I am not a big advocate of Prosper202, but I know a lot of my publishers and affiliates throughout the industry use Prosper202 to track their affiliate campaigns so I thought it only made sense to do a post series explaining everything Prosper202 has to offer and how you can use it with your PeerFly campaigns. In this guide I am going to explain how to add a traffic source, category, campaign, get your postback link or tracking pixel, and generate your tracking link.
In the guide below I am assuming you already have Prosper202 setup on your own hosting server. I may do a post soon explaining that process, but for now only continue if you already have Prosper202 setup and ready to go!
#1 Traffic Sources
The first step in setting up your affiliate campaign with Prosper202 is adding a traffic source. In this example, I am going to use 7Search as my traffic source, but you can add any traffic source to your Prosper202 and if you have multiple accounts within that traffic source you can add those as well. It is useful to be able to break down your campaign by traffic source if you are running the same campaign on multiple sources and if you’re running within multiple accounts on that traffic source (although some ad networks do not allow this).
When you go to add an an account with that traffic source you can also add the pixel code for that source. So, if you’re running a campaign on 7Search you will place your 7Search tracking pixel within your Prosper202 and then when you get your pixel or postback URL (step #8) from Prosper202 you would place that within PeerFly or whatever affiliate network you are working with.
Now that you have your traffic source setup it’s time to add a campaign category.
#2 Categories
Your campaign category is mostly used to track different affiliate networks you are running campaigns with. You can also enter what niche/vertical the campaign is in, but I always use it simply for the affiliate network I’m running the campaign with, which is always PeerFly. However, if you’re split testing among multiple networks, you can add each network on your Campaign Category page and then create a separate link for each network so when you’re running your campaign you can split test among them.
#3 Campaigns
Okay, now we’re getting to the fun part. Adding a campaign is simple, but this is where a lot of affiliates will mess up when setting up their campaign on Prosper202.
First, choose the affiliate network (Campaign Category). Once you’ve selected that (hopefully PeerFly), enter your campaign name. For the campaign name, I like to simply use whatever the campaign is named on the affiliate network. This will make analyzing your statistics later less confusing. So, if you’re going to run offer #6349 on PeerFly I’d put the offer name PrizePagoda – Six Flags Email Submit [Exclusive] (6349), which comes straight from the offer page on PeerFly.
I usually do not rotate URLs so I’d select No for that. The next part is the most important part of setting up your campaign on Prosper202 and it’s likely where you get messed up, your Affiliate URL.
Affiliate URL
You must enter your affiliate URL properly or your campaign will not work. With PeerFly, head over to the offer page for the offer you want to promote. Once there, go down to the Add SubIDs section of the page.
You will need to add the placeholders from Prosper202 as SubIDs in your PeerFly affiliate link. There are 5 placeholders available from Prosper202, but we are only going to use the first 3:
- [[subid]]
- [[c1]]
- [[c2]]
Once you type those 3 placeholders into your PeerFly affiliate links it’ll look something like this:
If you’ve added the placeholders in your SubID slots simply copy and paste your affiliate link into Prosper202 as your Affiliate URL. It’s not that difficult to do, but it’s also easy to mess up so double check your link after you enter the placeholders to make sure everything looks right.
Next, you will enter the payout you’re getting on the offer. You can find this on the PeerFly offer page under Payout. Finally, you can choose whether you want to set up your link for cloaking or not. This off by default, but you can turn it on if you’re having a hard time getting your links approved at different traffic sources like Facebook Ads.
#8 Get Postback/Pixel
In order for Prosper202 to be notified when you generate a conversion you will need to setup your postback URL or pixel from Prosper202 and place it on your affiliate network. Some affiliate networks only offer pixel placement, but I have found that a lot more are moving to postback URLs for tracking purposes. With the pixel, it may not fire properly all the time, but the postback is a server to server connection so it works more consistently. With PeerFly, both pixel placement and postback options are available. You can choose to track your campaign either way, but you should not use both.
