How a sale is attributed: link, code and manual attribution
Every sale through a partner is attributed to them by one of three doors: the partner link the buyer opened, the partner code they typed at checkout, or a manual attribution your team writes with a reason when the customer says “so-and-so sent me”. In Algeria the code matters more than the link: a voice note, a live stream, a word between friends. In this lesson Hiba Larbi, a wedding photographer, sells the “Wedding photography” course and a printed pricing guide, promoted by Amine and Sara. The same rules work for a coding trainer or a pastry chef who teaches.
- 4 minutes to read; attribution itself is automatic
- 5 steps
Who can do it: The link and the code work on their own. Settings: whoever has “Partners: programs, partners and settings”; manual attribution: whoever has “Partners: review commissions and manual attribution”.
In 5 steps
- 1The partner link: short “/a/AMINE”, or “?a=AMINE” on any page of your site, with channels and a QR code.
- 2A visitor arriving by a link sees “Amine invites you” and the friend’s discount, first name only.
- 3A typed code beats the link, the link lasts 30 days, and the last click takes the sale.
- 4“Came through a partner?” in the order drawer: manual attribution with a required reason, kept in the log.
Before you start
- A running program and at least one active partner.
- For partner links: “Partner links” on in the program’s rules (off in the bookshops template, where only the code counts).
- For manual attribution: the “Partners: review commissions and manual attribution” permission.
- Step 1 of 5
The partner link: short, or on any page
Every partner has a fixed short link, “…/a/AMINE”, opening what you choose in “Partner settings” → “Codes and links” → “Page the short link opens” (“Home”, the “Become a partner” page, or “A specific page”). And “Add ?a=AMINE to any page”: “Any link of your site becomes a partner link, even a course page”. With “Links named by channel”, Amine names one link “TikTok” and another “Class WhatsApp”, and you see each channel’s sales; the “QR code” prints on a sticker or a card. When someone opens the link their visit is kept in their browser; if they buy within the link duration, the sale goes to Amine.
On screenPartner settingsCodes and linksShort link shapePage the short link opensHomeA specific pageAdd ?a=AMINE to any pageLinks named by channelQR codeTipThe short link is “Fixed for each partner, even if their program changes”. A visit doesn’t keep who the visitor is: just a count and a channel.
Heads-upThe link only opens a page of your own site, so it can’t send visitors elsewhere. A paused or ended partner’s link opens your site as usual, with nothing counted for them.
- Step 2 of 5
What the visitor sees: “Amine invites you”
Whoever arrives through Amine’s link sees a quiet bar at the top of the site: “Amine invites you” and “10% off your first order”, with “Hide the invitation”. In “Partner settings” → “Privacy”: ““So-and-so invites you” bar” (“First name only: “Youcef invites you””) and “Partners can hide their name” (“Every partner can hide their name from the bar and the ranking”). With the name hidden the visitor reads: “You have an invitation from one of our partners”. From the partner’s profile you can also “Hide their name from visitors”.
On screenAmine invites you10% off your first orderPrivacy“So-and-so invites you” barPartners can hide their nameHide their name from visitorsTipThe program’s name as visitors read it is set in “General” → “Program name for visitors”: “Shown in the invite bar and on the “Become a partner” page”.
Heads-up“The buyer’s phone number never reaches any partner.” A partner sees at most the buyer’s short name (“Sara B.”), or nothing, depending on “About the buyer”.
- Step 3 of 5
Who takes the sale: the code wins, the link lasts 30 days
The partner code is typed in the code field at checkout: the buyer gets the friend’s discount and the sale goes to the partner, even with no link opened. In “Attribution and tracking”: “Link duration” 30 days (“If the visitor buys within it, the sale goes to the partner”), “If the visitor clicks two partners’ links”: “Last click” or “First click”, “A typed code beats the link” on, and “Buyers stay with their partner” (off by default; with “Phone matching across devices”). Example: Leila opened Sara’s link on Instagram, then typed AMINE at checkout: the sale goes to Amine. 12 000 DA with 10% off = 10 800 DA, and his 15% commission = 1 620 DA.
