Tracking outclicks versus sponsor stats - GoFuckYourself.com

fuzebox · 12-13-2003, 11:45 PM

Do you guys track your outclicks to your sponsors?

I track every one of my affiliate outclicks, along with a history of the surfer's progress through my site and his original referrer.

Thing is, the outclicks I record almost never match the hits my sponsors show. Depending on the sponsor, I've had some show less than 1/2 the unique clicks as I think I should be sending them...

Ideas?

skillfull · 12-13-2003, 11:50 PM

some sponsors show only 2nd page hits :P

fuzebox · 12-14-2003, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by skillfull
some sponsors show only 2nd page hits :P

I know, I was referring to ones that split it up into "1st page, 2nd page, raw, unique" etc.

Maybe I'm just frustrated that they're not documenting what they're showing

reynold · 12-14-2003, 12:23 AM

I just count green rectangular wallet sized pieces of paper at the end of the day.

Stephen · 12-15-2003, 06:44 PM

Quote:

I just count green rectangular wallet sized pieces of paper at the end of the day.

THAT is of course the bottom line, BUT (and I'm sure that there will be those who *wildly* disagree), your figures also likely reflect a degree of shaving (*gasp* "How DARE you say sponsors shave!?!!")

It would be interesting to plot the figures over time, to see if a pattern develops illustrating an end of month increase in those differences...

funkmaster · 12-15-2003, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fuzebox

Maybe I'm just frustrated that they're not documenting what they're showing

... converting 1:120 looks much better than the truth.

looky_lou · 12-15-2003, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by funkmaster

... converting 1:120 looks much better than the truth.

How true

Why · 12-15-2003, 08:31 PM

i track my outclicks. and then divide by the numbers on the previously mentioned wallet sized green stubs.

and thats who gets my traffic next month

taboo_dude · 12-16-2003, 06:51 AM

one thing to point out is that not all the time they get to the sponsors page or let it fully load to where the tracking pixel is invoked.

If you have ever a choice in the matter when placing tracking pixels, always place them at the top of the page rather than the bottom. The top of the page is the first thing that loads so it will be counted correctly more often than a code place at the bottom of the page.

johnbosh · 12-16-2003, 07:00 AM

thats why always put your tgp in hits on top:D

fuzebox · 12-16-2003, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by taboo_dude
one thing to point out is that not all the time they get to the sponsors page or let it fully load to where the tracking pixel is invoked.

If you have ever a choice in the matter when placing tracking pixels, always place them at the top of the page rather than the bottom. The top of the page is the first thing that loads so it will be counted correctly more often than a code place at the bottom of the page.

Good tip, but that's not how I do it.

frippeno · 12-16-2003, 07:10 AM

I redirect all my sponsor hits thru a php script. The script does basic counting and also gives me the ability to quickly route selected hit to a different sponsor.

Many of my sponsor only show second-page hits. The ones that show first page - I get varying results with respect to counts matching.

As long as they are within 10% or so, I chalk it up to slop. Much more than that and I might redirect somewhere else.

One of the most interesting revelations is to see which banners/text people actually click. Have had a couple surprises there

bopha · 12-16-2003, 07:16 AM

Does the php script compromise the partner code at all?

At one time, some sponsors I had didn't allow using tracking urls.
I've never been sure why?

Also, I was told that trading traffic using a cgi like autorank and tracking hits sent to a php doorway doesn't count 20 percent of the hits. I've never gotten an answer why that is or if it's even true.
Because I heard that from another webmaster, I never attempted to track partner codes this way. I notice that when I test it from cgi to cgi, the hits are always right on.

What's the best program to track with?

fuzebox · 12-16-2003, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frippeno
I redirect all my sponsor hits thru a php script. The script does basic counting and also gives me the ability to quickly route selected hit to a different sponsor.

Many of my sponsor only show second-page hits. The ones that show first page - I get varying results with respect to counts matching.

As long as they are within 10% or so, I chalk it up to slop. Much more than that and I might redirect somewhere else.

One of the most interesting revelations is to see which banners/text people actually click. Have had a couple surprises there

Sounds almost identical to my setup

Reak · 12-16-2003, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by skillfull
some sponsors show only 2nd page hits :P

this is true, but they should say it

frippeno · 12-16-2003, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bopha
Does the php script compromise the partner code at all?

