manage their tracking...

Bump for my boy Rick !

I would say cookies and i.p. tracking. If someone has all that blocked then too paranoid to buy anything on the internet anyways.

I have no idea. :( Both would be good.