Linkshare Affiliate Resource Center

Lead Advantage FAQs

  1. What is the difference between affiliate marketing and lead generation?
  2. What is an offer in Lead Advantage?
  3. What Lead Advantage changes will affect me as a publisher?
  4. Will there be any differences in payment?
  5. Can I still receive direct deposit in Lead Advantage?
  6. How do I join a program in Lead Advantage?
  7. How do I get into an offer in Lead Advantage?
  8. I can’t find one of my advertisers in the LinkShare Network interface, where can I get my links?
  9. Do I need to switch links when my advertiser switches from LinkShare to Lead Advantage?
  10. If I work with advertisers in both LinkShare and Lead Advantage, will my reports be in one central location?
  11. If I am not currently working with Lead Advantage advertisers, how do I join to become apart of the Lead Advantage network?
  12. How do I access my U1 Signature Reports?
  13. How do I update my Lead Advantage channels types in which I promote advertisers?

    14. 1: What is the difference between affiliate marketing and lead generation?
    A: In affiliate marketing online publishers promote advertisers (online retailers looking to sell products or services). In exchange for a sale, the advertiser pays the publisher a commission. Lead generation refers to the creation of prospective consumer interest or acquisition of a new customer for a business' products or services.

    For example, when a publisher sends a consumer to a retail site and the consumer makes a purchase, the publisher receives a percent of the sale. In the case of LinkShare Lead Advantage, a publisher might get a consumer to fill out a form or register for a new product or service for the advertiser. The publisher then would get a fee for referring the consumer.

    back to top

    2: What is an offer in Lead Advantage?
    A: An offer provides the publisher with the details of the advertisers requested action, i.e. fee for valid referrals, the number of return days, the definition of a valid action, etc. One advertiser may have several offers to choose from so you can pick the offer that best fits your needs.
    back to top

    3: What Lead Advantage changes will affect me as a publisher?
    A: Many advertisers that pay for leads or form-based transactions will now be found in the LinkShare Lead Advantage Network. To access offers, links and reports, you will need to go to the Lead Advantage interface by using the dropdown menu under the Home tab and selecting Lead Advantage. There will no longer be a Join Programs page where you apply and wait to be accepted into a program. In the Lead Advantage Network, you are instantly accepted into an offer once you accept the offer’s terms and conditions. Joining offers gives you more flexibility to find the offers that best meet your needs and your site users. Publishers will also receive commission checks separate from their affiliate marketing account. As Lead Advantage grows, we will be adding more form and lead advertisers to our network.
    back to top

    4: Will there be any differences in payment?
    A: Yes, publishers that have an affiliate account with LinkShare and an account with Lead Advantage will get two separate checks or direct deposits each time LinkShare generates a payment batch.
    back to top

    5: Can I still receive direct deposit in Lead Advantage?
    A: Yes, if you are set up to receive direct deposit, you will get your payment as you always have.
    back to top

    6: How do I join a program in Lead Advantage?
    A: In Lead Advantage, there is no Join Programs tab, only an Offers Central page. You will use the Offers Central page to search advertiser offers. When you accept the terms and conditions of an advertisers’ offer from Offers Central, you will be approved for that offer, with no waiting.
    back to top

    7: How do I get into an offer in Lead Advantage?
    A: On the Offers Central page, you can search for offers based on your distribution method, date range, offer type, and/or search by keyword. You will then see a list of offers based on your criteria. To accept an offer click on the Offer Name, review the offer details, check the box to accept the offer terms and conditions, and then hit Save. Once you have accepted the terms and conditions you will be able to see the creative for the offer and get your links.
    back to top

    8: I can’t find one of my advertisers in the LinkShare Network interface, where can I get my links?
    A: Your advertisers may now be in the Lead Advantage interface. To access Lead Advantage, log into your LinkShare account then select Lead Advantage from the dropdown menu below the Home tab. From the Home Page, select Participating Offers from Your Account area to see the offers you are participating in and access the creative for that offer.
    back to top

    9: Do I need to switch links when my advertiser switches from LinkShare to Lead Advantage?
    A: No. If your advertisers move from the LinkShare Network to Lead Advantage, you will not need to update your links. The links will continue to track. Please keep in mind that future links, offers and reports will be accessible from the Lead Advantage interface.
    back to top

    10: If I work with advertisers in both LinkShare and Lead Advantage, will my reports be in one central location?
    A: No, if you want to view reports for advertisers in Lead Advantage, you will need to go to the Lead Advantage interface and select Run Reports to access the Lead Advantage Reports in Synergy Analytics.
    back to top

    11: If I am not currently working with Lead Advantage advertisers, how do I join to become apart of the Lead Advantage network?
    A: Log into your LinkShare Account, go to Update Profile from Your Account, select your Legal Entity under the Channel Manager on the left (your Legal Entity has a gray icon next to it), scroll down to Manage Participating Networks and click on the Manage button, choose Lead Advantage, and hit Update. All publishers have to be approved by LinkShare into the Lead Advantage Network before accessing offers in this network. While you wait for your acceptance, you might get an inquiry from LinkShare how you will promote our advertisers and what distribution channels you are using.
    back to top

    12: How do I access my U1 Signature Reports?
    A: From the Lead Advantage home page, there is a link to U1 reports under the Run Reports area. If you receive your Signature U1 reports through the automated download, you will need to specify that the network id (NID) for Lead Generation is 54. For more information on downloading Signature U1 reports click here.
    back to top

    13: How do I update the Lead Advantage channel types in which I promote advertisers?
    A: Go to Update Profile from the Your Account tab, select the appropriate ‘channel’ from the Channel Manager (channels are the icons that look like a website), select the Lead Advantage channel types you plan to use, scroll down to Lead Advantage Categories – select 1-3 categories, enter a brief site description (50 character minimum), select LinkShare Lead Advantage in the Web Site Network area, and then hit Update. At that time LinkShare will review your request to distribute links via that channel type.
    back to top