Could Someone Explain the Cookies thing!

[ashamom]

I know that different companies allow a different cookie period in the links, ads, etc that I post on my site. Some are 24 hours, 7 days, 3 months, etc. etc. What I don't understand is what exactly that means. After all, when I make a link to a product, it has my unique code, or whatever, that tells the company that I sent the customer. Regardless of the cookies thing that code should be there.
Now does this just mean that if someone goes to a site under my affiliate link, but chooses not to buy, but then goes back later, a cookie will remember that? I've heard conflicting things about this and would love it if one of the veterans of this group could baby talk me through this
thanks in advance

[lindastacy]

A cookie is a small bit of code that is stored on a site visitor's browser and then recalled the next time that person visits the same website.

Suppose I go to a site through your affiliate link today, I don't buy anything, but I bookmark the site and go back next week and make a purchase. If a 3-month cookie was set, you'd still get a commission on that sale. If a 24 hour cookie was set on my initial visit, you would not get the commission when I went back a week later.

If an affiliate site doesn't set cookies, you only get a commission when a sale is made during the initial visit through your link.

The catch is that some people have cookies turned off for their browser so no matter what the affiliate site sets for cookies, they won't be stored. And we can also clear our cookies any time we want. In those cases you only get credit for the sale when the person makes a purchase during that visit directly from your link.

[ashamom]

Thankyou very much. I was thinking that I had to redo all of my links when the cookies period was done because my links wouldn't work You've cleared that up for me.

[Aidenwood]

Cookies are files that websites save to your computer so they can remember you the next time you go there.
Here's an example: Many websites have a Remember My Password feature. When you select that feature, the website saves a cookie to your computer so it can remember your password.You can delete cookies , but any saved passwords, etc... will be lost along with it.Hope this helps!

[Fast Income Formula]

Cookies are files which are created by websites you visit. They usually store your username, password or email so you don't need to login the next time you visit the website. Cookies can be used for many other purposes but I think that this is the most basic and most used one. Data in cookies is encrypted so your password is stored safely. But if you get your cookie stolen, the guy who stole it can use it for logging into your account.