An affiliate software typically triggers a commission when a customer clicks on an affiliate’s unique tracking link, which is a special URL that contains the affiliate’s identifier. When the customer clicks on the link and makes a purchase on the merchant’s website, the software tracks the sale and credits the commission to the affiliate’s account.
There are several ways that the software can track clicks and sales:
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Cookies: When a customer clicks on an affiliate’s tracking link, the software places a cookie on the customer’s computer. If the customer makes a purchase within a certain time frame (typically 30-60 days), the sale is attributed to the affiliate and the commission is triggered.
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Pixel tracking: The software can also use a pixel, which is a small piece of code that is placed on the merchant’s website. When a customer clicks on an affiliate’s tracking link and lands on the merchant’s website, the pixel is triggered and sends a notification to the affiliate software. This allows the software to track the sale and trigger the commission.
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Server-to-server tracking: In this method, the affiliate software and the merchant’s website communicate directly with each other using server-to-server tracking. When a customer clicks on an affiliate’s tracking link and makes a purchase on the merchant’s website, the sale is instantly reported to the affiliate software, which triggers the commission.
Regardless of the tracking method used, the key is to accurately and reliably track clicks, sales, and commissions in order to properly credit affiliates and pay out commissions.