Website Referrals and the Ambassador program

[SORS]

Does anyone know if we still receive self-referrals from links we post on our website with the new Ambassador program? So many questions, and not enough hours in a day. Personally, I'm concerned with this huge change with Zazzle. I know if other designers are working as hard as I am on their stores, this comes as quite a shock and disappointment. I try to keep remembering "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away."  Praise God in all things. 

[LMGildersleeve · Accepted solution]

"Does anyone know if we still receive self-referrals from links we post on our website with the new Ambassador program?"

The short answer is Yes as long as the link goes to your product and is a clean without an rf# added on.

If your link includes the ?RF# with your tracking number than you would receive the 15% tier referral income. This is not considered "self-referral".

[whimsywhim]

If you could clarify something for me, I would be very grateful.  

I'm new to Benable, and it was my understanding that one has to put the Ambassador ID at the end of the http address to get a self-referral.  Now, I understand that you don't do that because then, you won't get the 30% - 50% self-link referral percentage.

So I'm going back and getting rid of the Ambassador ID on the links - a very long and tedious process.  However, when I click on the Zazzle link from Benable and look at the super long http address, my Ambassador ID is nowhere to be found.  There is an &rf= and a number, but that is NOT my Ambassador ID number.  

I tried calling Zazzle twice, but the person I talked to insists that I put in the Ambassador ID number.  I tried telling him that the FAQs state that the seller will NOT get the 30 - 50% self-link referral percentage if we add the Ambassador ID number but to no avail.  

So I'm seeking help here.  Why is another referral number added to my product but not my Ambassador ID number?

[saintmarishop]

You have to turn off the Benable auto-affiliate link.

[whimsywhim]

Ok, I did that, but the http line ends with the product number.  It doesn't have my Ambassador ID at all or any &rf or ?rf number.  Will I still get the self-referral link 30-50% percentage?

[saintmarishop]

If you add your Ambassador ID you will earn 15% regardless of what the customer buys.  If you share your products without your Ambassador ID, you will earn the self-referral rate if they buy your product or earn nothing if they buy something else instead.  

[whimsywhim]

I greatly appreciate your patience.

So I copy and paste the product http address line into Benable without the Ambassador ID.  Then, when I click on the link from Benable, it takes me to the product page on Zazzle.  I see that the http address line does not include my Ambassador ID.  

That is okay, right?  Even though my Ambassador ID does not show up in the http address line, Zazzle will still associate my Ambassador ID with direct visits to my social media sites, including Benable?

[JLynnW]

I share my link direct from the product page using the share button. That's what is being called a clean link (self-referral). You can add the  &rf=your number when referring another's design for the 15% referral. Of course, luck plays a part in it all. Wishing you Good Luck!

[whimsywhim]

Yes, I wish I could do that with Benable.  Zazzle doesn't have a share link to Benable.

[JLynnW]

Use the Share button, Links and copy, then paste to Benable.

[whimsywhim]

I am so ignorant of these things, it's pathetic!  I see what you're saying now.  

Can you tell me which link do you use?  Link?  HTML?  BBCODE?  Or does it matter?  I'm sorry for my ignorance.  

[JLynnW]

Not a problem, hope I'm helping. The top, simple, Link. If you are referring another's, just use the upper right button of Pic and then the copy Link button and copy and paste. I wish I knew how to add pics to show you. Don't give up, Good Luck!

[whimsywhim]

I can't thank you enough!  You have absolutely helped so much!  I can now correct everything with a clear path forward.  It's a massive relief!  Thank you!!!

[Cat]

If it's your product you want a clean link with no RF number. If it's someone else's product, you want the RF number.

[whimsywhim]

Thank you.  A poster on this thread said to turn off Benable's auto-affiliate link.  I saw that when I did NOT turn it off, there was a super long http address line that included an RF number (not mine).  

But when I turned Benable's auto affiliate link OFF, the http address line was clean - no RF number at all so I'm going to turn off the auto affiliate link and see what happens.  

[Cat]

Well, I'm a Benable novice, so take this with a grain of salt, but I THINK that the way it works is that Benable is signed up with Zazzle (as well as all those other companies they list) as an affiliate/ambassador, so if you turn on the Benable link, the RF number you're seeing is Benable's "ambassador" code. If you leave it turned on, then Benable would collect the 15% referral commission from Zazzle and (theoretically) pass the money on to you. If you turn off the Benable link, then you're getting the link that you pasted (assuming it's your product and you pasted a clean link, then it would be a link with no RF code.)

I THINK that's how it works, but I'm on day 2 of experimenting with Benable, so I'm sorta fumbling around in the dark here myself.

[ColsCreations]

share-your-tips-tricks/benable-tips-and-tricks-and-questions 

Some screenshots in this post re your own link vs Benables that might be helpful.

[Cat]

Thanks! I'm late to the Benable party so I'll go check out that thread!

[whimsywhim]

I think so, too.  So the way I understand it, you do need to turn off the Benable auto-affiliate link in order to get the higher Self-referral percentage.