![]() | | ||||||||
| | #1 |
| IM GENIUS War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chicago
Posts: 522
Thanks: 17
Thanked 51 Times in 37 Posts
|
I'm what most would consider a very successful CPA marketer. I make a comfortable living promoting CPA offers full time. You might call me crazy, but I don't use any tools to track stats. The reason I don't is that I haven't found an effective tracking platform. I experimented with Tracking202/Prosper202 back in the day (both hosted and non-hosted version), but I found that it slowed down my link serving, which I feel causes people to abandon the links that they click on. I also found it tedious to convert my links to Tracking/Prosper links every time I set up a campaign (has this changed?). I just eyeball my campaigns. At any point in the day, I'm not really sure exactly how much money I've made, though if I take a minute to check out each network, I can get an exact amount. My approach is that if I can't get a campaign to perform to an extent that I know it's making good money, I don't pursue it. I'm not going to invest $100 to make $105, so none of my campaigns are so close that I need to closely track them to see if I'm squeaking by with a profit. I'm recently experimenting with Bevo Media, which is a free stats tracker (I'm not promoting this - I have no relationship with them). There is some delay in reporting, and it's not entirely accurate because I'm running traffic to a couple networks that aren't available on Bevo. Besides that, it's working well. Eventually, I will integrate better tracking -- I have a feeling it will happen when I hire someone to help me with it. I just wrote this to say that you don't necessarily have to be obsessive about stat tracking to be successful. Then again, my messy approach probably isn't for everyone. I've been able to scale my campaigns up without tracking, and I know I'll be able to continue to do so. I'm not saying tracking doesn't help -- just that you can be successful without being an obsessive tracker. |
| | |
| | |
| | #2 |
| Advanced Warrior Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: From Liverpool, UK Living on the Costa Blanca & Amsterdam, NL
Posts: 992
Thanks: 333
Thanked 379 Times in 257 Posts
|
Interesting. How do you know where your conversions are coming from, though? Do you use mainly URL or keyword campaigns?
|
| “no one talks more passionately about his rights than he who in the depths of his soul doubts whether he has any” ― Friedrich Nietzsche | |
| | |
| | #3 |
| Quatrel Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berne, Switzerland
Posts: 32
Thanks: 7
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
|
Freeman77, Prosper202 was upgraded and I installed it with Mysql 5.1 (big performance jump) on a cloud server and it is lightning fast. Since Mysql is coming out with 5.5 now, that will bring another speed boost. A warrior StanGracer here knows the system and offer help & training. I bought his WSO and is good info. Best of luck |
| | |
| | #4 |
| Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brazil
Posts: 3,496
Thanks: 174
Thanked 1,159 Times in 614 Posts
|
We all know that you are a successful affiliate, but I must admit that I'm surprised that you don't track your campaigns. I can't imagine my life without Prosper202. The problems that you mentioned are very real and it's something that I struggle with in a daily basis, but I still think that I can't "afford" not using a tracking software.Different people have different ways to run their businesses and it seems that you can do something that I can't. However, if I had to bet I would say that you numbers will get better now that you're using Bevo. I don't know what traffic sources you use, but I think that tracking can be very useful with any type of traffic. ![]() William |
| >> STOP... << Stop struggling alone. Stop wasting time. Stop being scammed. | |
| | |
| | #5 |
| Network Owner - CPATrend Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York, NY
Posts: 254
Thanks: 43
Thanked 52 Times in 36 Posts
|
I'm in the same boat as you man. I find dealing with tracking platforms so tedious that I don't really use them. I don't recommend it to most affiliate marketers, but it's obviously something some people are able to get away with.
|
| CPATrend.com Affiliate Marketing Network - Top Payouts - Top Support -- Prompt Payments - - AIM - CPATrendPhil - CPATrend Reviews - More Reviews | |
| | |
| | #6 |
| AdCopyAssault.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 2,073
Thanks: 1,249
Thanked 450 Times in 374 Posts
|
This is great news to hear. I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds P202 more trouble than it's worth. It's kind of weird to hear a network owner/AM not recommending affiliates to use a tracking platform though. |
| | |
| | |
| | #7 |
| Network Owner - CPATrend Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York, NY
Posts: 254
Thanks: 43
Thanked 52 Times in 36 Posts
| I think I used some weird language. I meant I don't recommend an affiliate NOT use tracking.
