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A Google Referral Programs Primer - Part 2 of 2 - Each Program in Detail

You are here: Articles > A Google Referral Programs Primer - Part 2 of 2 - Each Program in Detail

by Carsten Cumbrowski, April, 12 2007.

This is the second part of the article titled "A Google Referral Programs Primer" that provides an overview over how Google uses its own technology and services to promote its own services. It shows how Google uses its AdSense publishing platform for its in-house managed referral programs and general details about tracking, available ad formats and commission payment that apply to all its referral programs.

For the Google referral programs overview, see Part one of this article.

Update! As of August 2008, Google discontinued their referral programs for Google products. In their own words: "We are currently reevaluating the Google Referrals program to ensure that it is providing the best possible monetization opportunity for our publishers as well as meeting the needs of Google. At this time, we have suspended the Google Referrals program." If Google should decide to re-establish a referral program, then it is most likely to utilize the ConnectCommerce affiliate networking platform, which Google acquired when then acquired DoubleClick (also finalized around July 2008).

Lets take a look under the hood of each program. I added in parenthesis who the service or product is for (to use it) and not who should advertise it.

Table of Contents for Part 2

Google AdSense - Ad revenue for web publishers

Commission:$5 per new signup
Bonus:$250 (if referred publisher earns $100 in valid commission within 180 days of sign-up)
Performance
Incentive:
$2,000 (if you earn the Bonus 25+ times within any 180-day period)
Restrictions: - for new publishers that never previously in Google AdSense only
- must earn $5 within 180 days of sign-up
- Performance Incentive: Publisher can receive the performance incentive only once per calendar year, regardless if the criteria to qualify for the incentive a second time during the same year is being met, or not. (= $2,000 max/year)
Payment: - Comissions Monthly with AdSense Payout
- Bonuses are included in the monthly payout payments of the same period when the publisher qualifies for the Bonus

Google's Full Description

When a publisher who signed up for Google AdSense through your referral earns $5.00 within 180 days of sign-up, you will be credited with $5.00. When that same publisher earns $100.00 within 180 days of sign-up and is eligible for payout, you will be credited with an additional $250.00. If, in any 180 day period, you refer 25 publishers who each earn more than $100.00 and are all eligible for payout, you will be awarded a $2,000.00 bonus. *

* A Google AdSense referral is counted only for publishers never previously enrolled in Google AdSense. You may only receive 1 bonus payout per year.

Google Help (answer:25889)

- When a publisher who signed up for Google AdSense through your referral first earns $5 within 180 days of sign-up, you will be credited with $5.
- When that same publisher earns $100 within 180 days of sign-up and is eligible for payout, you will be credited with an additional $250.
- If in any 180-day period you refer 25 publishers who each earn more than $100 within 180 days of their respective sign-ups and are all eligible for payout, you will be awarded a $2,000 bonus (bonus payouts are limited to 1 per year).




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Google AdWords - Targeted online advertising

Commission:$5 per new signup
Bonus:$40 (if referred advertiser spends $100 within 90 days of sign-up)
Performance
Incentive:
$600 (if you earn the bonus 20+ times within any 180-day period)
Restrictions: - New account by advertiser who never previously enrolled in Google AdWords
- must spend $5.00 (in addition to the $5.00 sign-up fee) within 90 days of sign-up - Performance Incentive: Publisher can receive the performance incentive only once per calendar year, regardless if the criteria to qualify for the incentive a second time during the same year is being met, or not. (= $2,000 max/year)
Payment: - Comissions Monthly with AdSense Payout
- Bonuses are included in the monthly payout payments of the same period when the publisher qualifies for the Bonus

Google's Full Description

When an advertiser who signed up for Google AdWords through your referral spends $5.00 (in addition to the $5.00 sign-up fee) within 90 days of sign-up, you will be credited with $5.00. When that same advertiser spends $100.00 within 90 days of sign-up, you will be credited with an additional $40.00. If, in any 180-day period, you refer 20 advertisers who each spend more than $100.00 within 90 days of their respective sign-ups, you will be awarded a $600.00 bonus. *

* A Google AdWords referral is counted only for advertisers never previously enrolled in Google AdWords. You may only receive 1 bonus payout per year.

Google Help (answer:25889)

- When an advertiser you refer first spends $5 within 90 days of sign-up (in addition to the $5 sign-up fee) you will be credited with $5.
- When that same advertiser spends $100 within 90 days of sign-up, you will be credited with an additional $40.
- If in any 180 day period you refer 20 advertisers who each spend more than $100 within 90 days of their respective sign-ups, you will be awarded a $600 bonus (bonus payouts are limited to 1 per year).




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Google Checkout - A faster, safer way to shop online

Action:New buyer purchase
Commission:$1.00
Restrictions: - New signups only
- Account in good standing
- Makes Purchase of $10 or more (excluding Tax and Shipping) within 90 days of sign-up
Payment:Comissions Monthly with AdSense Payout

Google's Full Description

When a user you refer to Google Checkout has an account in good standing and completes a transaction of at least $10 (before tax and shipping) within 90 days of sign-up, we'll credit your AdSense account with US $1.

Google Help (answer:25889)

When a user signs up as a buyer and completes a transaction through Google Checkout of at least $10 (before tax and shipping) within 90 days of sign-up, you will be credited with $1.




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Google Apps - Communication and collaboration tools for businesses and organizations

Action:Account used 4 consecutive weeks
Commission:$5
Restrictions: - New signups only
- Creates at least one Google Apps email account
- One or more Google Apps email accounts in use for four consecutive weeks
Payment:Comissions Monthly with AdSense Payout

Google's Full Description

You will be credited when someone clicks your referral and signs up for Google Apps with a domain that has not already been signed up for the service. The domain must then have one or more Google Apps email accounts in use for four consecutive weeks.

Google Help
n/a


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Firefox plus Google Toolbar - Improved web browsing

Commission:$1 per download
Restrictions: - Firefox for Windows Downloads only - First time Firefox Installs only
- Must run the Firefox Browser with active Google Toolbar once
Payment:Comissions Monthly with AdSense Payout

Google's Full Description

When a user downloads and installs Firefox through your referral, we'll credit your account with up to $1.00

* A Firefox referral is counted when a Windows user, who has not previously installed Firefox, downloads and runs the program for the first time.

Google Help (answer:25889)

When a user you've referred to Firefox plus Google Toolbar runs Firefox for the first time, you'll receive up to US$1 in your account, depending on the user's location. Your referral must be a Windows user, who has not previously installed Firefox, in order for you to receive credit.


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Google Pack - Collection of essential software

Commission:$2 per download
Restrictions: - User must have installed the software after the download
- Google Pack referrals will only be visible to users located in certain countries***.
   (A Firefox referral button will be displayed to all other users.)
Payment:Comissions Monthly with AdSense Payout

Google's Full Description

When a user downloads and installs at least one component of Google Pack through your referral, we'll credit your account with up to $2.00

* A Google Pack referral is counted when a Windows user from one of these countries***, who has not previously installed Google Pack, downloads and installs the program for the first time.

Google Help (answer:25889)

When a Windows user you've referred to Pack downloads and installs the product, you'll receive up to US$2 in your account.

*** Countries where Google Pack Referrals can be viewed by Publishers (answer:38153)
Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States

Also see the Payment Guide at Google AdSense Help


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A Google Referral Programs Primer - Part 1  Articles Index Determining the Right Compensation Structure for Your Affiliate Program

©2006-2007 Carsten Cumbrowski
Replication of this Content in full or in part without written permission by the author is prohibited.




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