Simple Global Post Back URL
I prefer to just use the Simple Global Post Back URL option with Prosper202 to track my conversions. We have a global postback page within PeerFly where you can place your postback link from Prosper202 once and then you’re all set. If you choose to add a pixel you will need to add it to each offer you want to promote.
To add your global postback URL to PeerFly, head over to our Global Postback page. Once there, copy and paste your Simple Global Post Back URL from Prosper202 into the URL box on that page. It should look something like this:
…static/gpb.php?amount=&subid=
In order for PeerFly to know which SubID you generated the conversion on (which we are passing into our PeerFly link using the Affiliate URL instructions above) you will need to add the %subid1% variable to your postback link after subid=. You can also pass the payout of the offer after amount= with %commission%. With those two variables in place your link will look something like this:
…static/gpb.php?amount=%commission%&subid=%subid1%
Whenever you get a conversion PeerFly will ping your postback URL and Prosper202 will show your conversion.
Pixel Placement
We also allow you to place your own tracking pixels within the PeerFly interface. Prosper202 offers 3 different pixel options, but I suggest using the Universal Smart Pixel. This is the iFrame pixel and it is the only one that will fire your ad network pixel, which you can add to your campaign when setting up your traffic source (#1 Traffic Sources above). I have a guide to placing your tracking pixel on a PeerFly offer, read that guide and place your pixel from Prosper202 using it.
Now that you’ve setup your postback URL or pixel you are ready to get your new Prosper202 tracking link.
#7 Get Links
There are quite a few options when generating your tracking link, but they’re all pretty simple. First, choose your Affiliate network (again, hopefully PeerFly). Then, select the Campaign you want to generate the link for. Choose your Method of Promotion (most cases, Direct Linking). You have the option to turn Cloaking on for this specific link, which you can do if your campaigns are getting disapproved. Choose your PPC Network, PPC Account, and Max CPC.
For your Max CPC simply enter the amount on average you plan to pay per click for the campaign you are setting up. With PPV traffic you would enter your cost per view. If you are bidding CPM, you will need to know your average clickthrough rate or the clickthrough rate you hope to accomplish. For example, my goal with POF campaigns is to get 0.1% CTR so I’ll put my Max CPC as the CPM I am bidding. You can adjust your Max CPC later, but in order to get a semi-accurate ROI to show up in your Prosper202 stats you want to be as close as possible.
If you followed my instructions on inserting the SubID and “c” variables into your affiliate link you have 2 optional Tracking IDs you use with your link. I will usually use these to track individual ads or demographic IDs (example: male24-30). They are not required, but they can help you segment your traffic within Prosper202. Generate your link and you’re all set!
So, that should explain how exactly you can setup your affiliate campaign on Prosper202. Prosper202 can be pretty beneficial when you are trying to analyze your data from your traffic and can definitely help you optimize your campaign. Please let me know if you have any questions. Let’s make some money!
Nice one Luke, a really detailed walkthrough setting here. One thing before deciding on using Prosper202 I think is important to mention is the hosting environment. Don’t use Prosper202 on a shared hosting plan. You don’t wanna lose clicks ($$) because of slow load times.
great Luke, thank so much !
thanks……you solved my problem….. 5 stars…..
When I test my prosper202 destination link it goes to my lander but immediate redirects to the offer? I have the tracking javascript for both: is it suppose to do that? Automatically redirect when they hit the landing page?
Here is what is before the /body tags on the landing html:
cbr202=Math.random()*10000000000000000;document.write(”);
if (readCookie(‘tracking202outbound’) != ”) {
window.location=readCookie(‘tracking202outbound’);
} else {
window.location=’http://jmctracker.com/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=416′;
}
function readCookie(name) {
var nameEQ = name + “=”;
var ca = document.cookie.split(‘;’);
for(var i=0;i < ca.length;i++) {
var c = ca[i];
while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1,c.length);
if (c.indexOf(nameEQ) == 0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);
}
return null;
}
Thanks Luke, great and simple to understand! Now my Prosper202 is back to life.
