Is there a way to give "extras" if someone purchases through your affiliate link?

I think that's probably right. When you're an affiliate, rather than the vendor. You need a way of knowing who's bought it, don't you? (Networks like ClickBank don't give the affiliate that information, anyway ...).


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For ClickBank, there is: CBListAutomator: Automated List Builder and Bonus Delivery System

From what I recall, the buyer must enter the transaction # and their email address in a opt-in box, then this script pulls some data from CB and verifies if there is a sale with this #. If there is one, they receive the free gift by email.

This method doesn't guarantee that they will not just run off with your freebie without buying your product tho.

For Clickbank products, CB List Automator is a must have tool, IMO. For other affiliate products such as Amazon, however, a little "trick" I've often used for automated delivery of bonuses was to require buyers to enter their receipt number into an optin form to receive their bonus.

The receipt number field was forced, and the "Thank You" page contained the download link for their bonus. Of course it was possible for anyone to just enter a fake receipt number to get the free bonus, but as far as I know (through random checks matching subscribers with affiliate reports), it has never happened.

In my experience, it is a very good idea for affiliates to always offer incentives to their prospects unless prohibited in the TOS. The reasoning behind this is not only to position yourself apart from other affiliates, but to create a sense of urgency to buy. A limited-time bonus offer will convert more effectively because a prospect is hardly ever ready to buy your affiliate product at the time of your promotion, no matter how much authority, credibility or rapport you have built.

For example Amazon has a 24-hour cookie which is almost never enough time for buyers to make a purchase decision of any significance. Some reports I've seen show the average Amazon conversion rate for affiliate click-throughs is about 3%. This means that perhaps as much as 97% of sales for any given product promotion may be spread out over other affiliates or directly to Amazon.

Although it is specifically against Amazon's Operating Agreement to incentivize purchases, a technique I've used for many years is to provide an "expanded users' guide" or "resource directory" exclusively for buyers of relevant high end products. Combined with email marketing, the conversion rate was nearly always about 10 times the affiliate average.

Thanks everyone for the help. This is all great stuff!! Yes, I do build a relationship with my followers. However, I figure that it really can't hurt to give something a little extra just in case they do decide to Google the product per my recommendation.