Clarification about the transition from OLD to NEW Sky Affiliate Hub

[DeannaD_IA]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to clarify the transition from the old to the new Income Access Sky Affiliate Hub in case anyone was confused.

- Yes, all players have been mapped and migrated to the new system so that they are tagged to the corresponding affiliate.

- Historical stats/data was not migrated to the new Affiliate Hub, however it can still be accessed by logging into the OLD Affiliate Hub, using old login details (http://www.skybet.com/affiliatehub_old). Any problems logging in there, please go to http://www.skybet.com/affiliatehub_old?action=go_acct_forgot_password.



- Player stats/data will display in the new Affiliate Hub as of June 1, 2011. Players who generate some type of activity will display in the reports.

If you have any further questions, please contact me at affiliatehub@bskyb.com

Hope this helps

Deanna

[baldidiot]

Do we need to update links or banners? I was assuming that we wouldn't but my traffic stats for this month are not showing up any data.

[RayUK]

Do we need to update links or banners? I was assuming that we wouldn't but my traffic stats for this month are not showing up any data.

Quoted from the first email from income access about the new Sky Affiliate system:

"Your old affiliate tracked links will remain active until 30/06/2011, after which they will be deactivated and will no longer track. Therefore, please update them by going to Marketing Tools > Get Promotional Material section where you'll have access to full range of new tracking creatives. "

[baldidiot]

Quoted from the first email from income access about the new Sky Affiliate system:

"Your old affiliate tracked links will remain active until 30/06/2011, after which they will be deactivated and will no longer track. Therefore, please update them by going to Marketing Tools > Get Promotional Material section where you'll have access to full range of new tracking creatives. "

Thanks, I missed that.

The old links aren't tracking though, even though it's way before the deadline.

[RayUK]

The way I read it is that the old links track to the old system, which is being kept up for another month - then that gets transferred over? Not sure of the details. They say the players are being tagged to the new system.

I was all efficient and changed the URL in the php redirectors immediately, so I am seeing the clicks in the new system so I can't tell what the old links are doing (as I don't have them any more)

[baldidiot]

Just realised I wrote are instead of aren't before...

Thinking about it the old links/banners didn't track impressions or clicks in the old system so they probably still don't. I feel dumb... Let's just hope it's tracking sign ups...

There aren't many banners in the new program yet, so I was waiting til they have them up before switching everything over.

[RayUK]

I agree about the banners, I am using the old ones for now (I self host).

[alexcruncha]

Hi guys,
- Yes, all players have been mapped and migrated to the new system so that they are tagged to the corresponding affiliate.

I have logged in to the new system and under "reports" > "account reports" it returns no records so my players dont appear to be mapped. Also, if I do a YTD report it shows a number of registrations but 0 new accounts. I was making money each month before so it looks to me like my players have not been migrated across properly.

What has everyone else experienced? and does anyone know the best person to talk to about this?

[Engineer]

My players don't appear to be mapped, either. I made money each month on the old system as well; on the new Income Access system, I see no activity.

This happened to me once before, when Intertops was migrated to Income Access. It wasn't done properly, and because of someone's ineptitude, I lost a decent-sized revenue stream. It looks like the same thing may have happened here.

I believe that the IA tracking will work fine "going forward," but if my old players aren't mapped over, that isn't really acceptable to me. I sent an email to Sky about this, which was forwarded to Deanna today, so I assume she will respond to me next week.

Also, they need to get rid of the CAPTCHA on the login page. It isn't necessary, and it prevents StatsRemote from accessing the stats. If I have to manually type a CAPTCHA every time I want to check my stats, I simply won't promote the program anymore. There are better ways to secure the site, such as by requiring more secure passwords.

[DeannaD_IA]

I have logged in to the new system and under "reports" > "account reports" it returns no records so my players dont appear to be mapped. Also, if I do a YTD report it shows a number of registrations but 0 new accounts. I was making money each month before so it looks to me like my players have not been migrated across properly.

What has everyone else experienced? and does anyone know the best person to talk to about this?

Hi Alexcruncha,

Just to clarify about the mapping of players, only those who have generated activity will display in the Account Report. Also, I think it would help to define what the system defines as 'New Accounts':

The number of players who have registered and generated their first activity (deposit, revenue, wagers, etc…) in the period you are running the report for. This means that if a player has only registered, but not gone on (yet) to make a deposit, wager, generate revenue etc. then they do not yet appear in this report. Does this make sense? Really hope this helps

[alexcruncha]

Hi Deanna,

Thanks for replying with clarification. I did run the Account Report period over the lifetime of my site and it shows no account records, which to me shows that no players are logged as having ever made a deposit or wagering (so there are no real money players according to the Income Access system currently). However as I mentioned before there are a number of "Registerations" showing up in the Quick Summary Report.

If you are suggesting that the actual real money players are now recorded as only "Registrations" (ie. with no deposit history) and when they do make further deposits/wagers they will show up as New Depositing Accounts in the Income Access system I can understand that. My worry is that with them not already showing up as converted players that something is not right.

Could you please clarify if old real money players now show up as only Registrations in the new system until they make some activity? It make sense as no historic stats are being migrated so the accounts would show nothing anyway.

[DeannaD_IA]

My players don't appear to be mapped, either. I made money each month on the old system as well; on the new Income Access system, I see no activity.

This happened to me once before, when Intertops was migrated to Income Access. It wasn't done properly, and because of someone's ineptitude, I lost a decent-sized revenue stream. It looks like the same thing may have happened here.

I believe that the IA tracking will work fine "going forward," but if my old players aren't mapped over, that isn't really acceptable to me. I sent an email to Sky about this, which was forwarded to Deanna today, so I assume she will respond to me next week.

