We thought it would be a nice idea to start posting some of the results of enquiries from both merchants and affiliates onto the blog in a new section called “Ask AffiliateFuture”.

Today we are going over an email from an affiliate asking about how to track their Paid search campaigns. Here is the email:

Dear AffiliateFuture,

I’ve been doing some PPC recently to promote some of your merchants and whilst I seem to be making more than I am spending I want to be able to track what campaigns and what keywords are working for me.

Can you please offer some advice on how to do this?

There are actually a number of ways to do this - the dedicated PPC companies have tended to build their own systems and use some proper re-directs to watch out for click fraud and then use our API’s to integrate the results (you can view the details of our API’s here).

But it doesn’t need to be that complex. With the help of dynamic keyword insertion via Google Adwords you can automatically track each and every keyword that you sent to AffiliateFuture without needing to change the tracking reference for each keyword.

Section 1 - Setting up Keyword insertion

Let’s take a look at one of our tracking links:

http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=24343&merchantID=1975&programmeID=5334&mediaID=0&tracking=KEYWORD&url=

You will see I have bolded the word KEYWORD above - this is the bit that we need to change… This is where we use the keyword insertion (full details here)

Google states:

To use keyword insertion, insert the following code at any point in your ad text, including in the display URL or destination URL:
{keyword:default text}

So when setting up the ad you would use the following destination URL in the example above:

http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=24343&merchantID=1975&programmeID=5334&mediaID=0&tracking={keyword:default text}&url=

Section 2 - Tracking the Keywords

Once you’ve completed the above you will be sending all your keywords across in each click that you send to AffiliateFuture so we’re half way there, next you will want to report back on this so that you can start the understand the true value of your keywords.

There are two main ways of doing this depending on what you want to achieve. Firstly there is a report within the AffiliateFuture interface called the Tracking Reference Summary.

Tracking Reference Summary

As you can see from the screenshot above, this report lets you select the merchant and the date range and shows you the keyword used (In this case Test, Test Keyword and Test Keyword 222), the date, the number of clicks, number of leads / sales and the commission values. It’s a useful report to give you a snapshot of the data however you’ll quickly see that if you running a number of campaigns it’s really only useful for a snapshot.

The second option is to export a report in CSV/Excel format. The report that you will want is the “Detailed Transaction Report” which will show you all sales/leads for the given time period - it includes the commission values and the tracking references so by exporting this data you will be able to analyse it to your hearts content.

And that’s about it - hopefully it’ll give you a good overview of the best way in tracking keywords and ultimately lead to a higher return on your investment.

If you’d like to ask AffiliateFuture a question for the blog then please email us at the usual address - enquiries@affiliatefuture.co.uk

Cheers
James Little
Head of Affiliate Development

A few nights ago the affiliate industry got together for the 3rd A4U Awards, this year held at the Park Lane Hilton in front of a few hundred merchants, affiliates, networks and agencies.

The AffiliateFuture team had a great time and we would like to thank the whole team at Existem for another successful event - it’s a shame the awards are only once a year!

Congratulations to everyone that was shortlisted and those who went on to win the award or be highly commended.

And now on to the Blog Competition - a caption contest for the following photo of Mark Smith (CEO of TMN) from the A4U Awards:

The winner (as picked by the AffiliateFuture team) wins a nice bottle of bubbly…. Just post a comment below but they will be moderated so please play nice!

Dear all,

Just in case you didn’t see the original post….

 Olympic Holidays are paying an additional 3% commission on all transactions made between 1^st and 30^th June 2009!!!  

This is by far the best travel incentive around at the moment and with their vast array of products, extremely competitive prices and trusted brand name - you would be silly not to take advantage!  

This means that June’s rates are as follows:

Rates:

Was: 3% for Package holidays bookings - Now: 6%

Was: 2% for Flight only bookings - Now 5%

Was: 7% for Hotel only bookings - Now 10%

If you would like to read more about Olympic Holidays and what they have to offer, click here

To sign up to the programme, click here 

Thanks and Happy Promoting

AffiliateFuture and Olympic Holidays

Hi Affiliates,

SHOP.COM is giving their affiliates the chance to win the latest Sony Cyber-Shot!

