Affiliate Starter Guide & FAQ

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To contact the Backblaze Affiliate Marketing team, email us at affiliatehelp@backblaze.com.

Starter Guide

Getting Started

As a Backblaze Affiliate, you can earn 10% commission on referrals and renewals. Sign up only takes a few minutes. Join now and start earning!

To start, you should have received an email welcoming you to the program and giving you your Backblaze affiliate ID and affiliate links. These links are unique to you and all of your Backblaze affiliate activities. Please note that affiliate commissions are only earned on Backblaze Personal Backup and Backblaze Business Backup, and are not earned on Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage sales.

Promoting Backblaze

Graphics and Banners: We've created a collection of ads for you to promote Backblaze. We also provide logos and graphics if you want to create your own ad. You can view the Promotional Resources page to download these files.

Content and Stories: From time to time, Backblaze distributes content to our affiliates which you can use as you see fit. You can also republish any content on the Backblaze website or the Backblaze Blog that you find useful.

Ways to Sell Backblaze

Here are several different ways you can sell Backblaze and earn affiliate commission credit for the sale. Each method shows how to properly link your affiliate ID to a Backblaze account so you receive credit. Once a Backblaze account is created for a trial or purchase, we cannot add an affiliate ID to that account after the fact, so it is critical that your audience uses your affiliate link prior to installing Backblaze!

Please note that affiliate sales are only earned on Backblaze Personal Backup and Backblaze Business Backup, and are not earned on Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage sales.

Search Campaigns – Protected SEM Bidding Keywords

As part of our Affiliate Program, we require that affiliates adhere to certain guidelines to ensure that our brand and reputation are protected.

Our affiliates are not permitted to bid on any Backblaze branded trademarks or keywords, at any time and on any search engine. This includes using any portion, variations or misspellings of our trademarks, brand name or products, including but not limited to “Backblaze”, “Backblaze.com”, “blaze back”, “blaze”, “B2”.  We also ask our affiliates to include “Backblaze” as a negative keyword in all campaigns. In the event these terms are violated, it may result in consequences such as deactivation from the program, loss of commissions, and/or legal action. We understand that mistakes can happen, and we will always strive to work with our affiliates to resolve any issues and maintain a positive partnership.

We ask that all affiliates review and agree to these terms before joining our program. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain the integrity of our brand.

URL Shorteners

You are welcome to use URL shorteners such as bit.ly, but please make sure to redirect the bit.ly link to one of the affiliate links above.

Speed up Your Commissions!

You can maximize your earnings by encouraging your clients to sign up for Extended Version History. By default, Backblaze saves old versions or deleted files for 30 days. With Extended Version History, your clients can extend that to One Year or Forever for an additional fee which will contribute to your commission.

Selling Backblaze Business Backup

An additional way to earn money is to sell Backblaze Business Backup to your business clients! When a business uses your affiliate link to create a Group, you can also earn a 10% commission for each license that is created within that Group. Just use your business backup affiliate link (https://www.backblaze.com/business-backup.html#afID) and start selling to businesses today!

Gift Code

Backblaze sells gift codes on its website. You can direct your users to the gift webpage and receive commission credit for gift codes they purchase. Here's the example for affiliate ID af9999:

https://secure.backblaze.com/partner/af9999?redirect=gift.htm

The gift code generated will be marked with your affiliate ID so you receive credit for the sale when the code is purchased. Note: This technique can be used for any secure (.htm) page on the Backblaze website, such as https://secure.backblaze.com/buy.htm.

Ad Notes

Not sure what to say to clients? Need some help promoting Backblaze? Click here to download a PDF with key points to cover with your audience! We also have a fact sheet that you can distribute to your audience to help them better understand our Computer Backup service. 

Feedback

If you want us to take a look at your ad, please send us an email at affiliatehelp@backblaze.com with a link to your ad, and we’d be happy to provide constructive feedback.

Reporting

We track and record landings, downloads, account creations, and sales associated with your affiliate ID. At the time of a payout, you will be provided with a summary report of your sales to date or you can request one by emailing us.

Payouts, Percentages, and Taxes…

Payout Level

Once you reach or exceed $100 in commission, you are eligible to receive a payout. Our Accounting team will reach out to you for a PayPal email address and W8 / W9 form. This email will come from affiliates@backblaze.com. Once you provide the requested information, our Accounting team will process your commission in the next batch of payouts.

Referral Fees

Affiliates earn 10% commission on each new referral sale and 10% on any renewal revenue from their referred customers.

