Aweber changes their affiliate program
February 28th, 2009 by 
John Dilbeck
On their blog, Aweber announced Exciting Changes to the AWeber Affiliate Program. You can visit the blog to learn all the details and read comments from other affiliates.
Here are the basic details:
Based on your feedback, we are happy to announce the following changes to the AWeber affiliate program:
1. All commissions will be raised to 30%. This includes existing 1st tier commissions of 20%.
2. Second tier commissions are being phased out to meet Paypal’s terms of service and enable paying of affiliates via Paypal.
3. Your affiliate cookie will be a 1 year, first visit cookie.
4. You will soon have the option of being paid via PayPal or postal check.
5. All affiliates will be paid once a month, on the first of every month.
6. The minimum check payout will be $30.00 for US affiliates and $50.00 for affiliates not based in the US (This applies to both PayPal Payments and postal payments)
All of these changes will be effective on April 8th, 2009. The only exception will be the PayPal payment option, which will be available in the near future.
I have mixed feelings about these changes.
Let’s start with the only real negative I see.
I don’t like that they’re using a first visit cookie. Most of the affiliate programs that pay me the most use a last visit cookie.
What’s the difference?
With a first visit cookie, a purchase will be credited to the first affiliate to introduce you to a business or product. The great majority of people do not purchase on the first visit.
With a last visit cookie, a purchase is credited to the affiliate who convinced the person to buy. Since that affiliate, the last one visited, probably is the one who actually persuaded the prospect to purchase, I believe that is the affiliate who deserves credit, and a commission, for the sales conversion.
Let’s look at an example…
Let’s say that Bob is vaguely interested in autoresponders, email marketing, newsletters, and making it easy for his readers to subscribe to his blog posts via email. He really doesn’t know exactly what he wants to do or which service is best for his needs.
Bob comes across Nancy’s website and she explains some of the benefits of using Aweber’s service, as opposed to other services that are available.
If Bob clicks Nancy’s affiliate link to visit the Aweber site, he will have a one-year cookie set in his browser that identifies Nancy as the affiliate who introduced him to the service.
If he purchases on that visit, or shortly thereafter, Nancy deserves credit for the sale and an ongoing commission.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, Bob probably won’t purchase immediately, or even soon. He’ll probably forget about it, get distracted, or something else will stop him from purchasing.
Later, maybe months later, he comes across Steve’s website and is reminded about Aweber.
Not only is he reminded, Steve makes a compelling argument for purchasing the services that Aweber provides. Bob’s mind is made up and he goes and subscribes to the service.
In this case, with a first visit cookie, Nancy will still get the credit and commission for the sale, even though Bob purchased as a result of Steve’s marketing, not Nancy’s.
However, with a last visit cookie, Steve would get the credit and commission for the sale.
I believe that would be appropriate since it was his efforts that finally persuaded Bob to purchase.
I don’t like first visit cookies for affiliate sales.
Regarding the other changes…
I’m always happy to hear that someone is willing to pay me more for my sales efforts. I have no argument with that. 
The change from a 10-year cookie to a 1-year cookie is largely irrelevant, because most cookies would not persist for ten years, anyway.
I like the option of being paid by PayPal.
Although I like two-tier affiliate programs, I don’t have any real opinion about Aweber changing to a one-tier program, especially if it makes it easier for some affiliates to be paid via PayPal.
All in all, I like the changes Aweber has made to their affiliate program, but I would really encourage them to change to a last visit cookie for determining who gets the credit for a sale.
In my opinion, Aweber offers the best services related to email marketing and I’m a happy customer and affiliate. I intend to use their services for a long, long time.
Are you an Aweber affiliate?
What do you think about these changes?
Act on your dream!
JD
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This entry was posted on Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 6:20 am and is filed under Affiliate Marketing, Aweber Autoresponders, email marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Hi John
Thanks for this great post and information. I fully agree that the last cookie is the better option. I feel that I lost many commissions due to the exact fact you described in the sample. I will post a remark to your article on my blog to spread the word..
Martin Bigler
February 28th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Good morning, Martin.
Welcome to our discussion. I appreciate your comment and spreading the word on your blog.
I don’t really know if I’ve lost commissions due to Aweber using a first visit cookie, or not, but I suspect that I have.
Act on your dream!
