Case: Switching to longer cookie programs added 17% revenue

Case: Switching to longer cookie programs added 17% revenue
A creator promoted offers with 24-hour cookie windows. Audience researched for days, then bought — outside the window. Credit lost.

We audited the affiliate portfolio by cookie length:

Phase 1 — Inventory
— Listed every offer + its cookie duration

Phase 2 — Rank
— Flagged considered-purchase products (electronics, software) on sub-48hr cookies

Phase 3 — Swap
— Where a 30-day-cookie alternative existed at similar payout, switched the link

Decision rule: if product is a considered purchase and cookie is under 7 days, then find a longer-window program before promoting.

Result: on the swapped offers, attributed sales rose 17% over 60 days — same content, same clicks, just credited correctly.

Definition of done:
— Every offer's cookie window documented
— Considered-purchase items on 7-day-plus cookies
— Short-cookie offers flagged for replacement