On screenAttribution and trackingLink durationIf the visitor clicks two partners’ linksLast clickFirst clickA typed code beats the linkBuyers stay with their partnerPhone matching across devicesTipThe order is fixed: manual attribution beats everything, then a typed code, then the link, then “A buyer who came through them before” if “Buyers stay with their partner” is on. In a program with no friend’s discount (bookshops), the code still counts for the partner when the buyer types it, without lowering the price.
Heads-up“Applies to all your programs, and to new orders only.” No attribution on a partner’s purchase for themselves (you see it as a self-referral, never paid), nor on orders by the academy’s team.
- Step 4 of 5
Manual attribution: “Came through a partner?”
The call team rings Nesrine B. about her order #A-1061 (the pricing guide, cash on delivery); she says Amine sent her, but she typed no code. In the order’s drawer on the “Call desk” (and in the orders drawer) there’s a “Came through a partner?” line (“If the buyer said who sent them but didn’t type the code.”). “Attribute to a partner” → “Search by name or code” → “Pick”: “Their commission” shows before saving (“By the “Hiba’s ambassadors” program: 15%”), then the “Reason” (“Required; kept in the log with your name and the date.”): “The buyer said Amine sent her”, then “Save attribution”. From the same line: “Change partner” or “Remove attribution”.
On screenCall deskCame through a partner?Attribute to a partnerSearch by name or codePickTheir commissionReasonSave attributionChange partnerRemove attributionTip“Waiting until the order is collected, then the safety period. The partner sees it was attributed manually.” Amine reads “Assigned to you by the teacher”.
Heads-up“Only someone who can review commissions can change it.” Manual attribution beats both link and code, so use it only with a real reason: every change is written in the partner’s log and is never erased.
- Step 5 of 5
Why it was attributed: the evidence in every commission
In “Commissions”, click any row to open its drawer: “How it was calculated” (10 800 DA × 15% = 1 620 DA), “Why it was attributed” in one sentence (“The buyer typed the partner’s code, and a typed code beats a link.”, “The last partner link the buyer opened before buying.” or “Attributed manually.” with the reason), the visits before the purchase (“Partner link · SARA10 · Instagram”, “Partner code · AMINE”) and “What happened”. For an order outside a drawer: the “Manual attribution” button at the top of “Commissions” → “Order” (its number as shown in “Store”, like A-1061) → “Find”.
On screenCommissionsHow it was calculatedWhy it was attributedWhat happenedManual attributionOrderFindTipThe table’s “Came via” column names the door in a word: “Link” (with the channel), “Code”, “Manual” or “Returning buyer”.
Heads-up“No recorded visit: attributed by code or manually.” That’s normal: a code needs no click.
Once a sale is attributed
Questions
The buyer opened one partner’s link, then typed another partner’s code: whose sale is it?
The code owner’s. “A typed code beats the link”, and the commission says so: “The buyer typed the partner’s code, and a typed code beats a link.”
The buyer opened the link today and bought two weeks later: does it count?
Yes, as long as it’s within the “Link duration” (30 days by default) and from the same browser. If they switch device the code still works, and “Phone matching across devices” attributes them if they buy with the same number, with “Buyers stay with their partner” on.
Can a partner buy with their own code and take the commission?
No. A purchase from the same account, phone or device is recorded as a self-referral: you see it, it isn’t paid, and the partner reads “Your own purchase doesn’t count”.
Can a wrong attribution be corrected?
Yes, from the order’s drawer: “Change partner” or “Remove attribution”, with a required reason. Every change is written in the log with your name and date, and the commission follows the new attribution.
Does the code work in the store and on courses alike?
Yes. A partner code is a coupon on everything their program covers: courses, offers, store products and sessions, typed in the same code field at checkout.