JD
February 28th, 2009 at 8:37 am
OK, what if it was Nancy’s marketing skills that got Bob’s attention in the first place and planted the seed but he only just happened to stumble into Steve’s post who may have closed the deal but if it wasn’t for Nancy’s original post he may not have given it another thought?
Other than that, who the hell is Aweber and what are they promoting, or do you want me to click on the link?
Sire´s last blog post..In Search Of Fame And Glory
February 28th, 2009 at 9:11 am
I agree John about the Cookie position.
Many “affiliates” who capture a click are not even in the business within a year.
The Consistent and persistent Marketer should be the winner of the “prize”
We are always stressing MASSIVE Action to the successful members of Beginners Marketing Class
With massive advertising Action, you get your share of “last Cookie” sales.
By the way, John be sure to join our Focus Society Mastermind Membership FREE
http://www.focussocietymastermind.com
February 28th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Good afternoon, Sire.
You make an excellent point. In the case you describe, Nancy should be the one to earn the commission.
That’s the problem with any cookie-based affiliate marketing program. Now and then, it is not going to be fair. I know for a fact that I’ve persuaded someone to buy something, but didn’t get the sale because they went through another affiliate’s site to purchase and the system used a last visit cookie, so the other affiliate got the commission.
But, I’m pretty sure that I’ve gotten the commission now and then when someone went through my site to make the purchase.
Over time, as long as we are actively marketing, I think a last cookie system will average out. Win some, lose some.
With a first cookie system, however, especially with a one year duration, it just seems to me that we’ll lose more than we’ll win.
I don’t know positively that this is true, but I have a strong feeling that it is. I could be wrong.
I don’t know of any system that is 100% fair in this regard.
I’m pretty sure that you’re aware of Aweber and know that they offer the premier sutoresponder services with the best delivery rates for email marketing. I believe it is the best system for managing mailing lists, publishing newsletters, and subscribing to blog posts via email.
You may not already know that, and I’m sure other visitors here won’t know it.
There are several other major competitors, but after trying them, I’ve decided Aweber is the best and it’s the only system I’m going to recommend for these services. It’s what I use, myself.
And, yes, of course I want you to click on the link! That’s how I earn my living.
But, seriously, clicking the link is my second most wanted response. I’d like to make the sale to you or someone else, but it’s not my most wanted response for this post.
What I want most is to discuss the changes in the affiliate program and maybe learn something new in the process.
I don’t have definitive proof that a last cookie system is best, but from my experiences with other affiliate programs, I believe that it is.
I’m open to being educated, however.
Thanks for your comments, Sire.
Act on your dream!
JD
February 28th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Good afternoon, Chuck.
Welcome to the discussion. It seems like it’s been forever since I last talked to you, probably over at Apsense, which I haven’t had time to visit, lately.
You bring up a good point about first visit cookies that may have been set for someone who isn’t in the business when the sale is made. Who gets the commission in that case? I’d assume that nobody would. I wonder if that is correct.
I also agree that persistent marketing leads to our share of last cookie sales
(When I get out from under all the work I’m doing right now, I’m planning on joining your Focus Society Mastermind. There just aren’t enough hours in a day right now. Thanks for reminding me.)
Act on your dream!
JD
February 28th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I actually didn’t know about it and I thank you for your concise explanation. As I never rely on cookies I always try to go back to the original post that sold me on an affiliate to make sure they get the sale. I will click on the link to see just what they have to offer.
Sire´s last blog post..Of Web Hosts And Blogger Friends.
March 1st, 2009 at 9:44 am
Good morning, Sire.
I would have bet good money that you were pulling my leg about not knowing what Aweber offers. I’m sorry that I assumed that.
I admire your loyalty to purchasing from the original affiliate who convinced you to buy something. I think that’s a good thing.
If you remember to clear your cookies, or at least the cookies for that particular merchant, before you purchase, then the affiliate you are visiting should receive the commission. However, if you (or anyone else) don’t clear the cookies, you really have no idea who will be credited with the sale.
It can get confusing.
Thanks for clicking my link to Aweber.
I’ll be using Aweber’s services a lot more this year as I offer marketing consulting services which will include managing mailing lists and newsletters for my local clients.
I don’t want to be like the cobbler’s children who have to run around without shoes, so I’m busily rebuilding my primary websites and converting some of them into direct response sites.
On several of the sites, I’ll be removing a lot of information about affiliate marketing and increasing the information about helping local businesses promote more on the Internet.