Payout Method

We pay out by sending funds to your PayPal account.

Tax Forms

The first time you have a payout ready, you will be contacted regarding payout and tax information. If you live in the United States, you will be required to complete a W-9. If you live outside of the United States, you will be required to complete a W-8 and provide your mailing address. We will withhold payment until the requested information is provided.

FAQs

General

How can I sign up to be an affiliate?

Thanks for your interest in becoming an affiliate with Backblaze! Please visit our Partner Page and select Affiliate in the drop-down to register with us as an affiliate partner. After you do, you'll receive an email with your affiliate links and all the information you'll need to get started.

Commissions

Do I get affiliate commissions on Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage?

No, you do not receive commissions on Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage.

Do I get commissions on renewals?

Yes, you will receive a 10% commission on each new renewal revenue from your referred customers.

What is the minimum threshold to receive commission?

The minimum threshold is $100.

When will I receive my commission?

When you have accrued over $100 in commissions, our Accounting team will reach out to you for a PayPal email address and W8 / W9 form. This email will come from affiliates@backblaze.com. Once you provide the requested information, our Accounting team will process your commission in the next batch of payouts.

Can you pay by any other way other than PayPal?

No, we cannot pay by check or any other way other than PayPal.

How can I earn more commission?

You can maximize your earnings by encouraging your clients to sign up for Extended Version History. By default, Backblaze saves old versions or deleted files for 30 days. With Extended Version History, your clients can extend that to One Year or Forever for an additional fee which will contribute to your commission.

My customer signed up but did not use my link. Can I get credit retroactively?

No, it's critical that your customer uses your link prior to creating their account. Sorry but there is no way we can give you credit retroactively.

Reporting

Is there a portal where I can login and check my sales?

Unfortunately, we do not have a portal for affiliates to log into. You can wait for us to send your monthly report or email us periodically for a report.

Can I get a monthly report automatically sent to me for my affiliate ID?

Unfortunately, at the moment, we do not send out monthly reports automatically. When our Accounting team sends you a payment, they will include your monthly report. In the meantime, you are welcome to either email us for your report or wait until you receive a payment.

What kind of data is on the affiliate report?

You will get the number of landings, downloads, accounts created, and sales for your affiliate ID. You will also see the amount of sales credited to your affiliate ID and your current commission.

Promotions

I have a really great idea for a promotion, who do I talk to?

Send us an email and we'd be happy to discuss!

Will Backblaze advertise on my web site/blog/newsletter/etc?

Our advertising budget is limited, so we don't typically do this, but you can always ask us through email.

Where can I find media assets that I can use?

You can find datasheets, logos, icons, screenshots, and banners here: https://www.backblaze.com/partners/resources

I really like a graphic on your web site, but it's not in the media assets given above. Can I use it anyway?

Probably, but please ask us first by emailing us. Sometimes we license a photo or graphic to use on our website, and you do not have the rights to use it.

Do you offer discounts and coupon codes I can use?

From time-to-time, we do offer these types of promotions. The Affiliate e-newsletter will provide notice and details of such programs.

How do I get the Affiliate e-newsletter?

When you signed up to become a Backblaze Affiliate, you agreed to accept email from us, including the Affiliate e-newsletter. If you unsubscribe from receiving our emails, you will no longer receive the e-newsletter.

Speaking of email, can I get the list of the email addresses I referred to Backblaze?

Unfortunately, no. When a user signs up, they are contracting with Backblaze for the service. Our privacy policies prohibit us from sharing personal user information, such as email addresses.

Can you check if a specific customer signed up?

Please send us the email addresses for the accounts you believe signed up using your affiliate link. We can verify, but we cannot give you credit retroactively.

Reseller and MSP

We are a Reseller, can we use the affiliate link?

Yes, the terms are the same as those of an affiliate.

Can I add my logo to the Backblaze product or the Backblaze installer?

Not currently.

Can I use my affiliate link to link to my website?

Not at this time. We reserve the option to provide a co-branded web page on our website for our best affiliates. If this is something you are interested in, please email us.

One of my customers who uses Backblaze has a problem, who should they contact?

Our customer support team would be happy to help your customer. Please ask your customer to submit a ticket to our support team here: https://help.backblaze.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

I sell Backblaze for Business to my customers. Do I get affiliate credit for those sales?

You get sales credit for Backblaze for Business sales, but currently these sales are recorded separately from your affiliate sales.

Can I have a copy of the Backblaze installer on my website?

No, customers need to visit and install Backblaze through the link in order for them to be counted towards your affiliate total.