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Amazon Ads with strange Tracking IDs?

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chefmancaveposted 3 years ago
I have been trying to track this down for the last few weeks. Many of my Amazon Ads are using "hubpages-20" as the Amazon ID Tracking code. (My Tracking code is "chef...-20") This all started when HP switched to the new Amazon module. A few things I noticed.

1) On some pages it works.
2) On the pages that receive the most traffic, the "hubpage-20" is used.

I averaged about 15 sales per month prior to new Amazon module. After the changes, I am getting only 1 or 2. I contacted Amazon support and they verified (with some tool the general public is not privy to) that my embedded links in hubpages were not generating the proper Tracking ID.

I tried editing the links and resaving them. This did not seem to help. I submitted a question to the HP Question area but no one responded with a suitable answer. (Most answers were "I don't know")

What am I missing?

Can I embed the direct Amazon HTML and skip using HP Amazon module?
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1. 93
  ologsinquitoposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  If this is happening, then it stands to reason that it needs to be corrected. Can someone from Hub Pages please help, because I think everybody is going to be wondering what's going on?
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  wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  You're losing me here. The embedded links are producing HP code so you want to skip using the capsule and use embedded links instead?
  
  First, how many checks did you make of what code is being used? It will take at least a thousand unless 100% is HP code. While the split is 60/40 that is not a mathematically firm figure, but a statistical average. It can and does vary considerably from 60/40 when the sample size is small.
  
  Second, if HP has figured a way to replace your Amazon code in an embedded link, I wouldn't complain too loudly. That link was never anything more than a way to get around the 60/40 split and keep all the income yourself.
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  chefmancaveposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Post mortem - After 1) Creating a brand new Amazon Associates account and 2) resetting all the Amazon links in my articles, I have jumped from a 4% conversion rate to a 38% (That is right 38%) conversion rate.
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lobobrandonposted 3 years ago
It's 60 - 40 You need to use modules. I once placed a direct link because I was linking to a search page, but HP got rid of my tracking ID. It was just a normal link without any tracking ID. So I got rid of it eventually.

However, if you did happen to sign up under a referral I believe that out of the 40% of HP a small percentage goes to your referral too? But your 60% wont be affected. Not sure if this is the case, but I think this happens, at least it happens for Adsense ads. Again, I'm not sure if it's only for the first year or always.
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  wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, the referral system happens. It is 10%, taken from the HP 40%, and is good forever.
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  lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Cool thanks, was wondering if it was forever or just a year
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WryLiltposted 3 years ago
60% is yours.
40% is Hubpages.

Out of that 40%:
-10% will go to a referrer if you have one.
9-12% will go to a person who links to your page.

There was something similar mentioned in this thread: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/118353
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1. 83
  lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Oh yeah, I totally forgot about the linking referral concept out here.
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chefmancaveposted 3 years ago
Thank you for all your replies.

So what you are saying is that 40% of time, when a reader clicks on one of the Amazon links, HP will generate a "hubpages-20" Tracking ID and 60% of the time HP will generate my "chef...-20" Tracking ID. Is that what is supposed to happen in theory?

I can create an app that will simulate clicking on my articles hundreds of times and looking at all the Amazon links. Unfortunately, I cannot use this because HP will "flag" me as a "robot" and disable my account. I have worked hard to generate "natural" traffic and have tried to follow all of HP usage rules. In the end, I am looking for a way to test and validate the Amazon links.
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1. 83
  lobobrandonposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  It works fine. Just load your page 10 times if need be and check out the tracking id. Should be around 6 yours. But, the more times you do it, the better the approximation.
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  chefmancaveposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Will HP accuse me of being a robot/spammer?
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  wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Can you use the instructions here:
  http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/3062#post21420
  to accomplish what you need? In theory, the entire page is devoted to either you or HP, looking at adsense codes should accomplish the same thing...
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Will Apseposted 3 years ago
I looked at a couple of your pages an hour ago and clicked up the amazon ads several times. I did the same again, just now.

An hour ago I was getting almost all HP ad codes and just now I was getting almost all 'chefman' codes. Probably balances out (but I ain't testing hundreds, lol)

I have not noticed anything much happening as a result of the new capsules.

I would take it up with staff if you are worried.
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1. 86
  chefmancaveposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Thanks Will for testing out the links. That brings up an interesting question. How do I "take it up with the staff" as you suggested? Is there an email or particular area I go to for concerns such as this?
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  Will Apseposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Sorry. I missed this before.
  
  This is the email: team@hubpages.com
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  chefmancaveposted 3 years agoin reply to this
  Thanks...You have been a wealth of good information.
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