There are many mailing lists to create, autoresponder messages to write, and free reports to write. When I get it done, I think it will take me to a new level of effectiveness for my marketing efforts.
Thanks for your comments, Sire, and for clicking on my link.
Act on your dream!
JD
March 1st, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I’m a little torn as well John. I love the paypal and the higher commission, with no time to even check on 2nd tier affiliates anyway lol.
I don’t know either if first or last is better, and it’s probably one of those things that can never actually be “proven”. You did strike something important in your response to Sire.
If/when you’re lucky enough to be first hand chatting to someone interested, always mention to clear all cookies and cache ahead of time. I screwed that up more then once myself.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..February Link Review - Blog Review Winners - TC Contest March - Guest Posts Wanted - I’m Outa Here!
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:13 am
Hi J.D.
Dennis mentioned this discussion in my blog so I wanted to see what you had to say about first and last cookies.
Before I comment on that I noted that your latest comment mentions removing information about affiliate programs. Are you sure you want to do that? I’m a strong proponent of maintaining quality content and the incoming links to it. Why remove it at all? Couldn’t you just add to it?
That said, the issue of whether first or last visit cookies are better does not have a simple answer. There is no real way to know whether the first or last affiliate was more persuasive - or even whether one in between had the greatest influence. Most people don’t know how affiliate links work so they won’t be trying to selectively click before purchasing.
Perhaps the most equitable method would be to give buyers the option of selecting from a list of referrers when this issue arises and hope they select the one that most influenced their purchase.
Internet Strategist´s last blog post..Making Money with Your Blog - Part 2 - Evaluating Affiliate Programs
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:45 am
Good morning, Dennis.
I’m sorry; I didn’t see your comment.
I’m not sure whether a first or last visit cookie is best, either. That’s one of the reasons I’m talking about it here and not on the Aweber blog.
It’s good hearing from you, again.
Act on your dream!
JD
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 am
Good morning, I.S.
Welcome to our discussion. I visited your blog and enjoyed reading several of your posts, so I subscribed to it and followed you on Twitter. I look forward to getting to know you better.
I do find it strange not knowing what to call someone, however. I like to talk to a person, not a handle, when I have the chance.
I have a lot of sites that are completely out of date, because they were built before, or during, the time I was caring for Mom before she died.
Things change over time and I learn as I go. There are promotions for things I no longer value nor want to recommend. There are ads for things that are earning no money. There are pages and sections that no longer represent what I think is important, so it’s time to modify or delete them.
I have a section of maybe 100 pages on one of my sites that used to earn me several hundred dollars per month, but hasn’t earned anything at all for nearly a year. It’s time for it to go.
Yes, the site may take a hit in the search engines while they reindex, but I’d rather have that happen than to continue to promote something I no longer believe in or want to recommend. It’s one of the problems of having some sites that are over 10 years old and which have been sadly neglected for the last few.
While the old stuff has to be changed or deleted, I’ll continue to add new quality content as I have the time and energy.
I’ve also found that I’ve spread myself too thin and I’m in the process of deleting whole sites to free up my time for managing what is working for me.
These have been difficult decisions to make, but decluttering is necessary.
As far as cookies are concerned, I agree with you that affiliate tracking does not have any simple answers.
While I may prefer a last visit cookie to one that registers the first visit, there really is no way to know who’s going to get the credit, for reasons you mention here and on your blog.
In many cases, the last visit may actually be the one with the first visit cookies, if someone regularly clears their cookies, uses a different computer, or does something else so that the visit prior to purchase sets a new cookie.
We really don’t know what’s going to happen, and that’s part of the downside of affiliate marketing.
It is the affiliate who takes all the risk, pays for promotions in terms of time, effort, and money, and may - or may not - get paid for all that work.
It’s one of the reasons I’m moving, at least partly, back into consulting. I always know who my clients are and don’t do the work unless I get paid. Up front.
Still, I really like affiliate marketing and I enjoy working at home.
We need to be aware of the issues and both the up- and down-side of the business.
I’m happy to see that you bring another voice of reason into the discussion. Thanks for your comments.
Act on your dream!
JD
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hey JD…
Back to the first/last cookie issue. I totally agree that last cookie is the best practice; but maybe this is a motivating factor for us all to make a more compelling sell at the first go-round!! Perhaps that is what AWeber’s goal in establishing first cookie credit?
Affiliate marketing is a great piece of the marketing puzzle and I think everyone who wants to increase their earnings should incorporate it. But at the same time, be choosy and find the best programs for your business.
