Affiliate Chronicle
Why deep link?
Deep linking is the term used to describe linking directly to a particular product or category page on a site, rather than the homepage. It is usually several steps closer to the final purchase page, and brings the visitor to a point where they are more likely to purchase a product. Deep linking is therefore an excellent tool to increase conversion rates, number of sales, and commission for the affiliate. Deep linking is usually also done with text links rather than banners ? this means you can add many more program links on one page than you could with banners and buttons.
How to deep link
The way deep linking works with the Tradedoubler tracking is like this:
http://tracker.tradedoubler.com/pan/TrackerServlet?p=XX&a=VV&g=0&url=ABC
p=XX ? this is the program ID
a=VV ? this is your site ID
url=ABC ? this is the page you want to link to.
For more detailed information about how to set up text links and deep links please see the Affiliate InfoCentre for the relevant tutorials.
Ways you can deep link
Depending on the content of your site and the type of product and / or company that you would like to link to there are different strategies that you can follow.
Pre-selling of products
Pre-selling a product, perhaps with a review of several similar products, is a great way to add value to your site, as well as boost your sales figures. Add an image of the product, review the product?s features and why it is worth buying and then a link to the actual product on the site. The more effectively you manage this process the more effectively you will convert the click-throughs to sales. If you have yet to check out the Content Generator, do so now as this feature gives you ready made, customisable content for your site, by deep linking to particular ?best-selling? products.
Linking to a feature
You can entice your visitors to click through your links by promoting an interesting feature on the target site. For instance, the UK program Workthing, a recruitment site, provides a very useful salary checker tool, where users can enter their job title and location and find out if they are earning enough! Promoting these kind of features and functionality on your site will make your visitors want to click-though and increases their interest in the target site immediately.
Linking to categories or sections
Similar to linking to particular products, linking straight through to categories or sections within the target site can prove very effective at driving sales as the visitor will immediately be presented with a selection of products that are relevant and of interest. For instance, for an electrical goods site, you could link through to categories such as ?Home Entertainment? or ?Kitchen Appliances.?
Linking to registration pages
If the program offers a lead function where commission is paid based on a registration or sign up being completed, linking directly to that registration page will increase your chances of converting that visitor into a lead. This is especially so if you clearly explain on your site the benefits of completing that registration form!
Common problems to avoid
As always there are pitfalls that you shall try to avoid. The experience we at Tradedoubler have can be summarised as follows:
Program or site set-up
The way some programs are set up for the tracking or the way some programs sites work means that deep-linking may not be possible, or is done in a unique way. If this is the case it will be clearly stated on the program page how you should build the links. Of course, if in doubt you should always email publisher@tradedoubler.com to have your link checked.
Upper case or lower case?
After the tracking link, you should add ?&url=ABC?, where ABC is the URL of the page you want to link to. It is important that the word ?url? is in lower case, as the Tradedoubler system, and some of our clients? programs, use a case-sensitive technology.
In the correct domain
The target URL that you send the visitors to must be in the same domain as the program. So if you tried to link to a URL outside of the normal domain for the program, the link will automatically click-through to the homepage.
To conclude...
Properly used deep links will increase the amount of money you earn through affiliate marketing, and at the same time will add content and value to your site and enhance the offering to your visitors. Remember! If you are in doubt when setting up your links please refer to the program page for help or email Tradedoubler support.
Robert Tokolics
Affiliate Manager - Tradedoubler UK & Ireland
robert@tradedoubler.com
If you have any comments about our columns please send us a mail to publisher@tradedoubler.com
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Deep linking In this month's Affiliate Manager column, Robert Tokolics from the UK office tells you that by deep linking you will increase your chances to convert traffic into commission. |
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Deep linking is the term used to describe linking directly to a particular product or category page on a site, rather than the homepage. It is usually several steps closer to the final purchase page, and brings the visitor to a point where they are more likely to purchase a product. Deep linking is therefore an excellent tool to increase conversion rates, number of sales, and commission for the affiliate. Deep linking is usually also done with text links rather than banners ? this means you can add many more program links on one page than you could with banners and buttons.
How to deep link
The way deep linking works with the Tradedoubler tracking is like this:
http://tracker.tradedoubler.com/pan/TrackerServlet?p=XX&a=VV&g=0&url=ABC
p=XX ? this is the program ID
a=VV ? this is your site ID
url=ABC ? this is the page you want to link to.
For more detailed information about how to set up text links and deep links please see the Affiliate InfoCentre for the relevant tutorials.
Ways you can deep link
Depending on the content of your site and the type of product and / or company that you would like to link to there are different strategies that you can follow.
Pre-selling a product, perhaps with a review of several similar products, is a great way to add value to your site, as well as boost your sales figures. Add an image of the product, review the product?s features and why it is worth buying and then a link to the actual product on the site. The more effectively you manage this process the more effectively you will convert the click-throughs to sales. If you have yet to check out the Content Generator, do so now as this feature gives you ready made, customisable content for your site, by deep linking to particular ?best-selling? products.
You can entice your visitors to click through your links by promoting an interesting feature on the target site. For instance, the UK program Workthing, a recruitment site, provides a very useful salary checker tool, where users can enter their job title and location and find out if they are earning enough! Promoting these kind of features and functionality on your site will make your visitors want to click-though and increases their interest in the target site immediately.
Similar to linking to particular products, linking straight through to categories or sections within the target site can prove very effective at driving sales as the visitor will immediately be presented with a selection of products that are relevant and of interest. For instance, for an electrical goods site, you could link through to categories such as ?Home Entertainment? or ?Kitchen Appliances.?
If the program offers a lead function where commission is paid based on a registration or sign up being completed, linking directly to that registration page will increase your chances of converting that visitor into a lead. This is especially so if you clearly explain on your site the benefits of completing that registration form!
Common problems to avoid
As always there are pitfalls that you shall try to avoid. The experience we at Tradedoubler have can be summarised as follows:
The way some programs are set up for the tracking or the way some programs sites work means that deep-linking may not be possible, or is done in a unique way. If this is the case it will be clearly stated on the program page how you should build the links. Of course, if in doubt you should always email publisher@tradedoubler.com to have your link checked.
After the tracking link, you should add ?&url=ABC?, where ABC is the URL of the page you want to link to. It is important that the word ?url? is in lower case, as the Tradedoubler system, and some of our clients? programs, use a case-sensitive technology.
The target URL that you send the visitors to must be in the same domain as the program. So if you tried to link to a URL outside of the normal domain for the program, the link will automatically click-through to the homepage.
To conclude...
Properly used deep links will increase the amount of money you earn through affiliate marketing, and at the same time will add content and value to your site and enhance the offering to your visitors. Remember! If you are in doubt when setting up your links please refer to the program page for help or email Tradedoubler support.
Robert Tokolics
Affiliate Manager - Tradedoubler UK & Ireland
robert@tradedoubler.com
If you have any comments about our columns please send us a mail to publisher@tradedoubler.com
Chronicle archive
Back
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