Definition

Network bounce

A network bounce is when an affiliate link's click reaches the network but bounces off a closed program — landing on an error page ("advertiser not found", "this offer is no longer available") or getting forwarded to the merchant without attribution.

Every network has its own bounce signature: Awin's closedMerchant page, Impact's "offer no longer available", CJ's "advertiser not found", ShareASale's "merchant not found". Recognizing these fingerprints per network is how closures get detected automatically instead of discovered in quarterly revenue reviews.