Understanding Amazon Orders Report

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   Spacey Graceyposted 13 years ago

   I really should know this by now but....
   
   On the orders report there are five columns:
   1. Product link conversion
   2. Product link clicks
   3. Items ordered through product links
   4. Other items ordered
   5. Total items.
   
   I don't really understand what they mean.
   
   I get reports where there is a 1 in the 'items ordered through product links' column but nothing in the clicks or conversion columns. Is that because the clicked on a different product in an Amazon capsule and then navigated through Amazon and ordered something else?
   
   And does the 'product link clicks' refer to Amazon capsules and any in text links that direct to that particular product page, or just the capsules?
   
   Hope that makes sense?
   
   Understanding the reports more I'm sure would help direct my HP efforts.

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      lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I believe it would be either a link or an ad.

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      SiddSinghposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Product links are links that you create yourself, without using the capsule on HP.
      
      For example, let us assume that you write a hub on Amazon Kindle. You add a few capsules for all kinds of Kindle, plus in the end, you also end include a direct link to the product. This here is a product link (Note for moderator - the link is NOT an affiliate link) >>
      
      The Best E-Book Reader, Now with Free Shipping! Buy Now!
      
      Now, it becomes easy to decipher all the columns -
      
      1. Product link conversion >> No of items sold divided by no of prod link clicks (expressed as %)
      
      2. Product link clicks >>  Self Explanatory
      
      3. Items ordered through product links >> Self Explanatory
      
      4. Other items ordered >> Items ordered through your Amazon capsules
      
      5. Total items. >> Self Explanatory

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         lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Not sure I agree with this.
         
         In looking at my orders report for the past few months, every single item that I've sold that shows up as an "Item Ordered Through a Product Link" is a product that I was pushing directly through an Amazon capsule -- not an affiliate link. Not one item that shows up in the "Other Items Ordered" had either a link or a capsule. Amazon cannot tell the difference between a product link in the text and a product link in a capsule, as far as I know.

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            Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Right but notice that the ordered items are far more than the clicked links.
            
            It's weird, I agree. But it's not very likely that you'd get 100's of items ordered through product links and yet only a few product link clicks.
            
            They count as product links in the items ordered column, but not in the product link clicks category. That's why it's confusing.

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         2. 60

            Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I'm not saying that product links are links you create yourself, necessarily.
            
            I'm just saying that clicks from readers through our HubPages Amazon module ads don't count as product link clicks. If they do, then Amazon constantly misses bunches and bunches of them.
            
            But they do count as orders through product links.
            
            So they're product links, but clicks on them do not count as product link clicks.

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               SiddSinghposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Despite of what I said earlier, I think you are right. In that case, I will stand corrected.
               
               On this page, Amazon.com defines product links as -
               
               Product Links: Links to detail pages of individual products offered by Amazon or one of our third-party sellers.
               
               But that still does not explain why links from capsules don't count as product link clicks.

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                  ThomasEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I have a theory that Amazon links via the specific product option are produced via the Amazon API, and where you type in something like "red weeble widgets" they are produced by omakase api. Amazon doesn't count omakase links in its product link clicks, but does report them as product links in its order report.
                  
                  Wow, that is confusing.
                  
                  Omakase is Amazons name for its service where it recommends products.

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               lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               You have successfully hurt my brain. Wine and a long nap are now in order.

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   lrohnerposted 13 years ago

   1. Product link conversion: I would assume that would show clicks vs views, but mine just always show up as N/A.
   
   2. Product link clicks: How many people actually clicked on one of your Amazon-specific ads.
   
   3. Items ordered through product links: I believe this is how many clicks actually resulted in a sale of the product they clicked on. So if you had an Amazon ad for a Brand X dog collar and someone clicked and ended up buying a Brand x dog collar, that would be an "item ordered through product links."
   
   4. Other items ordered: If someone clicked on one of your Amazon ads for Brand x dog collar and they would up buying a coffee maker, that would be an "other item ordered." (I think...)
   
   5. How many of that specific item were sold altogether regardless of whether it was from a "product link click" or not.

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3. 60

   Pandoras Boxposted 13 years ago

   That last one sounds more right to me Spacey. I asked this question some time ago, cause I wondered why my product link clicks were always so low. I was told product link clicks did not apply to HubPages Amazon modules. So I think Sidd's got it right on this one.
   
