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How do Amazon affiliate cookies work?
Amazon affiliate cookies are used to track the purchases made by customers who click on your affiliate links. Here’s a breakdown of how Amazon affiliate cookies work:
How Amazon Affiliate Cookies Work:
- Clicking the Affiliate Link:
- When someone clicks on an affiliate link you’ve shared (whether it’s to a specific product or a general Amazon page), Amazon places a tracking cookie in their browser.
- This cookie tracks the user’s activity on Amazon for a set period (usually 24 hours).
- Cookie Duration:
- The cookie has a duration of 24 hours, meaning if the customer makes a purchase within 24 hours of clicking your link, you will earn a commission on that purchase.
- If they don’t buy anything within 24 hours but later return to Amazon and purchase the product you linked to, you won’t earn a commission unless they make the purchase within that 24-hour window.
- Commission on Any Purchase:
- The great thing about Amazon’s cookie system is that if someone clicks your affiliate link and purchases any product on Amazon within 24 hours (not just the product you linked to), you will still receive a commission on those items.
- For example, if you link to a smartphone and the customer ends up buying a laptop, you still get credit for the sale, as long as it happens within 24 hours.
- Cart-based Purchases:
- If the customer clicks your affiliate link and adds the product to their shopping cart but doesn’t purchase right away, you still have a chance to earn a commission, as long as they complete the purchase within 90 days (Amazon’s cart policy).
- However, the 24-hour cookie duration still applies to any immediate purchases made within that period.
- No Commission After 24 Hours:
- Once the 24-hour window expires, the tracking cookie becomes invalid. If the customer purchases anything on Amazon after that time, you will not earn a commission.
- Tracking Process:
- Amazon’s affiliate tracking system relies on unique tracking codes embedded in your affiliate links. These codes are what allow Amazon to attribute any sales made back to your affiliate account.
- When someone clicks your link, it’s like Amazon “remembers” where the click came from via the cookie. If they complete the transaction, you get credit.
Important Considerations:
- Multiple Clicks: If the customer clicks multiple affiliate links from different affiliates, Amazon will prioritize the last click. For example, if they click your link first but later click another affiliate’s link, the other affiliate will get credit for the sale.
- Shared Devices and Multiple Browsers: If a user clicks your affiliate link on one device and then makes the purchase on another device, you might still get credit, but it depends on how Amazon tracks cookies and devices.
- Affiliate Link Modifications: Modifying the Amazon affiliate link, like removing certain parameters or altering the format, can break the tracking system. Always use the exact link provided by Amazon to ensure proper tracking.
Summary of How Cookies Work in Amazon Affiliate Program:
- 24-Hour Tracking: The affiliate link creates a cookie in the user’s browser, lasting for 24 hours.
- Commission on All Purchases: If the user buys any product on Amazon (not just the one you linked to) within 24 hours, you get a commission.
- Cart Purchases: If the customer adds a product to their cart but doesn’t buy immediately, you still have the potential for a commission if they purchase within 90 days.
- No Commission After 24 Hours: After the 24-hour window expires, you won’t earn commissions on purchases.
By understanding how Amazon’s affiliate cookies work, you can optimize your affiliate marketing strategy and encourage clicks that are more likely to convert into commissions.