Also, they need to get rid of the CAPTCHA on the login page. It isn't necessary, and it prevents StatsRemote from accessing the stats. If I have to manually type a CAPTCHA every time I want to check my stats, I simply won't promote the program anymore. There are better ways to secure the site, such as by requiring more secure passwords.

Hi Engineer,

Thanks your query about the mapping of players. During the migration of the Affiliate Hub we worked with Sky and Openbet to map all existing players to the new program. Once the mapped players generate activity in the new affiliate hub, they will display in the reports.

All sales and registrations are displayed the following day; also, creatives pulled from the OLD Affiliate Hub will not display clicks or impressions in the new system. Having said that all old affiliate hub creatives are mapped to the new system and all new player activity through the old creatives WILL be displayed in the new system as of June 1st, 2011.

Regarding the CAPTCHA, it is a security precaution to help protect affiliate data. You can use the system API to have reports emailed to you. Would you like instructions to set this up?

If you have any other questions or concerns you can email me directly.

I look forward to working with you.

[Engineer]

Hi Deanna,

Thanks for the info. Good to know about the mapping. I do see one depositing player in my stats so far, which is a good sign. Hopefully as more make their first deposit this month, they will show up as well.

No, I don't want stats emailed to me -- I want them to be accessible by StatsRemote so that I don't have to spend extra time doing something "different" to view stats for one particular affiliate program.

Can you please just remove the CAPTCHA? There are better ways to protect data -- i.e. by locking an IP address out for an hour after 3 incorrect login attempts, or something like that. If someone manages to obtain my password, the CAPTCHA won't keep them out, anyway. Please, please remove it -- please listen to this feedback.

Also, I did send an email to you this morning (to affiliatehub at bskyb.com -- let me know if you did not receive it. Thanks.

[DeannaD_IA]

Hi Deanna,

Thanks for replying with clarification. I did run the Account Report period over the lifetime of my site and it shows no account records, which to me shows that no players are logged as having ever made a deposit or wagering (so there are no real money players according to the Income Access system currently). However as I mentioned before there are a number of "Registerations" showing up in the Quick Summary Report.

If you are suggesting that the actual real money players are now recorded as only "Registrations" (ie. with no deposit history) and when they do make further deposits/wagers they will show up as New Depositing Accounts in the Income Access system I can understand that. My worry is that with them not already showing up as converted players that something is not right.

Could you please clarify if old real money players now show up as only Registrations in the new system until they make some activity? It make sense as no historic stats are being migrated so the accounts would show nothing anyway.

Hi alexcruncha,

Following your query, I requested that Openbet look specifically at your account, as well as GoodBonusGuy's account (who had also queried). Both accounts were identified as having mapped correctly when a comparison of accounts was done between those in the old system and those in the new Affiliate Hub for a specified time period.

You are correct that an Account Report would not show any records prior to June 1st as historical data was not migrated to the new system.

If you want to see a previously mapped player count, please view the Quick Summary report on your affiliate home page 'YTD (year to date)'. Additionally, if you run an Account Report from June 1st to date, you will be able to view all of your mapped players who have generated activity within that time period, as well as view their registration date, which should put your mind at ease

Hope this clarifies everything for you.

Regards,
Deanna

[DeannaD_IA]

Hi Deanna,

Thanks for the info. Good to know about the mapping. I do see one depositing player in my stats so far, which is a good sign. Hopefully as more make their first deposit this month, they will show up as well.

No, I don't want stats emailed to me -- I want them to be accessible by StatsRemote so that I don't have to spend extra time doing something "different" to view stats for one particular affiliate program.

Can you please just remove the CAPTCHA? There are better ways to protect data -- i.e. by locking an IP address out for an hour after 3 incorrect login attempts, or something like that. If someone manages to obtain my password, the CAPTCHA won't keep them out, anyway. Please, please remove it -- please listen to this feedback.

Also, I did send an email to you this morning (to affiliatehub at bskyb.com -- let me know if you did not receive it. Thanks.

Hi Engineer,

I unfortunately can't promise the removal of the CAPTCHA feature, as you're (to date) the only affiliate who has voiced a concern about it It is something I can certainly discuss with Sky, however.

I'm still working through emails, and will continue to do so. It has now been a solid 9 hours of doing so, and slowly but surely we're getting there! Please know we/I are doing our best to answer them as quickly as possible, and to ensure all confidence about players being mapped form the old to new systems.

I do appreciate your feedback, and hopefully your questions have helped other affiliates who were thinking the same

[RayUK]

FWIW I strongly dislike the CAPCHA too. And the main size of banner I use to use for Sky bingo (468x60) doesn't appear to be available in the new system (I am still using the old banner for now)

[DeannaD_IA]

FWIW I strongly dislike the CAPCHA too. And the main size of banner I use to use for Sky bingo (468x60) doesn't appear to be available in the new system (I am still using the old banner for now)

Good news! I requested that bingo banner size today

I will most definitely pass along the CAPCHA feedback to Sky.

Thanks so much,
Deanna

[baldidiot]

I would also like to add my support for removing the capcha - I can't see what purpose it serves, other than ensuring the stats cannot be accessed remotely.

[DeannaD_IA]

I would also like to add my support for removing the capcha - I can't see what purpose it serves, other than ensuring the stats cannot be accessed remotely.

Hi Baldidiot,

Thanks for the input. I've discussed this with Sky and their stance is that they're happy to do whatever most affiliates will be happy with. Is there anyone greatly opposed to the removal of the CAPCHA feature?

Cheers,
Deanna

[RayUK]

If you don't get a clear response one way or the other, would it at least be possible to have a setting in the account details for the affiliate where we could switch off the capcha on an individual basis? I appreciate that this might be too much extra coding to be worth it!