Is the HP-Amazon Program Reporting Working?

1. 84

   aa liteposted 10 years ago

   I changed over to the HP Amazon program as soon as I could, mainly so I could get paid through paypal rather than by cheque.
   
   By now I've had 256 click throughs to Amazon and ………1 item ordered (!!!). That's a conversion rate of less than 0.5%.
   
   Before switching my conversion rate was 4.5% (440 clicks, 20 items ordered). The orders were spread out over many days, it's not like I just got lucky on a day.
   
   Now I know that the rate can vary from day to day, so I did a Fisher's exact test here:
   
   
   
               Outcome 1    Outcome 2         Total clicks
   Group 1    20                      440                 460
   Group 2    1                      256                  257
   Total    21                      696                  717
   
   The p value is 0.0018, which I think means that the probability of my drastic conversion rate drop being NOT connected to my change over to the HP program is 0.18% so I'm not really buying the "it's just bad luck" explanation.
   
   So is there any possibility that HP is not reporting my Amazon earnings?
   
   Have other people who switched to the HP program maintained their conversion rate (assuming they were earning from Amazon regularly before)?

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   1. 0

      calculus-geometryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't have any answers, but I kept my own Amazon ID rather than switch to HP's and my commissions for February are similarly low. I think my conversion rate for this month so far is 0.6% --  and no incidental sales for items I didn't directly link to, which is odd for me.  So perhaps it is a problem with Amazon, or I am just having a bad month.

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      1. 84

         aa liteposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         February isn't a great month for selling on Amazon…..but I was doing ok (a conversion rate of 4.5% is fairly low for me, but not awful), until I changed over. And I did have some 'incidental sales'. It's like I developed terrible luck as soon as I switched to the HP program. P=0.0018% !!!!!!!! statistically that is 'very significant'. I just wonder if there could be a delay in Amazon's reporting of sales (but obviously not clicks).

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         1. 0

            calculus-geometryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Why not switch back to your own Amazon affiliate ID and see if your conversions go back to normal levels? If they do you'll have more evidence that problem lies with HP, and if they stay low you can eliminate HP as the source of the problem.  Hope you get it sorted out.

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            1. 84

               aa liteposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Yep I'll probably do that, but I really wanted to use the HP program….and I keep hoping that I'll start getting sales again.

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2. 81

   HollieTposted 10 years ago

   Just my two cents, but wouldn't it be better if you waited for a full month before switching back, to see the outcome over a slightly longer term?
   
   Just thinking that some months, in my experience which isn't that valuable I hasten to add, the beginning of the month can be loaded with clicks and no sales, but the latter half can be loaded with the opposite.

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   1. 84

      aa liteposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yep, I think giving it a full month, to cover all the different 'periods' might be a good idea, even if it means losing some money. I just wonder how certain HP is that the reporting system works well. I usually get most sales in the middle of the month (so now!), which is why this sudden drop is so strange.

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3. 0

   Beth37posted 10 years ago

   I feel such shame posting my stupid question on the same thread ppl are using math and making semi-graphs to track their earnings... ack!
   
   Ok, I may have a book or two listed as an Amazon capsule... thingy... Im not sure. So I'm obviously not really using the whole Amazon deal... should I switch or leave it alone?

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   1. 84

      aa liteposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't really understand the maths, but it is a useful tool to show how terrible the drop in conversion rate is.
      
      If you're not making many Amazon sales, do whatever is easier for you. Actually I think you should switch. Any earnings will be added to your HP paypal earnings, so you won't have to worry about reaching the threshold on Amazon. But I don't think it will bring you more sales.

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      1. 0

         Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Ok, thanks!

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4. 95

   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   I feel like Beth37, lost in the math. As is aa lite, I'm also perplexed by not seeing a penny with the new program. I assumed it's because I have boring products (books, spices, CDs, jewelry, clothing) but I really have no idea. I did read somewhere that if the item is easily purchased at the store, readers won't go through Amazon. I still don't get any of it, though.

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   1. 84

      aa liteposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      But did you earn when you were with the old program? Do you get clicks to Amazon but no sales? If you weren't getting sales with the old Amazon, you are not likely to earn with the HP program, your hub's readers don't see all the 'under the hood' workings in the hubs, as far as they are concerned there is no change.
      
      However, if you used to get sales before, then you switched, you're still getting clicks but your sales have suddenly stopped, then you might be having the same problem I am. The 'normal' conversion rates for Amazon is roughly 5-10%. So you should sell about 5 items for every 100 clicks you get.

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      1. 95

         jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Okay (???) Actually, I never made a lot with Amazon, still haven't reached payout after a year and a 1/2. I elected to get the $10 gift cards and haven't seen one yet. So your points are well taken, I'm probably doing the same but will now need more clicks and sales to see anything. I will visit my Amazon account to check clicks, p values, and conversion rates (??). Still the same place on Amazon site, right? Or is it on the HP earnings page now?

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         1. 84

            aa liteposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            If you've changed to the HP Amazon program then you will see the clicks and orders on your HP earnings, there is a new tab for Amazon. I mean you will still see your statistics on the Amazon site, but you won't be credited with clicks because they are now happening under a different ID.

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            1. 95

               jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks.

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