At one time, some sponsors I had didn't allow using tracking urls.
I've never been sure why?

What's the best program to track with?

I've had no particular problems. Since I'm using "header redirect", the original URL is the one the sponsor sees, and on the sponsors that show that, I can see the original (free site) URL.

I wrote the script myself. It's not very complicated at all. I'm doing everything in flat files rather than MySQL, which is fast but somewhat limits the amount of info I can save. Someday I will rewrite it to use MySQL.

But it is cool to be able to switch between CEmag and FreeEzine in 1 minute.

fuzebox · 12-16-2003, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frippeno
But it is cool to be able to switch between CEmag and FreeEzine in 1 minute.

I assign every surfer a session id that gets tracked through the site...

I like being able to see how many surfers from what referrer clicked on what banner.

frippeno · 12-16-2003, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fuzebox

I assign every surfer a session id that gets tracked through the site...

I like being able to see how many surfers from what referrer clicked on what banner.

Sweet !

Velmu · 12-16-2003, 10:33 AM

Does your script take into account that some people double click links?

taboo_dude · 12-18-2003, 09:04 AM

it should if he is using cookies.

12-13-2003, 11:45 PM	#1
fuzebox making it rain Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 22,114	Tracking outclicks versus sponsor stats Do you guys track your outclicks to your sponsors? I track every one of my affiliate outclicks, along with a history of the surfer's progress through my site and his original referrer. Thing is, the outclicks I record almost never match the hits my sponsors show. Depending on the sponsor, I've had some show less than 1/2 the unique clicks as I think I should be sending them... Ideas?

12-13-2003, 11:50 PM	#2
skillfull Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Quebec Calisse Posts: 4,716	some sponsors show only 2nd page hits :P __________________ mind at underdark dot cc SEO Analyst Thunder-Ball.net - Member

12-16-2003, 06:51 AM	#9
taboo_dude Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: TN Posts: 707	one thing to point out is that not all the time they get to the sponsors page or let it fully load to where the tracking pixel is invoked. If you have ever a choice in the matter when placing tracking pixels, always place them at the top of the page rather than the bottom. The top of the page is the first thing that loads so it will be counted correctly more often than a code place at the bottom of the page. __________________ If you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow. The Duke.

12-16-2003, 07:10 AM	#12
frippeno Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Addison, TX Posts: 133	I redirect all my sponsor hits thru a php script. The script does basic counting and also gives me the ability to quickly route selected hit to a different sponsor. Many of my sponsor only show second-page hits. The ones that show first page - I get varying results with respect to counts matching. As long as they are within 10% or so, I chalk it up to slop. Much more than that and I might redirect somewhere else. One of the most interesting revelations is to see which banners/text people actually click. Have had a couple surprises there __________________ it only took one brick to make that window drop

12-18-2003, 09:04 AM	#20
taboo_dude Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: TN Posts: 707	it should if he is using cookies. __________________ If you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow. The Duke.

12-14-2003, 12:23 AM	#4
reynold Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Global Traveler Posts: 51,271	I just count green rectangular wallet sized pieces of paper at the end of the day.

12-15-2003, 08:31 PM	#8
Why MFBA Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: PNW Posts: 7,230	i track my outclicks. and then divide by the numbers on the previously mentioned wallet sized green stubs. and thats who gets my traffic next month

12-16-2003, 07:00 AM	#10
johnbosh Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Netherlands, Rotterdam Posts: 8,965	thats why always put your tgp in hits on top:D

12-16-2003, 07:16 AM	#13
bopha Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,882	Does the php script compromise the partner code at all? At one time, some sponsors I had didn't allow using tracking urls. I've never been sure why? Also, I was told that trading traffic using a cgi like autorank and tracking hits sent to a php doorway doesn't count 20 percent of the hits. I've never gotten an answer why that is or if it's even true. Because I heard that from another webmaster, I never attempted to track partner codes this way. I notice that when I test it from cgi to cgi, the hits are always right on. What's the best program to track with?

12-16-2003, 10:33 AM	#19
Velmu Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Finland Posts: 20	Does your script take into account that some people double click links?