For every 5 orders generated between the 5th and 26th of June 2009 you will get one entry to the ‘SHOP.COM Cyber-Shot prize draw’ exclusively available to AffiliateFuture Publishers.

They are giving away the DSC-W220, a 12.1 MP, compact digital camera with 4x Zeiss-lens optical zoom; a camera packed with features that promises to deliver outstanding images this summer.

Not familiar with SHOP.COM? - SHOP.COM is the UK’s leading online retail marketplace, offering over 1m products from hundreds of Britain’s best retailers. Our patented multi-merchant – single-checkout OneCart technology gives customers a unique and satisfying shopping experience, where comparing, browsing and buying become simple and fun.

If you aren’t signed up to the programme, you can do so here.

Make sure to track your progress using the AffiliateFuture incentive engine!

Good luck!
AffiliateFuture on behalf of SHOP.COM

As part of Air Southwest’s development plan and move onto the GDS platform, there is now a new flight code: Instead of the prefix ‘WOW’, all Air Southwest flight numbers will begin ‘SZ’.

This change means that the link to the low fare finder is now http://www.airkiosk.com/sz/lff . 

Affiliates may be interested to know that an XML feed is also being developed and will be available shortly for integration onto affiliate sites.

Air Southwest has also recently launched it’s first ever TV campaign….affiliates can see the ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQH3qOnoKo8

Air Southwest pay affiliates 2% commission on all bookings so make sure all affiliate channels have updated creative and content.

If anyone has any questions please get in touch.

the AffiliateFuture Team

On behalf of Air Southwest

First of all I’d like to say a big thank you to all of our merchants who sponsored a place for this years Barbados trip - it remains one of the most talked about and sought after incentives in the industry and it couldn’t be done without our merchants support.

This year the merchants that took part are:

• Sunshine.co.uk - 6 Places
• Foxy Bingo - 5 Places
• UK2 - 5 Places
• eGroup - 3 Places
• Jet2.com - 1 Place
• Jet2Holidays - 1 Place
• Think Bingo - 1 Place
• Littlewoods Bingo - 1 Place
• Magazine Group - 1 Place
• On the Beach - 1 Place
• Laterooms - 1 Place
• Triviala - 1 Place
• Monster Travel - 1 Place

We leave Gatwick for a week in Barbados on the 21st June so it’s now less than a month away and in total this year we’re taking 53 people - a combination of affiliates, wags and children! Here are the lucky winners who are all now confirmed as going:

Thuy from Intela
Peter from Real Holiday Reports
Ray from Shopcodes
Matt from Affiliates4u
Mike from Top Cash Back
Mal from Magazine Subscriptions
Alan from Acorn Domains
Martin from Warnfestivals
Joe Conner from Cantbarsed
Mike from UK Online Store
Barry from Discount Voucher
John from ei42
James from Dotnology
Kat from Asperity
Karel from Idealo
Lee Bradshaw from On the Net Media
Tom from iPoints
Rob from Van Insurance Britian
Keith from various
Tom from Magic Freebies
Gulshan from various
Amun from Freemax Media
Eke from Toyhound
Mark from UK Web Media
Lee from Get Visible
Max from various
Martin from Skyscanner
Martino from Which Budget
Mark from My Voucher Codes

Other attendees this year include:

Stacey from eGroup
Charlie from Chargrilled
Ant from Cho Yung/Love it Large
Sharron from The Travel Magazine
Hannah from Existem AM
Nadeem from Azam Marketing
Jim from Intela

It’s by far the biggest year yet (last year we took 34 people) and we’ve even got a sponsored “Rum Ball Rally” with 10 jeeps and around 35 people getting involved in a race to the top of the Island… other activities include swimming with the turtles, horse riding, deep sea diving and visiting Crane beach for some body-boarding; rated as one of the top 10 beaches in the world!

Congratulations to all those that won the prize and for those that didn’t I’m sure we’ll be running it again next year!

