Newbie Q on Referal Links

[TalkCover]

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I am in the process of setting up an affiliate site, but as it is my first I have not yet joined any of the affiliate networks, who would give this information, so I thought I would ask here. Thanks for any info you can give.

I am in the process of setting up my SQLServer database, which will have an id for each referal link on the website.

My question is, do the networks give you something to append to the url on the merchants websites (for example, add "&affID=2345" to "http://www.merchant.com/product/deeplink.htm") or do they refer you to the affiliate network site (for example, "http://www.affiliatenetwork.com/go.php?affID=2345"). If the latter is the case, can you tell them where you want the customer to end up on the merchant's website?

Something everyone knows but me I am sure...

Cheers.

[philhancox]

Links usually redirect through the networks site through to the merchants homepage but yes, you can create deeplinks (sending them to specific pages) and you can append your own references.
e.g.
tracking.network.com?merchantid=100&affiliateid=50 &page=example.com/deeplink&ref=homepage-banner

Hope that makes sense

[TalkCover]

Thanks Phil, that answers it.