Espotting being naughty?

are they trying not to pay for clicks?

[Paul_Kelly]

Espotting have recently introduced several new ways for affiliates to earn from click thrus. Their main method of implementing searches is to use 'javascript include' files which the webmaster then pastes into his page.
This seems to work fine for the seach box, text link and pop up solutions but I have noticed a 'quirk' (being kind here) in the banner solution i.e. the affiliate url that is generated for the customer to click thru and therefore earn us money is slightly different to that generated for all other solutions. This different url shows a single parenthesis after the affiliate Id, the effect of which seems to be that the affiliate is not credited with the initial click through to the target page but then gets credited for any further searches conducted through the search bar at the top of the page. The upshot is that the affiliate doesn't get paid for the initial search.
I have tried this with the various banner options that espotting offer and the same 'quirk' is present throughout.
Are espotting taking the piss?
Try it out and see what results you get.

Paul.

[Espotting Media]

Paul has picked up on a 'quirk' within the Espotting affiliate banner solution. This bug has since been fixed and all the respective code amended.

Espotting's affiliate department are always open to new ideas and to gain feedback from their affiliates. This error was not intentional and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Many Thanks,

The Espotting Affiliate Development Team

[Napoleon]

I took a spin through espotting for one of my clients (as it happens, a major bank). Putting to one side my absolute distaste/disgust for the PPC model as a whole, there are a number of things that made me turn around:

a)Unless you specifically say so, espotting themselves can add keywords to your account. I consider this to be scandalous. The default has to be for YOU to pick your own words... and no-one to add them for you, least of all the firm making (your) money out of the clicks!

b) I added some terms... nothing happened (at least not within 24 hours). What the hell goes on? No indication that they were in a queue, nothing.

Next day, they suddenly appeared on my bid list... but still not being returned in searches!

c) They have the annoying habit of removing common words ('a', 'and', etc)from your bid in the reporting screen. It is very hard to tell what is going on and what exactly has been bid on. Very very confusing.

All I wanted was to bid on a precise phrase and get the traffic for that precise phrase... visibly. Obviously too much to ask.

d) Popups every time you enter the darn thing! Yes epostting... we are well aware of your deal with Yahoo and don't need to be reminded EVERYTIME the main screen comes up.

All in all it is a bit of a dogs dinner to work with. It is difficult and confusing... and I don't like to be confused when I am spending client money. I also like 100% trust with a partner even if I don't like them... and trust has to be earned (which is not done via stunts like (a) above)

[Paul_Kelly]

Yes, looks like its sorted now.
Espotting were certainly quick off the mark, almost as if they were ready for ..., well, they had several weeks without having to pay their affiliates, but its good to see that this forum carries such impact that "big business" will respond to criticism so promptly.
But as Napoleon rightly alluded to, trust is the name of the game and Espotting must now know that WE are watching.
Great forum guys.

Paul.
New Years resolution: lurk less, post more

[engine]

Hi Paul,

Glad to have you here.

Espotting_Media - welcome, and thanks for your response.

[Paul_Kelly]

Espotting are still at it,
Checked the codes last night and they are not giving credits for hits on their banner ads.
When are they going to stop?

Paul.

(edited by: NFFC at 2:26 pm (utc) on Jan. 24, 2002)