Merchants that show telephone numbers on their pages (via deeplink)

[morleymouse]

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But you have still chosen to not offer this?

Any particular reason?

This isn't strictly true. I am the Senior developer for a Travel merchant and we have over 3000 affiliates, who, should they wish to, could all have their own DDI number quite easily. There is really no excuse for a company not to offer this functionality.

Oh, and MVI-Sean long time no see my ex-DRL buddy.

[JohnSmall]

if you dont trust a merchant, you shouldn't work with them?

Like er A.N. Other hotel booking site who recently went belly up. I noticed reversals of their sales in my AF logs with the comment "completed via phone". I.e the customer had done the booking via the AF link, they then rang the company to sort something out over the phone, so they reversed out the commission. I took their banners off pronto after that.

I like the way of doing things by having a special number the customer can quote when they ring. Leisure Direction were another company that did things like that. So that's two merchants LD and Alpha Rooms who have it right. Any more?

[demonpreacher]

But you have still chosen to not offer this?

Any particular reason?

Not only do we offer this, but we also give out an enquiry reference number on our phone booking page, which is fully tracked, so all affiliate bookings, be they online or offline are correctly attributed.
:tup

[Paul_MN]

At MoreNiche we show a unique code next the phone number on all our sites. This unique code links it back to the affiliate who sent the referral.

Before processing any order our support team always ask for this number and explain to the customer how they can find it, and I know they ask as my desk is right next to the support team so I hear the calls in progress

Seems to work out ok with our affiliates and we always let them know if its a phone sale.

[gunneradt]

I appreciate your efforts Sean and I know that you take this matter seriously.

However I'd have to take issue with merchants not understanding the impact - I raised the argos/homebase phone numbers 4/5 months ago - I really think they could have changed things by now. I have worked merchant side on affiliate marketing and setting up an affiliate friendly landing page is not a huge process - from scratch less than a day's work.

You can also add Petguard on AW and Pet protect on OMG as 2 more insurance offenders too - what merchants don't realise is that eventually affiliates will drop them in favour of a serious player in the affiliate marketing field. I am about to drop pet protect and maybe petguard - I simply make no sales with them - what's the point after all of having them in a range of providers if I never make any commission with them.

regards

Its not always as drastic as a merchant trying to screw affiliates for their hard earned traffic.

Alot of merchants don't really understand the impact of the phone numbers on an affiliates fugures (or simply don't take this into account when setting up an affiliate program)

I work with Argos and Homebase on their Pet insurance products - the phone numbers issue has been raised and has been taken seriously - it just takes a long time in some cases to actually turn around a site change for larger companies.

I'm stll chasing this one. However, now thats been said - I've got to mention that despite the phone number, the Argos program for example is converting between 6% and 10% from click to sale for performing affiliates ... which is still gives you between a £1.20 and £2.00 EPC .....not to be sniffed at

If anyone wants to chat about the program (or to rant :blush ) - feel free to contact me.

Cheers

Sean

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Alot of merchants don't really understand the impact of the phone numbers on an affiliates fugures (or simply don't take this into account when setting up an affiliate program)

So why do the networks not pre screen all programs & not just some before allowing a program to go live as the either no number, an acceptable size of intrusion or an alternative number so that it can be ascertained what proportion of sales go via the telephone line. If 25% go via the phone then increase the commission by the same margin to offset. Oh wait a minute, they'll might claim this is already the case. hmm

[Lawcom]

Isn't it really simple ?

The merchants who do not offer this service ARE screwing their affiliates...

Pretending it's a problem or pretending they didn't notice /realise, what ever excuse if they are not carrying the affilaite lead over to your phone conversation then you are screwing your affiliate partner... simple...

Especially in the travel business where I'd say a great deal of customers like to have follow on calls to be reassured...

[mattg]

Like er A.N. Other hotel booking site who recently went belly up. I noticed reversals of their sales in my AF logs with the comment "completed via phone". I.e the customer had done the booking via the AF link, they then rang the company to sort something out over the phone, so they reversed out the commission. I took their banners off pronto after that.

Wow that's appalling. Even if it's valid to the strict letter of the agreement, it's certainly contra the spirit of it. I'm staggered.

[Keith]

Hadn't realized that this subject had reared it's ugly head yet again, prominent untracked phone numbers has long been a pet hate of mine.

Heres what I wrote about possible solutions back in December 2006 Telephone Tracking

[dh5894]

a lot of mobile phone merchant have telephone numbers showing too!
--<br>Posted via my Mobile Device

[BizBlogged1]

0800**********?

No response and not working ! Any other suggestion?


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