How Can I Protect a Promo Code?

J

js9449875

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Dec 9, 2009
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I have a very busy but entirely seasonal affiliate website selling a few products. My merchant has given me a promo code for me to use on my site for 25% off. But anyone who uses that promo code can do so without clicking on my links and go straight to their website to use it.

My fear is this promo code will get out there and people will bypass my website (therefor no commission for me).

Is there any clever way around this?
 


DirSP said:
iframe the affiliate link
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But say someone posts on a forum... "Hey don't go to mywebsite.com, you can go directly to merchant.com and use coupon code "blahblah".

But this is my coupon code and if someone went direct, they'd be able to use the code and I would get nothing for it.

Also do you have an example of hos the iframe works?
 
terminate user from forum

establish this is a "Your site only promotional coupon"
 
I think there is no way to protect the code. However you can state in your website that the promo code is exclusively for your website users only. Also list down step by step how to apply the promo code, you will be surprised some users will just follow your guideline. I.e. First step click on the link, 2nd step apply promo code bla bla... With some graphical even better. Append the promo code to your url so it looks like passing the promo code. It works for me, some users even share my website url on how to apply the promo code.
 
Work with the merchant, if you send enough traffic some merchant will track your sales based on your promo code.....so you will always get the sale as long as your promo code is used.
 
nld2756 said:
terminate user from forum establish this is a "Your site only promotional coupon"
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I don't have a forum, it could get out on any "deal" forum.

Mahzkrieg said:
Is it obvious that the promo code can be used directly and your website bypassed?
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No it's not really, maybe I'm just being paranoid though.

Rajuthan said:
Try to get a new coupon made daily if possible and disable the old ones
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This might be the key, or even a new one weekly would be a big help. Where someone had to come back to my website to get the new one.

solution2u said:
I think there is no way to protect the code. However you can state in your website that the promo code is exclusively for your website users only. Also list down step by step how to apply the promo code, you will be surprised some users will just follow your guideline. I.e. First step click on the link, 2nd step apply promo code bla bla... With some graphical even better. Append the promo code to your url so it looks like passing the promo code. It works for me, some users even share my website url on how to apply the promo code.
Click to expand...

This is a great idea, I'll have to work with the merchant to see if I can embed the code right into the affiliate link.

csflmuc said:
Work with the merchant, if you send enough traffic some merchant will track your sales based on your promo code.....so you will always get the sale as long as your promo code is used.
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Right now I'm sending $4,000 a day to them in sales on an average $150 shopping cart total so they do seem to do whatever I ask them.

Thanks for all the info, this website is great.
 
Just market it as an "Exclusive Offer through this link". People eat that shit up, even though it maybe a common promo code.
 
csflmuc said:
Work with the merchant, if you send enough traffic some merchant will track your sales based on your promo code.....so you will always get the sale as long as your promo code is used.
Click to expand...

Agree. You will even happier if they share and distribute the promo codes.
 
js9449875 said:
I have a very busy but entirely seasonal affiliate website selling a few products. My merchant has given me a promo code for me to use on my site for 25% off. But anyone who uses that promo code can do so without clicking on my links and go straight to their website to use it.

My fear is this promo code will get out there and people will bypass my website (therefor no commission for me).

Is there any clever way around this?
Click to expand...

uhhh dont let anyone see the code? I guess it depends on whether or not you can use the promo code with your affiliate URL's or if it has to be manually entered by the user at checkout.

Either way chances are if its for something good it will slip out... Just make your site the most popular one for the promo code so that even if people go looking for it they end up using your aff links anyways...
 
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