The Problem with Coupon Codes
Traditional influencer marketing often relies on coupon codes (e.g., NIKE20) to track attribution. However, this method has significant flaws:
- Coupon Leakage: Codes quickly end up on discount and coupon aggregator sites, attributing sales to influencers that they didn't actually drive.
- Brand Dilution: Constant use of discount codes can lower your brand's perceived value.
- Inaccurate Data: You lose tracking on customers who click an influencer's link but forget to use the code at checkout.
How Conversion Links Help
Conversion Links provide a cleaner, more accurate way to track influencer performance. By using unique referral links instead of codes, you get:
- Automatic Attribution: The customer is tracked as soon as they click the link. No action is required at checkout.
- First-Party Data: Revshare's tracking engine captures the referral source directly, bypassing ad-blockers that often strip away coupon data.
- Zero Leakage: Unlike codes, links can't be "scraped" and used by thousands of unrelated customers.
Setting Up Influencer Links
To track an influencer without a coupon code:
- Create a new Conversion Link in your Revshare dashboard.
- Use a descriptive ref code like
casey-nycorinfluencer-summer-launch. - Give this unique link to the influencer to use in their Bio, Stories, or Video descriptions.
- Enable the Conversion Link toggle to ensure no commissions are generated if this is a flat-fee partnership.
Tracking ROI in Real-Time
Once live, you can see exactly which influencers are driving the most value. In your program dashboard, you'll see:
- Clicks vs. Sales: High clicks but low sales might mean the influencer's audience isn't the right fit.
- Lead Generation: See who is driving potential customers, even if they don't buy immediately.
- True Revenue: Accurate dollar amounts attributed to each partner.
Best Practices
For the best results, use conversion links as the primary call-to-action. If you must use a coupon code, pair it with the link—Revshare will capture the link attribution even if the user forgets the code.
