Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Start Guide

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate Marketing is a performance based model of revenue sharing. Affiliates promote the goods and/or services of a merchant through their websites, e-stores, opt-in email databases, etc. and are paid a commission or bounty for referring business to the merchant. Affiliates act as a remote sales force for a merchant, earning "wages" in direct proportion to the quality of the referrals they provide.

How do affiliate programs Work?

There are many different types of affiliate programs, but most affiliate programs, like Fold3®, are tracked online, using Internet cookies. After joining you will receive a unique affiliate ID to use with a text ad or a banner ad (we provide you with a selection to choose from) on your site. Your affiliate number is used to track visitors from your site to ours. A cookie is placed on the visitor's computer. Different companies have different settings but for Fold3, the cookie life is set for 120 days. Each visitor is tracked so that even if a visitor doesn't request service on their first visit, but returns later and purchases, we will know it came from your site. You'll earn a commission when that customer purchases anything as long as the cookie has not been deleted or replaced by another affiliate's cookie. 

Do I have to have a website to become an affiliate?

Generally, the answer is yes. Online tracking is the most reliable way to ensure our affiliates are credited with the referrals they send to us. We prefer affiliates who maintain an active Web presence. As a general rule Fold3 will not permit affiliates to refer traffic via email links only. Due to our strict NO SPAMMING policies, any and all Fold3 links intended for use in emails must be approved by the Fold3 affiliate team prior to use. Failure to obtain permission prior to launching an email campaign may result in non-payment for any resulting referrals.

Where can I get training on Affiliate Marketing?

There are many great resources for training including our own affiliate support team. If you would like more information, and helpful advice on making affiliate relationships work for you, please feel free to give us a call on our affiliate hotline at 1-877-969-0319, or email us at [email protected].

• How do I get started?
• Getting started is simple just follow these 3 easy steps to start earning today! Apply to the Fold3.com affiliate program. 
• Select any banners or text links you would like to use. 
• Place the linking code on your own site to activate your links. 

General Program Info

How Often Can I Check My Sales? 

You can log in to your affiliate interface as often as you wish. You will be able to view your stats in real time, 24/7. Our program is powered by Commission Junction software, providing you with reliable referral tracking and an easy to use interface.

Why Does Fold3 use a third party solution provider for the Affiliate Program?

There are lots of reasons, but one of the biggest is that we want our affiliates to have the very best resources & tools at their fingertips. Partnering with leaders in the affiliate industry helps us provide you with better tracking, better reporting, and better tools. 

How and When Do I Get Paid?

We currently pay our affiliates via check, and aim to send payment by the 15th of each month for all valid sales sent to Fold3 the prior month. For example, on March 15th, payment for all valid sales sent in February would be mailed to the affiliate.

Does it cost anything to become a Fold3 affiliate?

No, joining is free. But like most things, to do well and earn top commissions you will have to put in some sweat equity.

What actions qualify for referral fees and how are those commissions calculated?

Fold3 affiliates can earn commissions by referring customers who purchase Premium Memberships to Fold3.

Our commissions are based on the following performance tiers:

• Tier 1 affiliates: 30.0 % of total net sales amount
• Tier 2 affiliates: 40.0 % of total net sales amount

Why should I join?

At Fold3 customers will find millions of images of original source documents, many of which have never been available online before. 

But at Fold3, finding an image is just the beginning.

We have created powerful tools that let your customers interact with and enhance what they find. Annotate important information on the image, easily organize and share their findings or collaborate with people who have similar interests. 

Fold3 also gives customers an opportunity to share their story, ideas or research with others by creating "Memorial Pages". 

A Memorial Page is a place on the Fold3 site where you can share your knowledge and research with others. You can write what you know, attach original sources that support your story and invite others to share their insights.

Fold3 has something for everyone, from individual history buffs to groups and societies looking for a smart way to make their collections available to millions of people.

Besides all of these exciting product features and benefits available to consumers worldwide, Fold3 has endeavored to create a world class affiliate program that seeks to partner with and appropriately compensate other sites who refer traffic to the Fold3 site. 

What is the minimum commission amount needed before a check will be issued?

Fold3 has a minimum commission payout amount of $10 each pay period. 

Where do I find banners and links?

To view all our linking options you will need to login into your affiliate account, click on the "Get Links" Tab at the top of the page and select the banner or text link that you would like to use to promote Fold3.

• Does my Web site qualify for the Fold3 Affiliate Program? You are an ideal candidate for the Fold3 Affiliate Program if:
• You have a Web site 
• Your site is relevant to Fold3 content (not required, but may be helpful) 
• There are no broken links or images 
• Your site is active and is not visibly under construction 
• Your site does not use software which facilitates contextual pop up advertising or cookie overwriting 
• Your site does not contain pornographic or questionable material 

I manage more than one URL. Can I apply for more than one affiliate account?

It's really up to you. You can use the same links with the same ID number over and over again, or you can sign up for new numbers.

Why You Would Sign up For a New Number

You would want to sign up for a new number if you wanted to track the activity of different links. For example you may have:

• A banner on your home page and a link in your email messages 
• A link to one product and a link to another 
• A banner showing one offer and another banner showing a different offer 

Can I become an affiliate if I live outside of the USA? 

Yes. We have participating affiliates all over the world. Your site is eligible as long as it meets the requirements defined in the Affiliate Program Terms & Conditions.

What actions qualify for referral fees and how are those commissions calculated?

At Fold3, we pay referral fees all qualified net sales.

Current Affiliate Resource Center

1. How do I make sure my affiliate code is working properly?Log into your affiliate account at https://www.fold3.com/go/affiliates-login
2. Click on the "View Reports" tab at the top of the page 
3. Click on the "Marketing Material Stats" link in the top center of the page 
4. Note the number of clicks on the specific link you are testing 
5. Click on the live link that is contained within your site 
6. Refresh your marketing material report and verify that the click has tracked properly (clicks are tracked in real time and should be available to test immediately). 

I lost my password to my Administration area. Can you send it to me?

We use a third party affiliate program which does not give us access to your password protected statistics page or your password. Log in to your Affiliate account through the Affiliate Login in the Affiliate Center. Enter your affiliate ID and then select "Email lost password." Your password will be emailed to the email address on file. If you do not have access to the email address on file, then send a request to the Affiliate Manager to have your password reset. For security purposes, please include in your email your mailing address on file, email address on file, or phone number on file for verification. The affiliate manager will send a request to have your password reset. This process may take a couple of days pending the customer support center availability at myaffiliateprogram.com.

I forgot my affiliate ID. Will you send it to me?

Send a request to the Affiliate Manager to have your affiliate code sent to you via email. For security purposes, please include in your email your mailing address on file, email address on file, or phone number on file for verification. 

I no longer have access to my email on file and I lost my password. What should I do?

We use a third party solution provider which does not give us access to your password protected statistics page or your password. Send a request to the Affiliate Manager to have your password reset. For security purposes, please include in your email your mailing address on file, email address on file, or phone number on file for verification. The affiliate manager will send a request to Fold3's third party solution provider to have your password reset. This process may take a couple of days pending the customer support center availability at the third party solution provider.