|
| CPATrend.com Affiliate Marketing Network - Top Payouts - Top Support -- Prompt Payments - - AIM - CPATrendPhil - CPATrend Reviews - More Reviews | |
| | |
| | #8 | |
| AdCopyAssault.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 2,073
Thanks: 1,249
Thanked 450 Times in 374 Posts
| Quote:
If so, I'd love to hear of some other ideas. | |
| | ||
| | |
| | #9 |
| AdCopyAssault.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 2,073
Thanks: 1,249
Thanked 450 Times in 374 Posts
| |
| | |
| | |
| | #10 |
| Network Owner - CPATrend Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York, NY
Posts: 254
Thanks: 43
Thanked 52 Times in 36 Posts
|
I don't use it, but I recommend affiliates using 3rd party tracking tools. FOR THE RECORD lol. I've dabbled around with it -- but I'm so incredibly anal when it comes to certain things, that I literally sit there around the clock watching things so intently and constantly adjusting campaigns and such that I personally don't need the tracking. I understand it may not be the best way of running campaigns, but I'm not really running lots of campaigns myself anymore, so doesn't really affect me personally much anymore.
|
| CPATrend.com Affiliate Marketing Network - Top Payouts - Top Support -- Prompt Payments - - AIM - CPATrendPhil - CPATrend Reviews - More Reviews | |
| | |
| | #11 |
| Quatrel Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berne, Switzerland
Posts: 32
Thanks: 7
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
|
Well it certainly has a lot of steps - and if you are not careful, the chances of making errors are high. I remember reading somewhere that a very large percentage of spreadsheets have errors ... extrapolating that to tracking makes me wonder how many errors are lurking inside ... lol ... |
| | |
| | #12 |
| AdCopyAssault.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 2,073
Thanks: 1,249
Thanked 450 Times in 374 Posts
| BEVO looks INCREDIBLE, to be honest. The problem is that the free tracker leaves your stats completely open. Not sure if that's really a problem, but there is still potential.
|
| | |
| | |
| | #13 |
| Quatrel Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berne, Switzerland
Posts: 32
Thanks: 7
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
|
So Bevo is running out of beta now ? That is good news. When I looked at them ages ago, it was still a work in progress.
|
| | |
| | #14 |
| The Boss // Envyus Media War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 318
Thanks: 29
Thanked 57 Times in 50 Posts
|
Back in the day when I went to use T202 I found it very frustrating as well. I have not used it in a while so I assume they might have changed things a bit - then again maybe not? Bevo is a nice and clean platform. Envyus Media will be listed as a network on Bevo shortly. Brian |
| | |
| | |
| | #15 |
| Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 43
Thanks: 1
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
|
Hey, It's great to see you say your opinions on bevo media. I need a tracker and soon Been thinking prosper 202 or Bevo MediaAny suggestions guys?! And do they install the same way? |
| | |
| | #16 |
| Geoffrey Freedom War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 69
Thanks: 7
Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts
|
Sometimes all the software we use for IM reminds of the scene in caddy shack when Rodney Dangerfield pulls out the golf club with a million gizmos and gadgets attached to it.
|
| | |
| | #17 |
| Advanced Warrior Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: From Liverpool, UK Living on the Costa Blanca & Amsterdam, NL
Posts: 992
Thanks: 333
Thanked 379 Times in 257 Posts
|
Yeah, and Chevy Chase floating around going: na-na-na-na and winning all the juicy prizes. |
| “no one talks more passionately about his rights than he who in the depths of his soul doubts whether he has any” ― Friedrich Nietzsche | |
| | |
| | #18 |
| Quatrel Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berne, Switzerland
Posts: 32
Thanks: 7
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
| |
| | |
| | #19 |
| HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK
Posts: 186
Thanks: 22
Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts
|
Yep, I tried Tracking 202 did not work for me.... However I still use trackers, therefore when one of the offers is withdrawn, I can actually replace the link as well. Stops me losing money |
| | |
| | |
| | #20 |
| AdCopyAssault.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 2,073
Thanks: 1,249
Thanked 450 Times in 374 Posts
|
It's amazing how so many affiliates can talk up this tracker ( P202 ) for so long as it being the greatest invention on the planet. Yet from the other side, you can also hear so many other affiliates talk about how bad it sucks.