   I know it doesn't seem to make sense, since the "items ordered through product links" obviously registers our modules as product links, but for some reason they differentiate when it comes to clicks. They just don't include the clicks for some reason.
   
   It's weird, doesn't make sense, but I have to think it's true based on my reports.

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4. 70

   Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

   I wish I could figure out what sales are coming from my own websites and hubpages.
   
   On hubpages I use only Amazon capsules, on my websites I use direct product links. All my sales show as product links, but I assume those also are capsule sales.

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      Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Don't you use separate trackers, or ID numbers? I use a different one for each account.

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         Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Hmmm, I never knew you could do that. I will have to dig through my account page and find out how, thanks. Amazon has the most confusing back-end I have seen!

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            Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Go to Account settings (top right) and then Manage Tracking IDS.

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               Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Ah ha! Found it, thanks. I also just found out how you can just click a link at the top of any product page to get the code to use for that page, very cool.

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   SiddSinghposted 13 years ago

   Also, when I look at my reports over the previous months, I find that I have received product link clicks ONLY on those items where I have include a direct link to the product.

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      Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      For a good breakdown you can look at the Link Type Report. HubPages Modules seem to be "REST."
      
      LOL.

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         Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well if that is true than I do indeed make 95% of my sales from my own websites. I'll use a tracker from now on.

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            Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Wow. Huh. That's very interesting. But then you've been at that website thing for some time now, huh? Good for you, great job.
            
            I've been wondering, if you're not opposed to sharing, about how many sites do you have?

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               Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Oh I don't mind sharing at all. I have about 2 dozen websites. However I only use about 2 for Amazon. Actually I get almost all my Amazon sales from my one tourist site about Orlando.
               
               I have Disney and Harry Potter product pages in that, and that is what most of my sales are. I make the product pages very SEO'ed for a narrow keyword.
               
               So, I rank on the front page of Google for that keyword for that product page. Can't do any better than that. For instance, I have a page about Disney snow globes.
               
               BUT, I even break it down more by making a page each of Tinkerbell snow globes, Princess snow globes and so on. I will slowly do this to all my sites, making product pages relevant to each site.

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                  Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Yeah that seems very smart. Lotta pages in your site that way too. Very targeted audience, with disposable income, in the mood.
                  
                  Great set-up! Very smart! And your Orlando site looks great!

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                     Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Thank you. I'll be changing the front of the site soon to a more normal website look, with the blog below it. Anyone can do what I am doing in their own websites.
                     
                     You just need to match the product to what your site is about. In my leather site I'm going to add pages of leather bags, leather purses, leather bracelets and so on.
                     
                     It helps my adsense clicks too.

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                        Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        I bet it does. You're attracting a whole other group of people with those pages. Very smart.

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   saleheensblogposted 13 years ago

   i have 16 other link clicks but what does it mean?

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      Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Clicks through HubPages module ads probably.

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7. 38

   Spacey Graceyposted 13 years ago

   errrr - I am still a bit confused.
   
   So are Amazon capsules 'REST'?

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      Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I believe so Spacey. At least that is where they register the vast overwhelming majority of my clicks.

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      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That seems to be what they are saying, and it makes sense when I look at my stats on there. But,,,, they still can come up under product links,,,,, I think,,,

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         Pandoras Boxposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         There are always a few isn't there? Which makes it even weirder.

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8. 38

   Spacey Graceyposted 13 years ago

   OK I think I get it now. It has helped me make up my mind about how to do the next few hubs. I am trying to stop scrambling for the last few winter sales and start getting ready for next year.
   
   Thanks for your help.

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9. 75

   Richieb799posted 13 years ago

   I think they differentiate between what is an official Amazon store and independent sellers products on there as well lol

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10. 77

    skyfireposted 13 years ago

    My shipped orders have 20 more items than ordered items today. :s
    
    Amazon reporting is beyond my tiny analytical cell's capability.

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       Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       That's because it can take a few days for them to ship items. So you can have 3 days worth of sales suddenly ship the same day, plus ones from last month that overlap this month.

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