Affiliate tracking is powerful, but it isn't perfect. It relies on connecting a shopper's click to their eventual purchase, and there are several points throughout that journey where that connection can be interrupted.
We sometimes refer to affiliate tracking as a “leaky bucket.” You may be driving more sales than ultimately get attributed back to your links, simply because not every shopping journey can be tracked from click to purchase. This is an industry-wide limitation of affiliate tracking and isn't unique to ShopMy.
Understanding what can interrupt tracking can help you maximize the sales that are successfully attributed to you.
Why Might an Order Not Track?
Here are some of the most common reasons:
- Another link was clicked: Most affiliate programs use a last-click attribution model. If a shopper clicks another affiliate link or eligible marketing channel after yours, attribution may move to that source.
- Cookies weren't accepted: If a shopper declines cookies on the retailer's website, the tracking needed to connect their purchase back to your link may not be stored.
- The shopper switched devices or browsers: If someone clicks your link on their phone but completes their purchase on a computer, for example, tracking may not carry over between the two.
- The purchase was made in an app: Some retailers aren't able to track purchases completed within their mobile app, even if the shopper originally clicked your link.
- A browser extension was active: Shopping and rewards extensions, such as Honey or Rakuten, can sometimes interfere with affiliate attribution or become the last attributed source before checkout.
- Another promo code was used: Depending on the retailer's affiliate rules, using a different promotional code at checkout may affect attribution or make the purchase ineligible for commission.
- The purchase was made in incognito or private browsing: Private browsing can limit or clear the data used for affiliate tracking, which may prevent the purchase from being attributed correctly.
- It was a self-purchase: Many brands and retailers don't consider purchases made through your own affiliate links eligible for commission. Because of this, self-purchases may not track or generate earnings.
The Item May Not Be Commissionable
A retailer being commissionable doesn't necessarily mean that every item or category sold by that retailer earns commission.
Brands and retailers determine their own commission eligibility and may exclude certain products or categories, such as gift cards, sale items, or specific brands sold through a larger retailer.
You can tap the “i” icon next to the retailer's commission rate to review their specific commission details and any exclusions before sharing.
How Brands Connect to ShopMy
Brands can work with ShopMy through a direct integration or through a third-party affiliate network. Depending on how the brand's affiliate program is set up, its tracking, attribution rules, commission eligibility, and reporting can vary.
Ultimately, these tracking and attribution rules are determined by each brand or retailer's affiliate program.
Think an eligible order is missing? If you believe a qualifying purchase should have tracked but still don't see it in your account, our Creator Support team is happy to help! You can reach out through your Chat Center or email us at creatorsupport@shopmy.us.