The blog will be full of photos and updates whilst we’re out there so make sure you add the RSS feed to keep updated..

Dear Affiliates,

Virgin Atlantic are continuing to celebrate their 25^th Birthday with special fares direct to Las Vegas over the peak summer holiday period.

Special Fares (from):

Economy - GBP£559

Premium Economy - GBP£1099

Travel Period:

1^st July to 31^st July 2009

 This fare is on sale from 21^st May to 27th May 2009.

 Dedicated landing page - http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/specialoffers/fareoftheweek.jsp?WT.mc_id=bos_ec_250

 Affiliates earn 1% for all transactions rising to 2% after the 25th.

Creative is available with a birthday theme so join/ update now: http://afuk.affiliate.affiliatefuture.co.uk/merchants/AddProgramme.aspx?cat=25&id=282

 If affiliates need any further campaign assistance, Virgin Atlantic have a dedicated resource centre with information about cabin classes, destination routes and other useful marketing information.

 Update content now - http://afuk.affiliate.affiliatefuture.co.uk/resourcecentre/virginatlantic/

Happy Promoting!!!

The AffiliateFuture Team

On behalf of Virgin Atlantic.

Hi Affiliates,

LOVEFiLM has just released two new offers for you to promote!

30 day free trial with £5 shop voucher

* £8 basic CPA
* £10 CPA for affiliates who feature this offer strongly, i.e. newsletter or home page feature. If you wish to receive this CPA please get in touch with the LOVEFiLM account manager at AffiliateFuture (sara.vanoss@affiliatefuture.co.uk) and let us know how you’re promoting it.
* Please note this is a separate programme from the standard LOVEFiLM programme. Join the programme here
* Banners available
* Email creative available here

30 day free trial with £10 shop voucher

* £5 CPA
* Please note this is a separate programme from the standard LOVEFiLM programme. Join the programme here
* Banners available
* Email creative available here

Please note that both of these offers are not open to PPC or co-reg affiliates. Like the standard LOVEFiLM programme, leads will track initially at 1p and will be validated twice monthly.

The shop voucher that is included in both programmes is available to spend at the LOVEFiLM Shop on DVDs, Blu-ray, games and audio visual equipment.

The current Top 5 LOVEFiLM Rentals are:
1. Australia
2. Yes Man
3. Bedtime Stories
4. Changeling
5. Mirrors

Kind regards
AffiliateFuture on behalf of LOVEFiLM

Hi All,

The Childrens Mutual is now live!

The Government is giving each newborn child a voucher worth £250 when their parents register for Child Benefit. This must be used to open an account - called a Child Trust Fund (CTF) account - on the child’s behalf. You, your family and friends can all then add to this account. The Government will make a second contribution when the child is seven and is considering a third in the child’s teenage years. The idea is that the account grows into a lump sum for the child to use when they are 18. Baby Bond is The Children’s Mutual’s simple and straightforward stakeholder CTF account. Such accounts are the Government’s preferred way of growing your child’s savings. In 2006 The Children’s Mutual was named Best CTF Provider by independent financial magazine Moneyfacts Life & Pensions.

The Children’s Mutual are offering £10 for every active Child Trust Fund account opened. An active fund will be once the customer has entered their URN (found on the Children’s Trust Fund certificate) and made a minimum deposit of £15 into the account.

Click here to join the programme

Hi All,

Rummy Royal is now live!

RummyRoyal - Is the world’s leading Rummy games network. RummyRoyal provides multi-player multi-table rummy games such as Gin Rummy, Kalooki, Oklahoma Gin and Traditional Rummy. The Company has been online for more than two years and it has already broken even and is making money. Get your share of this rummy money. RummyRoyal is an internationally known game localized with languages and currencies. Join us in promoting the most popular card game in the world Now!!!

For non incentive sites Rummy Royal are offering affiliates £20 per new user subscribing to the program, a new user is someone that creates their first account, and credits the account.

For incentive sites Rummy Royal are offering affiliates £5 per new user subscribing to the program, a new user us someone that creates their first account, and credits the account.