 | Paid On Results Dead Link Redirect In Action |
Working with numerous networks is often difficult (or just plain impossible). Merchants chop and change from one network to another, programs close, or in some cases the merchant sadly goes bust. This can leave an affiliate with dead links that will earn no commissions. It’s also not always possible to remove links the minute they stop working.
Some networks have systems in place for catching dead link traffic:
Tradedoubler sends traffic to a ‘Advertiser No Longer Active’ page and offers, where available alternatives.
Affiliate Future sends traffic to the network homepage.
Webgains redirect to an alternative (but similar) merchant.
Affiliate Window show an ‘Invalid Link’ page, and again offer alternatives if available.
Buy.at redirect dead traffic to the network homepage.
Paid on Results however have introduced a nice new system - they’ve given the affiliate’s the chance to choose how dead link traffic is redirected. This new innovation is detailed on their blog, but here it is in action!
Here’s a broken link - Pyramid and here’s where it ends up:
The page was done as a test, but as you can see any lost traffic now returns to a branded page and is given a couple of merchants as alternatives. One idea for the future may well be that if a dead product feed link was selected, that the user is shown related products instead of merchants?
Now this is good for affiliates (and also live merchants on the network).
The affiliate isn’t sending commission free traffic.
The user isn’t ending up on a network homepage.
The user stays within your branded area.
The affiliate is in control!
So will other networks follow suit?
I pretty much expect this kind of innovation to become standard on all networks, which is a shame for POR as often being first with new ideas (like their voucher code system) doesn’t result in the rewards it deserves. If merchants took into account innovation, invention and affiliate understanding when selecting a network to work with, then POR should be high on the list of options.
Perhaps, now as bigger networks possibly look to cull their programs this may mean a redistribution of merchants amongst the UK networks. That could be a good thing for some merchants who’s programs may have been left to stagnate simply by being a small fish in a big pond.
By working with an innovative network it could help breathe new life into your program!
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on March 28, 2008 at 3:48 pm Raymond Theakston wrote:
What chuckled me about the Webgains system of directing traffic to a related merchant, is that it upsets the merchant that left the network.
They’re losing traffic to a direct competitor and I’ve had one email from a merchant that closed down on the network to remove the expired links.
on March 28, 2008 at 7:26 pm Phil wrote:
Great to see it in action. I hope more networks will be introducing this kind of innovation soon!