No Affiliate Commission for You

I just got an email with the subject: “Shawn Collins you’ve just referred a sale!” I always enjoy these emails, because they’re sort of like scratch-off lottery tickets that are guaranteed to win.

There is no way to know how much the win will be – sometimes $1 and sometimes $50. No matter what, I have some extra cash in my pocket when these messages turn up in my inbox.

So, I was pretty annoyed when I opened this latest email…

Email from an affiliate program I didn't want to receive

Wow. Thanks for letting me know that I referred somebody to your site for a sale. Oh wait, I referred them, you tracked them, but I didn’t earn anything?

Why would this email ever be sent? I realize it is automated, but somebody needs to fix it.

I’m an active, engaged, earning affiliate, and you’ve just managed to alienate me.

This may well be more ridiculous than the $0.00 affiliate commission check that Scott Jangro received recently.

If you are an affiliate manager and your affiliate program mails these sorts of notifications, be sure to check the rules and don’t send these if the affiliate isn’t making money on he transaction.

{ 5 comments }

Simple Internet Marketing July 15, 2008 at 10:27 pm: WOW, how stupid is that? That looks so bad for the merchant and whoever is running that affil prog.
Simple Internet Marketing July 15, 2008 at 8:27 pm: WOW, how stupid is that? That looks so bad for the merchant and whoever is running that affil prog.
ebiz5566 July 14, 2008 at 7:05 am: Yeah, affiliate marketing can be very tricky in the internet marketing world. Great information to put to use, it's seen all the time!
amirulcyber July 13, 2008 at 6:35 pm: Thanks for your article.good job.nice blog.
JeannineC July 13, 2008 at 2:30 pm: Geez, that pretty much stinks! Thanks for giving me something to laugh about today, while I make sure our in-house program doesn't do that!