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FAQ: Managing Balances, Payments, and Testing

A guide for Advertisers on interpreting reporting data, managing affiliate payments, and utilizing development environments

Gumrah avatar
Written by Gumrah
Updated this week

  1. Why does my affiliate have a negative balance?

  2. How do I interpret "Reports" vs. "Balances"?

  3. How can I check an affiliate’s payment history?

  4. How do I set up a Sandbox account for testing?

  5. Best Practices for Data Accuracy

❓Why does my affiliate have a negative balance?

A negative value in the "Balances" section indicates an overpayment. This happens if the payments made to a publisher exceed their earned commissions. Conversely, a positive value indicates an underpayment (commissions owed to the affiliate).

Example of a negative balance in the advertiser portal:

Example of a negative balance in the affiliate account:

❓How do I interpret "Reports" vs. "Balances"?

  • Report Section: A snapshot of total commissions earned by a publisher for a specific period.

  • Balance Section: A running tally reflecting the net balance between total commissions earned and total payments made.

❓How are the balances calculated?

Balances are calculated as follows:

  • All approved commissions minus paid out amounts

This means that if there are changes in commissions that have already been paid out, the change will be reflected in the affiliate's current balance.

Example:

  1. An affiliate creates a conversion with $10 commission. At this point, the affiliate's balance is $0.

  2. When the commission is approved, the affiliate's balance becomes $10.

  3. When the affiliate's balance is settled (paid out), the affiliate's balance goes back to $0.

  4. If a refund happens for the order/conversion, you can disapprove the conversion/commission tied to it.

  5. After disapproval, the affiliate's balance becomes -$10.

Note: An affiliate's balance will be set back only if they've already been paid out the commission for the conversion that's being disapproved.

❓How can I check an affiliate’s payment history?

To view past payments, go to the Affiliates section, select the affiliate, and click "Go full profile" to see all financial transactions associated with them.

❓How do I set up a Sandbox account for testing?

We offer sandbox environments for development and staging.

  • Requirements: You must have an active paid Tapfiliate account. If the paid account is canceled, the sandbox account will also close.

  • How to start: Create a new account and contact support to switch it to "Sandbox mode".

  • Usage: Includes 1,000 monthly clicks, views, and conversions. Usage beyond this is billed at USD 1 per 1,000 extra events.

Best Practices for Data Accuracy

  1. Verify Tracking Links: Ensure affiliates use correct links to avoid inaccurate data.

  2. Review Reports Regularly: Identify anomalies early.

  3. Communicate: Reach out to affiliates to clarify mismatches.

  4. Document: Keep records and screenshots of any data confusion to assist Support in resolving issues.

Next Steps

  1. Advertiser's Guide: Managing Balances and Data Points

  2. FAQ: Can I use Tapfiliate to run programs for others?

  3. The Payout Process: Settling Balances and Generating a Payout File

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