Cookies and tracking

[Jeremy]

This was an original post made back in 2005, but cookies and tracking will always be an issue in every affiliate industry.

I am reposting this for the benefit of some of the newer affiliates that may not understand how they can sometimes lose sign-ups due to cookies. Typically when sign-ups are "lost" or not tracked, it has to do with cookies.

There seems to be some confusion on how cookies work and how someone can technically follow your link without you getting credit for it.

Regarding Cookies here is a simple explanation for those of you that are new and don't know what a cookie is. What's an Internet Cookie?

Now each poker site has a time limitation for how long their individual cookies last. Usually it should say somewhere in their T&C's or you can ask your AM. Unfortunately this is a double edged sword. They do this to protect the affiliates who first introduced the player to the room. However sometimes it can backfire and and the poker site that actually s"ells" the visitor doesn't get the credit.


Here is th problem and the reason why often times friends or people that you directly referred don't get tracked to you. This has happend to me on a number of occassions. Keep in mind when someone decides to sign up at a new room, they may search the net for a couple different sites and actually follow a link to ABCDpoker.com before arriving at your site....possibly even months prior to actually signing up through your aff. link.

Now this sucks even more.........what often happens when friends don't get tracked is because of two reasons.

1. They already found that poker site via a link somewhere, went to the site and unknowingly had a cookie placed on their machine, and now want to help you out. They contact you and you happily email them your link.......Too Late , they are already tracked to the other affiliate or directly to the poker site, and you're not gonna get credit. Think about it, who calls you up to try a new room and has never even checked out the homepage of the site yet? There is obviously a reason that they want to sign up there. Or you mention it and before signing up through your link, they visit the site directly.

2. You actually sign them up from YOUR computer using YOUR link and it still doesn't register......Damn! You may also have a cookie on your computer from visiting the room from another link at one point in time. You never think about clicking on links when your not going to be signing up, but they do leave cookies.


One school of thought thinks that bonus codes should supercede any and all affiliate links. I agree in some cases......but not really. What happens when "Joe New Guy" signs up through my link at Party Poker and gets to the screen that asks for a "Bonus Code"..........A BONUS!!!! Holy Cow I better go to google and find one!!!!! Now I get screwed out of that sign up.

As you can see there is no easy solution to the cookie, bonus code, and tracking url issues. Well actually there is an easy fix to all this when it comes to sending your friends links. Have your friends or direct contacts erase their internet cookies first.


Quote:
Microsoft Windows 98 and later
1. Quit Internet Explorer and quit any instances of Windows Explorer.
2. In Control Panel , double-click Internet Options.
3. On the General tab, click Delete Cookies under Temporary Internet Files, and then click OK.
4. Click OK.

[haynesey]

What do you think about, instructing your traffic to clear their cookies before signing up with you?

[kaus]

Just curious but do you not think telling them to do that seems pushy and do you think people will take the time to do so?

[haynesey]

Originally Posted by kaus

Just curious but do you not think telling them to do that seems pushy and do you think people will take the time to do so?

Yer i suppose it is, they may get suspicious, but it will ensure 100% of people who click through your banners are tracked to you.

[AceHigh Pino]

Thats why I like to have bonus codes in addition to just the regular tracking links. You just never know when you may lose someone due to cookie issues.