Intro-
I rent membership software hosted on their servers. All I do is add content, select some design options and promote. The system can automatically generate affiliate links for visitors to the site that they can use to earn commissions.
Challenge-
The system generated affiliate links work fine. But, I need a way affiliates can also refer people by simply promoting the top level domian name and a personal "referral ID." This way, I could supply referral ID numbers to be used on business cards and in print ads...i.e. mydomain, Referral ID# 123456.
This should be done in a manner that the membership software will automatically recognize the affiliate referring the visitor. Since I am enabled by the software to create my own home page using html, I hope someone can come up with a solution that can be installed on the home page.
Summary-
If you need my idea diagramed, let me know. Feel free to contact me with questions.
Regards-
Doctor Quest
## Deliverables
My idea (very open to suggestions)-
The home page will automatically recognize an affiliate link it generated.
So, my idea is to have a script (A) and a form (A) on the home page of the membership site and a script (B) on a web page (B) located on a different server/site.
Form (A) would provide a way for those using a referral ID # to enter that number on the home page and click a button to "register." The visitor would seamlessly be redirected to web page (B) and then returned to the home page using the proper affiliate link (associated with the referral ID) which will then be recognized by the membership software.
Script (A) on the home page does the following:
1) Captures the referral ID # entered by the visitor on form (A).
2) When the visitor enters the referral ID # and clicks on "Register," the script redirects the visitor to a pre-designed web page (B) on a different server/site.
Script (B) on web page (B) does the following:
3) Script (B) on web page (B) then refers to a list (C) and matches the referral ID # with the affiliate link associated with it.
4) Script (B) on web page (B) would then activate the affiliate link associated with the referral ID. This would redirect the visitor back to the membership site's home page, which would recognize the affiliate link.
5) To avoid confusing the visitor, it would be beneficial if script (A) on the home page could differentiate visitors arriving by an affiliate link and hide form (A) from them, but not from other visitors.
(note: if an affiliate requests a referral ID #, I could manually assign a number and upload this to list (C) on web page (B) or a different web page (C). Putting the list on Web page (C) would minimize the potential of accidental corruption of script (B) on web page (B) when updating list (C). This process does not need to be automatic. Although, it would be great if it could be. I may need to charge the affiliate a nominal fee for this manual process, if they request this option.)
Summary-
If you need my idea diagramed, let me know. Feel free to contact me with questions.
Regards-
Doctor Quest
1) Complete and fully-functional working script/program(s) in html form as well as complete source code of all work done.
2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition, as follows:
a) Seller will provide an easy way for Buyer to edit and update a list containing Affiliate Links and Referral ID numbers to be referenced by the script/program. This list should be secure from unauthorized access.
b) Seller will provide Buyer with written instructions on how to install and update the script/program in html. Buyer may accept video instruction in lieu of written instructions.
c) All communication, scripting, programming, documentation and instructions are to be in English.
3) Exceptions to #2 above, as follows:
a) Referral ID numbers to be provided by Buyer
b) Affiliate Links to be provided by Buyer
4) All deliverables will be considered "work made for hire" under U.S. Copyright law. Buyer will receive exclusive and complete copyrights to all work purchased. (No GPL, GNU, 3rd party components, etc. unless all copyright ramifications are explained AND AGREED TO by the buyer on the site per the coder's Seller Legal Agreement).
5) Completion date to be mutually agreed upon in writing.
## Platform
The script must be in html and work with the ten most popular Internet browsers.