Affiliate tracking of links?

Discussion in 'Affiliate Programs' started by chodomade, Sep 20, 2006.

  1. #1
    Trying to find a conversion tracking tool for affiliate links.

    Let’s say I’m an affiliate for “diamond rings”. I bid on the term “engagement ring” and a bunch of other terms and someone comes to my site. They click through to Robbins Bros (an affiliate) and they buy something.

    How do I know whether this affiliate sale comes from term “engagement ring” or one of the other 1,000 terms I bid on?

    I know there are conversion tools for e-commerce site (actually selling a product) but is there one for tracking where affiliate sales come from?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    chodomade, Sep 20, 2006 IP
  2. moneywatch

    moneywatch Peon

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    #2
    very good question. I am waiting for answer too :)
     
    moneywatch, Sep 22, 2006 IP
  3. eide

    eide Peon

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    #3
    Hi

    If you already are an affiliate, you do not have much options to track your affiliate links - and it is also not your job. It's done by affiliate tracking software (or service) owned by merchant - the owner of affiliate program.

    Affiliate program owner has to deliver you a tool that delivers accurate statistics and addresses all your needs. The feature your are asking about is called "Sub-id" reports.

    It works like this:

    Your standard affiliate link example:
    www.someurl.com?aid=45323k4
    Your affiliate link with sub-id example:
    www.someurl.com?aid=45323k4?subid=bid1

    Affiliate software that supports this will be able to give you reports based on the subid=bid1 variable in your links. This variable can be set up by you.

    So I suggest that you contact your affiliate manager about this - you typically cannot track affiliate links from his program.

    I run affiliate program using software that has this feature, if you are interested in more detail feel free to PM me..
     
    eide, Sep 23, 2006 IP
  4. moneywatch

    moneywatch Peon

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    #4
    Well I know that I can create my own unique links so that I know which one is clicked. But how do I know which visitor clicked it. For example if someone came to my page by typing "money" on google is he the one who also clicked my affiliate link.
     
    moneywatch, Sep 23, 2006 IP
  5. DomainMagnate

    DomainMagnate Illustrious Member

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    #5
    you can redirect them through your site and see where they came from.
    like here's how i do it:
    http://www.affiliatelookup.com/i.php?l=incentaclick

    then i can see in my stats that a visitor came from google and went to some aff program through the link :)
    thats pretty simple though so you migth need something more complicated :D
     
    DomainMagnate, Sep 23, 2006 IP
  6. moneywatch

    moneywatch Peon

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    #6
    Michael, they didn't accept me in the program:

     
    moneywatch, Sep 27, 2006 IP
  7. DomainMagnate

    DomainMagnate Illustrious Member

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    #7
    moneywatch, yeah they're a bit picky about the publishers to ensure the quality of their network.
    But it happenned to me a lot with other networks that I was rejected first and had to resubmit the application :)

    I suggest you to PM Jessica - she'll help you with the application :)
     
    DomainMagnate, Sep 27, 2006 IP
  8. moneywatch

    moneywatch Peon

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    #8
    now I am reading your post again. Do I actualy need to join Incentclick to do this?

    How can I redirect them and what stats program are you using?

    For example I have link on my site that are affiliate links, but I dont know which visitor click them. I am using free statcounter. And on exit page is always my page. Maybe I should make affiliate links not opening in a new window?
     
    moneywatch, Sep 27, 2006 IP
  9. DomainMagnate

    DomainMagnate Illustrious Member

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    #9
    I'm using all custom php scripts but I think there're some programs available for this. I don't think stat counter will provide enough info, search for better tools :)
     
    DomainMagnate, Sep 27, 2006 IP
  10. asr_guy

    asr_guy Peon

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    #10
    Who cares which actual visitor it was as long as you can measure the ROI of your adwords using subids, as was suggested above?

    Cheers,
    Peter
     
    asr_guy, Sep 27, 2006 IP
  11. bwb

    bwb Peon

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    #11
    not many affil programs offer this
     
    bwb, Sep 27, 2006 IP
  12. xboxundone

    xboxundone Well-Known Member

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    #12

    You have to do the comparison on your own but you can see the awords stats and compare them to your subid stats.
     
    xboxundone, Sep 28, 2006 IP
  13. bwb

    bwb Peon

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    #13
    As I said, not many affil programs offer subid tracking...
     
    bwb, Sep 28, 2006 IP
  14. xboxundone

    xboxundone Well-Known Member

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    #14
    What networks are you using? My top 5 (see sig) all offer subid tracking.
     
    xboxundone, Sep 28, 2006 IP
  15. bwb

    bwb Peon

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    #15
    Lots of in house that use directtrack (not true subid tracking) and lots that use groundbreak or idev.
     
    bwb, Sep 28, 2006 IP
  16. xboxundone

    xboxundone Well-Known Member

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    #16
    Why does it matter how as long as you can track it?
     
    xboxundone, Sep 28, 2006 IP
  17. bwb

    bwb Peon

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    #17
    groundbreak you can't

    directtrack doesn't really do subids, it offer custom landing page urls, but its time consuming to set them up so doing 5000 or something wouldn't reallywork
     
    bwb, Sep 28, 2006 IP
  18. moneywatch

    moneywatch Peon

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    #18
    I don't use Adwords but I would really wanted to know did visitors who came from google with specific keywords actually clicked on my affiliate links.
     
    moneywatch, Sep 28, 2006 IP
  19. ceetee

    ceetee Peon

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    #19
    Reftrack is probably what you're after. Check my sig.
     
    ceetee, Sep 28, 2006 IP