Thanks again JD…a pleasure to be involved in your conversation.
March 4th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Good afternoon T.E.M.
Welcome to our discussion. I appreciate your comments.
You raise an interesting point. Will doing a better job result in setting more first visit cookies? I don’t know.
What I do know is that most people don’t purchase on the first contact, which is why we want to use email marketing so we can continue to touch base, make additional points, and explain the benefits of a service or product, over time.
(As I’m sure you already know.)
It’s these additional contacts and the extra effort required that makes me prefer the last visit cookie.
I’m no expert in email marketing, but I’m learning, and I expect to be much better with it a year from now.
So, I won’t venture a guess as to why Aweber decided to use a first visit cookie.
I agree that affiliate marketing can be a great business, but there are downfalls, as well, that many people won’t talk about.
Yes, it is important to be choosy and to promote only the best products and services, not only for our businesses, but mainly for the benefit of our readers.
It’s a pleasure discussing these things with you.
Act on your dream!
JD
March 4th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Hey John,
Just happened upon your blog, Read a few and scrolled through the comments. Quite a crew you have here I saw some familiar faces, Thanks for the post and I checked the box to have a reason to come back. I have a tendency to get lost.
Brad West ~ onomoney
Brad West´s last blog post..Check Competitor’s BackLinks
March 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Good morning, Brad.
Welcome to our discussions.
I know what you mean about a tendency to get lost.
So, what do you think about the changes to Aweber’s affiliate program?
Act on your dream!
JD
March 9th, 2009 at 3:46 am
I don’t think that the first visit cookie is a bad thing. In your example you neglect to mention that steve only reminded about the service. The client was like “I’ve heara about this and I was planning on buying it - let’s look into it a little bit more and purchase”. I don’t think he made a purchase thanks to steve - the biggest part played the fact that he was introduced to it before.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Hello John,
…After reading Aweber’s affiliate update and while I can appreciate both sides of the cookie debate, there appears to be a third (and a fourth) issue, that appears to be relevant.
…I never realized that Aweber used a 10 year first cookie, but for certain, a whole bunch of those affiliates were long gone when the sale was finally made.
…And if so, who received or is receiving the commission on that first cookie sale? … A good guess would be that nobody did or is.
…Even with a 1 year first cookie, a newbie stands very little chance of obtaining the sale after it is rolled out by the major players, while once again, the first cookie could very well belong to someone that is no longer around when the actual sale is made.
…It is a bit early for Thanksgiving, but you are going to see some massive “stuffing” as soon as the 1 year first cookie replaces the 10 year ones.
…Further, type in “autoresponder” in Google and see who the first two are and guess who is stuffing first cookies the most?
…I think Aweber and their clones are a good service, but I don’t like competing with the source that also makes the rules in their favor.
Dave…
PS: In all consideration, I am rather certain the last cookie sale is the best and most fair for all affiliates.
PSS: And yes, I think I will leave my website out of this one.
March 13th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Hello John,
I’m glad Dennis mentioned your blog so we could read each others comments on complex subjects such as this one. I’ve done more posts recently on Web analytics.
As you mentioned, those who are sophisticated enough to send out follow-up emails and provide additional opportunities for the regular visitors to click again are more likely to be rewarded with last click cookies.
Because of this, the change is probably a good decision on eWebers part. Having expired affiliates earning commissions benefits if they don’t pay them out to anyone else. They are bound to pay out more using last click.
Serious affiliates would do well to offer as many opportunities as they can within the flow of their sites for potential buyers to click again and set them as the latest click.
As Web analytics matures there will eventually be better ways to track all visits and from the viewpoint of an ecommerce store that is more critical than most can imagine.
Online sellers who have affiliates, buy ppc ads and clicks from shopping comparison sites, and have strong organic listings can truly not tell what the source of their conversions really is.
I know one who was extremely dissatisfied with their affiliates because they focused almost exclusively on using discount coupons so every sale they were generating was a discounted sale that cost the retailer a commission too.
Internet Strategist´s last blog post..REVIEW: Mastering Google Analytics - Easy to Understand FREE eCourse
March 13th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Good evening, Odzyskiwanie.
Welcome to our discussion and thanks for your comment.
The scenario you describe could be valid.
At this point, I don’t think we’ll ever know and Aweber has already decided how they’re going to run their program.
Act on your dream!
JD
March 13th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Good evening, Dave.
