Google Affiliate

15 November, 2005

I was copy and pasting code for Google's new Adsense Affiliate Program [1] and I came across the line in the javascript:

 google_cpa_choice = "xxxx_xxxxxxxxx";

What got me thinking was the 3 letters, CPA - Cost Per Action.

Why $1 per firefox install? I'm sure it is worth something to have people install the google toolbar, but why $1, and why just firefox and not IE too. Well here is my guess: they are testing a new google affiliate system ( Think commission junction ).

All the pieces are there, and there is a large gaping hole right where this would sit:

• Google have CPC, and CPM payment methods for AdWords but no CPA
• Smart pricing for adsense, which is based on how your traffic converts.
• An affilliate program running, ( firefox and adsense )
• Converstion tracking with Google Analytics ( which is already integrated with adwords! )

Google have already demonstrated that they are prepared to tackle many internet markets with all their numerous products, and affiliate programs are just too large to ignore. All the pieces are there, it's just a matter of when.

When this happens, it will be huge. Specify how much you want to buy your sales for and Google will do the rest.

[1] A program where Google pays $1 for every user that downloads firefox and the google toolbar if they followed the link from your website,

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