Coupon Web Service
The LinkShare Coupon Web Service is a new API for Publishers to access coupon and promotional links, without logging in to the Publisher Dashboard. These coupon and promotional links are compelling to consumers and therefore more likely to convert. We are also taking additional steps to guarantee that the coupons, promotions, and offers in the service are in fact quality consumer offers.

An important note is that Publishers must be approved before using the LinkShare Coupon Web Service. They can apply in the Publisher Dashboard and learn more in the Help Center. In the first phase we will offer text links only, but will be adding banners in the future.

Also, please note this service is for “promotional” offers, and not necessarily limited to “coupon codes”.  For example, Free Shipping or Free Gift offers would also be considered coupons, even though they do not feature a coupon code. In order to guarantee that the coupons, promotions, and offers in the Coupon Web Service are in fact quality consumer offers, we need your help! To create the most effective offers, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• A Coupon MUST be a consumer offer and should fall into one of the following categories (certain exclusions are acceptable):
  • Buy One / Get One
  • Clearance Sale
  • Combination Savings
  • Dollar Off / Percentage Off
  • Free Trial / Gift with Purchase
  • Free / Discounted Shipping
  • Deal of the Day / Week


• Textual Link Copy should adequately explain promotion, for example:
  
  


• All Links should be active and lead to the correct landing page.
• Good Keywords to use: Free, Save __% on, Coupon, Get, Take __% off
• Capitalization: We ask that you do not write in all caps, especially for these trigger words: free, save, shipping, sale. Also:
  • Only capitalize the first letter of trigger words
    Ex: Free Shipping, Save 10%, take off
  • For ‘Save on’ and ‘Take off,’ capitalize only ‘Save’ and ‘Take’
    Ex: Save $10 on your next purchase
    Ex: Take 50% off your next holiday trip
  • Exception: You may use ALL CAPS for any product names that are formatted with all caps and for promotional codes.


• Link Punctuation - all Textual Link Copy should end in “.” or a “!”

There is no work required on your end to be included in the coupon feed; we have added (and will continue to add) verified and current consumer offers into the web service. This tool will give approved Publishers in your program the ability to dynamically update their site with your offers (similar to an XML product feed). The advantage of using the LinkShare Coupon Web Service is simple – to expedite the process of getting creative that converts.

Offer Preview/Accept Tool
Publishers are now able to view and opt into upcoming Advertiser offers in the Publisher Dashboard. No more waiting until an offer is live to opt in. Now your Publishers can plan ahead and the offer will go live automatically the moment it is supposed to. This is another improvement to our system designed to make it easier than ever for both you and your Publishers.

How does it work? On the Private Offers page in the Programs section of the Publisher Dashboard, there is a new tab called “Upcoming Offers.” This section will contain offers that are not yet active. Publishers are now able to opt into these offers before they start—as soon as you set them up in the interface. Once the offer begins, Publishers will be commissioned at the level specified by the offer. Once the special or private offer expires, the Publisher will fall back into a previous private offer if the end date has yet to expire. If the end date has expired, the Publisher will be joined to the baseline offer.