I agree that, in many instances, a 10 year first cookie is going to result in nobody getting commissions for a sale and that has to be an advantage to Aweber, or any other merchant choosing this method of tracking.
Yes, newbies and people with smaller readerships are at a disadvantage with a first cookie, I believe.
I really don’t earn enough from Aweber to be very bothered about this. If it weren’t for the fact that I believe Aweber offers the best autoresponder service, I probably wouldn’t even have brought it up in the first place.
The only reason I remain one of their affiliates is because I believe in their product, regardless of the amount of money I have or haven’t earned from them.
I’m considering dropping out of their affiliate program and just linking to them directly when I promote them.
After having spent years testing their competitors, I’m clear on preferring Aweber’s service.
Act on your dream!
JD
March 13th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Good evening, Internet Strategist.
I’m also happy that Dennis introduced us. I’ve been reading your blog and it’s clear that you know a lot more about analytics than I do. I’m beginning to understand that affiliate programs are considerably more complex than many of us imagine.
“Having expired affiliates earning commissions benefits if they don’t pay them out to anyone else. They are bound to pay out more using last click.”
I think that gets to the crux of my objection to Aweber’s use of first cookies.
After reading some of what you’ve written about analytics, I’m happy that I’m not running an affiliate program from the merchant’s side.
At this stage in my life, I really don’t need that kind of complexity.
Act on your dream!
JD
March 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I’m happy to have introduced the two of you, just remember to invite me to the ceremony; hahahahaha.
Serious affiliates would do well to offer as many opportunities as they can within the flow of their sites for potential buyers to click again and set them as the latest click.
Although this is true for the most part, and I know the “customers must see 7 times rule”, no one (ethical) really wants to have to FLOOD advertisements to be sure they’re last.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post..Do You Charge For Blog Reviews?
March 14th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Hi J.D.,
I realized I didn’t address your comment about talking to a handle. A disadvantage/advantage of becoming older and wiser is seeing the handwriting on the wall.
While I once did have my image and name all over the Internet I realized that was not in my best interest. So when I decided to let my old sites and blog expire and start fresh I did so without them.
Those who do not study history are destined to repeat it. There are numerous posts regarding privacy and the power of data mining in my blog. I linked the one with the most detail as the main link in this comment.
While it would be far easier for me to just use a name - or pick one out of the air - I consider this an extremely important issue so I do what I can to work around it.
An example bloggers might use to more deeply understand the first and last cookie issue is Thesis. I frequent at least half a dozen blogs that have a Thesis ad box. I have no doubt clicked on it many times in researching Themes.
If I decided to buy Thesis which of those many bloggers gets the credit is highly unlikely to be THE one that did the best job explaining the benefits and influencing my purchase UNLESS they use last click and I make a point of buying from THAT blog (if I even knew which one that was).
I have intentionally cleared cookies in the past in the hopes of giving the most deserving affiliate payment for their work. Hopefully that has worked; maybe it hasn’t.
As for analytics I guarantee that few know as much about as they THINK they do - including me - and those who REALLY do rarely write about it in a way that benefits the majority of users.
I will be doing more posts specifically for USERS who are not and have no intention of becoming analytics experts so that they will get the most out of their analytics and avoid the most serious and common mistakes.
I do encourage everyone to sign up for the free Mastering Google Analytics ecourse because it is a very simple way to get a clearer overview of Web Analytics. Even those who use it have learned about features they didn’t know existed.
That link is in the CommentLuv field and the privacy and datamining information are linked from my “handle”.
Internet Strategist´s last blog post..REVIEW: Mastering Google Analytics - Easy to Understand FREE eCourse
March 15th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Good morning, Internet Strategist.
I read your post about datamining and freedom and I understand, now, why you choose to use a handle instead of your name.
While I don’t agree with your conclusions, I do agree with some of the points you make, and respect your point of view.
Regarding cookies for tracking affiliate sales, the more I think about it, the more I realize how it can be a real “crap shoot.” It’s not nearly as reliable as I once thought it to be.
You bring up some good points.
At one point in my life, when I was younger and had more active brain cells at my disposal, I would have been much more interested in analytics than I am now. I try to use my stats to spot trends that affect my income so I can respond to them or switch to something else, but I really don’t spend a lot of time doing it.
I’m not trying to dissuade anyone else from learning all they want to about the subject; I’m just in a different place, these days.
Act on your dream!
JD