Hi Luke,
Thanks for your tips. I love Prosper202.
Hey Luke,
Well done for the tutorial and video!
You said you are not a big fan about prosper202,what tracing tool do you use may I ask?
P.S I just signed up peerfly…
Regards
Jack
I usually setup my own little script to track everything, but I’ve been hearing awesome things about CPVLab and might give them a try (kind of expensive).
Hey Luke
Thanks. It will be really helpful to me.
In your article you talk about using the long link, but on peerfly all I see is the short link. http://trkur.com/xxxxxxxx Am I missing something?
We recently changed the link setup and now only have one link. I will update the article with this change as soon as possible :)
I’m waiting for that too. It’s kind of confusing. Also, it would be great if you could go back to the 7search campaign posts and edit them too to reflect that. As a beginner in CPA, I’m finding it a little confusing. Thanks
I updated the setting up a 7Search campaign post and will be working on the others as well :)
Thank you very much. Luke
Hi Luke, after trying to find some documentation specifically related to PeerFly, 7search and Prosper202, I have finally come across your videos and posts. I have to admit you did a great job on explaining everything step by step. Thank you! There is just one thing that I’m not sure about, namely “step #7 Get Links.” Once I click on “Generate Tracking Link” am I supposed to place generated code somewhere or just leave it there? On the top of the page it says it is used in my PPC advertising. Does it mean I place it in 7search? Please, let me know. By the way, I’m working on a campaign that uses direct linking. Thank you.
Yes, you would need to use the tracking link generated when promoting the affiliate offer in order for Prosper202 to be able to track your clicks/conversions. You’re basically replacing your affiliate link with that link.
Appreciate the great feedback! :)
Hi Luke, I’m still a bit confused. Could you, please, let me know where specifically I should place that code, should it be on 7search or on PeerFly?
I just installed Prosper202 on my hosting and got all that setup. But the reason I looked into Prosper202 is because I want to be able to track 6 subids. I’m doing Mobile CPC and in order to fine tune a campaign into being profitable I need to pass data on 6 parameters and from the example on this page Peerfly only allows 3. What can I do? God bless!
You can pass 2 of each parameters into each SubID on PeerFly. So, your SubIDs could be:
s1=#parameter1#-#parameter2#&s2=#parameter3#-#parameter4#&s3=#parameter5#-#parameter6#
Prosper202 only allows 4 SubIDs (c1, c2, etc) and the keyword. Either way you’ll need to group at least one.
Cool! This will work! I didn’t know you could group two IDs, that gives me a total of 6 which is exactly what I’m looking for. God bless.
Hey Luke, as usual great and detailed post! Prosper202 should add your post to their tutorials!
Thanks :)
Hello Luke,
thanks for the info, i followed your steps but for reason prosper202 is showing everything but not the incomes.
iam using global postback link
this is my link : http://mydomain/tracking202/static/gpb.php?amount=&subid=
and this is the link on Global peerfly : http://mydomain/tracking202/static/gpb.php?amount=%commission%&subid=%subid1%
is that correct? what iam doing wrong?
thank you
What is your tracking link? (#7 from above)
Hello luke, here is my link.
http://mydomain/tracking202/redirect/dl.php?t202id=3215&c1=###KEYWORD###&c2=###AFFID###&c3=###RID###&t202kw=
Hi Luke,
I wanna ask which one better for using VPS or enough using share hosting like h0stg4ttor or others hosting for using prosper202. What do you advice ?
Thanks Luke
I use a VPS from HostGator.
Hi Luke – for the subIDs, can you please explain how to setup Peerfly’s subIDs with Prosper202′s [[subid]] [[c1]] [[c2]] and 7search ###KEYWORD### ###AFFID### ###RID###
I’m confused as to how these 3 parties are supposed set up to work together. Would be great if you can give example.
