Voucher Code Management Tools

[accelerator]

Which networks offer voucher code management tools, and are they any good?

Thanks

[Barry]

Webgains and POR are the only ones so far as I know and they work brilliant. Well the webgains one does anyway, as I have seen a few sales going through because people have used my code and not pressed the affiliate link.

Ta

Barry

[Sachin Thanki]

Hi accelerator,

Yes, as Barry has mentioned, we have a Voucher Management Tool in place. For merchants you've already joined on the platform, you'll be able to view all codes that they've made available through the WG control panel (click on 'Voucher Codes'). For merchants you haven't joined, you'll be able to search for them using the 'Program Search' facility (Program Search > Voucher Code Enabled).

Alternatively, you can give me a shout and I'll be able to help

Cheers,

[Barry]

As far as I know the voucher management tool also circumvents any need for cookies, so its a far better way of tracking. I dont know how WG have it implemented for last refer information though? Any voucher tracking seems to be from merchants 'unique' to their network.

Def worth joining WG if you want vouchers that are tracked though!! esp if you want to do some offline promotions - which with trackable vouchers are more likely to succeed.

Ta

Barry

[3wdl]

I still do wonder if the way that this works is good though - I wonder if there is a better way of doing it, perhaps having the commissions split 50/50 when there are two sites involved (i.e. refering site and offline voucher code..)

What do other people think?

[Stuart]

Sorry to jump in on the thread, do these tools mentioned automate the update of codes via feeds?

Br
Stuart

[graeme]

Originally Posted by Barry As far as I know the voucher management tool also circumvents any need for cookies, so its a far better way of tracking. I dont know how WG have it implemented for last refer information though? Any voucher tracking seems to be from merchants 'unique' to their network. Def worth joining WG if you want vouchers that are tracked though!! esp if you want to do some offline promotions - which with trackable vouchers are more likely to succeed.

(Hoping this doesn't re-open that whole can of worms )

When we developed the Paid On Results Voucher Manager we thought long and hard about how, and when, the voucher should override any Affiliate cookie. Without a doubt any Voucher Manager should prevent exclusive vouchers being stolen from other Affiliates, that is one of the reasons why we first created our system.

(An exclusive voucher is one given to a single Affiliate)

However, imagine this, a customer visits an non-voucher content site (Affiliate A) and visits the Merchant. At this stage Affiliate A is going to get some commission. However, this clever customer just before checking out visits Google, searches for "Merchant Voucher Code", visits a voucher site and copies the exclusive voucher code on that site, but does not click a Affiliate link. The customer now completes there order using the voucher.

Who should get the commission? The first referring Affiliate who's link was clicked, or the Affiliate which the voucher was assigned to, but who's link was never clicked. Its important to recognise there is a difference between a Affiliate stealing a voucher and using it on there site, and an customer taking a voucher from another site themselves.

Our system is slightly different to WebGains in that it doesn't default to overriding the cookie, but tries and works out which Affiliate should get the commission (either, the Affiliate the voucher code was assigned to, or the original referring Affiliate), so your still protected if the voucher is stolen by other Affiliate.

Its a tough one, as Merchants on more than 1 network makes it even more complex. Either way Paid On Results is open to discussions on it to develop the tool. Stuart - yes, a feed will soon be available of voucher codes.

[3wdl]

Hi Graeme,

By "working it out" do you mean that as in the case above Affiliate A would still get the sale?

If so then I think it's a good thing, and much better than the webgains system. I was going to write a blog post on this later but I think you've hit the nail on the head with how a Voucher Manager should work.

[graeme]

Originally Posted by 3wdl By "working it out" do you mean that as in the case above Affiliate A would still get the sale? If so then I think it's a good thing, and much better than the webgains system. I was going to write a blog post on this later but I think you've hit the nail on the head with how a Voucher Manager should work.

Yes, in my example Affiliate A would still get the commission. Of course if that customer clicked an Affiliate link on the voucher code site and not just copied the voucher, then its back to the whole last referral thing which is outside of the scope of any Voucher Manager as that is about the whole last referral wins foundation of Affiliate Marketing.

[Barry]

Just too add I am with graeme with the last reffer and .. - I have no idea how the webgains system works though I am sure they may enter the discussion with much the same retrospect as graeme and POR.

Its last referrer that wins - its the only fair way, especially as networkd are so well policed for rouges and deviants.

Ta

Baz

[hero]

Hi all,
We developed our voucher management tool to address quite a few issues regarding voucher use within the affiliate channel:

*Prevent "stealing" of exclusive codes from other affiliates
*Prevent use of unauthorised use of codes by affiliates to protect merchants' margins
*Promote offine promotions by affiliates
*Promote closer relatioships between merchants and their affiliates
*Provide reporting and analysis on what vouchers are used within the affiliate channel, what works best, what incentives customers find more attractive etc.

As has been mentioned before, if an exclusive code has been used, our system will override the cookie data and attribute the sale to the owner of the voucher. I will repeat what I had said when we launched the tool: We are aware of the issues the new tool could potentially cause for affiliates by overriding their click data or not awarding commission on specific vouchers used. Although not perfect, this is the first step to address issues regarding voucher management for merchants & affiliates. We are investigating various options of resolving these issues and as always we are waiting for your ideas & feedback.

We want to encourage affiliates to engage in offline activity and we also want to encourage merchants to be providing more exclusive codes which will allow them to work more closely with their affiliates.

We have successfully integrated the voucher tracking for quite a few programs now and it has made a difference on their performance: their affiliates feel more confident promoting these offers and they have increased exposure, which has seen an upsurge in traffic for these programs resulting in more sales generated. We have so far not experienced issues with complaints over sales being attributed to other affiliates.

We welcome comments from all of you as we believe that a discussion can only take things forward.