What's the secret to Referrals?

[AlyssaErnst]

I have done numerous custom orders for customers via Zazzle chat, sent them the referral link, they order and it shows up as either "none" or "3rd party." This has been frustrating me for a couple years.  I just checked my referral link-over history and last month it shows I had 114 referral links clicked on, but this produced zero actual referrals. Even when I order using my referral links, after clearing cookies I still am not getting my own referrals...It's super puzzling when my personal orders are showing 3rd party. What am I doing wrong?

[PacifierCity]

@AlyssaErnst 

A general rule of thumb is for every 1000 referral links clicked, you will earn 1 referral.  That will vary for everyone of course, and if you have a solid following you will earn more per thousand than that.

You will not earn referrals on links sent through ZChat.  The id is disabled or something.  It doesn't work.  Primarily because if a customer is contacting you through chat, you did not bring them to Zazzle... or so thinking goes.

As far as not getting a referral when you purchase your own... sounds odd.  It has happened to me once or twice.  After I purchase I immediately go and check to be sure if I received the referral.  If not, I cancel right away.  I clear my cookies, and purchase again.  I've always got it the second time.

With the general world of tracking moving away from cookies, it seems it will be more and more difficult to earn them.  The last update of the firefox browser announced that the browser will prevent website to website tracking.  I am guessing that refers to cookies.  It happened last week and I've not researched what exactly it means.

That's all I got for now.  Hope something there is helpful.

PC

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[catinarezi]

So the referrals come from thousands of clicks and not from sells? Or both? 
If we do a custom order for someone, our link with associate code should be considered. Maybe we didn't bring the person, but our good will of creating something specially for them, made them stay, made them buy, made them trust Zazzle, because what they looked for was not here until we created. I feel quite stupid now... The next time someone asks me for something I don't have in my store, I'll just tell them they can use the design tool...

[Mark]

Hi @AlyssaErnst,

In addition to what @PacifierCity has said below, you may also find the Creator & Associate Handbook useful.

[KristinRavelle]

Hi all,

I've also noticed recently that my Associates page is no longer linked/accessible to my account page and to access my linkover history I am currently going through a separate webpage that I put on my folders bar on my web browser.  Did something happen that I'm not aware of?  This linkover history page also does not have my personal icon that comes up all the time for my account in the upper right part of the screen but I know that it's my page as the Associates referral code is mine.  Thanks in advance for clarity.

[PacifierCity]

@KristinRavelle 

You may want to post this in the tech forum as it seems your having some sort of bug or glitch.  I'm not sure it will get seen here.

PC

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[KristinRavelle]

Thanks Pacifier City for the heads up.  Kristin