Ways you could get scammed by affiliate programs
November 24, 2008
I wish affiliate marketers didn’t have to worry about the affiliate programs themselves scamming us, but sadly it can happen to you.
1) Cookie length. Some affiliate merchants do not set the actual cookie length as long as they claim on the site. I wrote another article about checking cookies and highly encourage you to read it.
2) Incomplete/No tracking. This is more of a problem with in house programs because there is no 3rd party network to ensure they are tracking all of your sales correctly. Joining a affiliate network is not bullet proof as everyone checks compliance differently, but Shareasale by far has the best affiliate tracking compliance system.
3) Not paying. Some affiliate programs, usually small in house affiliate programs, will allow you to build up a nice commission balance, but will either suspend you before payment is due or just never bother to pay you. Pay per click programs also may use the guise of suspected click fraud, even if you are not guilty, to suspend a affiliate before payout is due.