Thanks.
I recommend just direct linking with your PeerFly link rather than using Prosper202.
Hi Luke – howcome you’re not a fan of Prosper202 – is there something you recommend instead or what? Thx for the helpful articles!
I prefer to setup my own small tracking script usually. I’ve been using P202 more and more lately though :)
Hi Luke, thanks for the valuable tutorial. I am promoting a Peerfly offer using LeadIMPACT as my traffic source. I am not directly linking with the offer page as the LeadIMPACT pop up window size will restrict the page. So I decided to send traffic to a landing page which then points to the offer page. On offer page, user enters the email and a lead is generated. The offer is breaking even, I have tested the offer with $6 and it generates almost the same amount. I am sure that after optimising and scaling it up, it will be profitable. To optimise, I need to understand how I track the keywords. I need to know the keywords that generate the leads so that I can weed out the non-converting keywords. Could you please advise how can I track the converting keywords. I have just installed Prosper on Beyond hosting VPS which appears fantastic but can’t figure out the keyword tracking. your help will be much appreciated..thanks
I’d be happy to help. Send me an email with a link to your lander.
Luke, at the end the link did not generate – is that because you were using a dummy account?
So I would assume… you would take THAT link and put it in your search campaigns (7search, pof, etc) as the offer link, right?
In the midst of setting up p202 on my HG VPS – the on-site tutorials tracking202 offers are a bit confusing, so I appreciate you going through this for us.
Yes, that would be the link you would use to setup your campaigns so that everything can track on Prosper202 :)
Hi Luke,
Thanks for your tips. I love Prosper202.
Great tutorial Luke, would the setup be exactly the same to setup a direct linking facebook ad campaigns on peerfly? I’m a little confused about the sub ID’s though. Lets say I want to target males, 20-25, from USA for a facebook campaign, where would i enter them demographic details in? Would I enter them in step 3 (replacing the dummy variables) above or in step 7 in the tracking ID fields or both? Also I see in the video your 3 sub Id’s are called [[subid]] , [[c1]] , [[c2]] but in the tracking ID fields in step 7, there is no input field for [[subid]], only c1,c2,c3&c4, can you explain this? Thanks mate
You would enter them in step 7.
Hello Luke & everyone
is it possible directcpv charged us lumpsum traffic of over $600.00 in 5 minutes when campaign activated in about 5 minutes only? but we have capped that for only $5.00 per day! when i view report in peerfly it’s only show only 3 clicks!! please help..i am new to directcpv. i am using paypal, will it still auto charge me???
Hey Luke, great guide. Quick question about the post-back URL, could you pass more than one subid (using prosper202) like this …static/gpb.php?amount=%commission%&subid=%subid1%&c2=%subid2%&c3=%subid3%
This would track conversions per AFFID and RID? Let me know if i’m wrong, thanks
You only need to pass the one %subid1% and then within Prosper202 you can see the c2 and c3 variables under Overview -> Group Overview
hello Luke i have a question for you. I live in Canada , Montreal.I have an offer that is for the United States but the problem is i cannot see what the offer looks like because when i try to open the page due to the fact that am in Canada it redirect me to another offer that is for Canada therefore i cannot see my offer. How can I solve this problem ?
Check out this article: http://www.lukepeerfly.com/proxy-view-landing-pages
Hi Luke,
I got some conversions from a certain offer from PeerFly, I want to know which keyword or subid made the conversion?
Click on the offer name in your Reports page and it’ll show the SubID report.
Hi. Thanks for all those post. but i have a problem with setting up all 3 sites (peerfly, 7seach, prosper202. my problem is with the affiliate links on 7search. i followed a post that you made that said to add ###keywords### ; ###AFFID### AND ###RID###. So which links should i put in prosper202? do i put the peerfly affiliate link with subid or the link from 7search?
Check this article: http://www.lukepeerfly.com/7search-prosper202-optimization-case-study