|
| | |
| | |
| | #21 | |
| IM GENIUS War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chicago
Posts: 522
Thanks: 17
Thanked 51 Times in 37 Posts
| Quote:
| |
| | ||
| | |
| | #22 | |
| IM GENIUS War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chicago
Posts: 522
Thanks: 17
Thanked 51 Times in 37 Posts
| Quote:
Like I said, I've currently added Bevomedia into my stat-checking routine, and so far it's doing a nice job. Very user-friendly, and the owner, Ryan, has been very responsive. Though I still need a couple of network owners to get on the ball and get their networks available on Bevo. I urge network owners to establish contact with the admin at bevomedia.com if their network isn't yet available! | |
| | ||
| | |
| | #23 |
| Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,333
Thanks: 1,913
Thanked 652 Times in 344 Posts
|
Does bevomedia work with PPV?
|
| | |
| | |
| | #24 |
| AdCopyAssault.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 2,073
Thanks: 1,249
Thanked 450 Times in 374 Posts
| |
| | |
| | |
| | #25 |
| Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Carolina, USA.
Posts: 2,134
Thanks: 153
Thanked 182 Times in 108 Posts
|
I just use good ol Microsoft EXCEL. Ive experimented with EVERYTHING currently on the market and nothing works better than logging in the morning, and copy and pasting my spend and earnings to a good ol excel sheet. My excel sheet calculates every little thing I want, I can see ROI of my total spend at a glance, and its hosted on my PC not some server or some cloud. There really isnt a better solution. |
| | |
| | |
| | #26 |
| Quatrel Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berne, Switzerland
Posts: 32
Thanks: 7
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
|
Hmmm ... just ran across this: Warning: Bevo Media PPC Tracking = Lame Duck |
| | |
| | #27 |
| Quatrel Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berne, Switzerland
Posts: 32
Thanks: 7
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
| |
| | |
| | #28 |
| Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,126
Thanks: 10
Thanked 507 Times in 401 Posts
|
The big reason why so many people love p202 and t202, is it was pretty much the first free tracker, and it's open source.. It's going to be interesting once Bevo catches on... |
| | |
| | |
| | #29 | |
| HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 305
Thanks: 65
Thanked 64 Times in 57 Posts
| Quote:
| |
| | |
| | #30 |
| Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Carolina, USA.
Posts: 2,134
Thanks: 153
Thanked 182 Times in 108 Posts
| |
| | |
| | |
| | #31 |
| Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 15
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
i always actually enjoyed tracking. i felt like if i was tracking i was able to actually get the most out of each of my campaigns and it was almost like a game, almost. but if you start tracking right now i feel like you would realize how worth it it can be to your business.
|
| | |
| | #32 |
| Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 18
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
I'm starting to test some PPC campaigns and I'm using prosper202. It seems to be very good and easy to use (at least until now). However, I noticed that sometimes it takes too long to redirect me to my landing page. I don't if it happens only to me (not to other people who click on my ads), but I'm afraid that it will make me lose conversions. Now that I know that some big guys don't use a tracking system I'm more confident to make some tests without prosper. I think I will just use subIDs and see what happens... |
| | |
| | #33 |
| AdCopyAssault.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 2,073
Thanks: 1,249
Thanked 450 Times in 374 Posts
| Don't deny it, it still works! Many people track with spreadsheets, or just a pen and notebook. My first ever profitable campaign I tracked only by sub-ids.
|
| | |
| | |
| | #34 |
| Active Warrior Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 55
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
I use P202, but I don't really like it much. Setting up campaigns takes much longer than it should, and there are some annoying bugs. Might try Bevo soon. I'll admit I was very shocked to read people are making good money without tracking. Can't imagine doing it myself. |
| Last edited by Juan-Pablo; 11-09-2010 at 01:28 AM. Reason: mispelling | |
| | |
| | #35 | |
| Super Affiliate War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,255
Thanks: 3
Thanked 186 Times in 159 Posts
| Quote:
Most people cant do that so, and if you are playing in high risk industries like finance you cant afford NOT to have tracking ... you are simply playing with too much money and it would be like gambling. you know, spending £500 per day without tracking would be suicide. Nick | |
| | ||
| | |
![]() |
|
| Tags |
| confessions, nontracker |
| Thread Tools | |
| |
![]() |