Creative Suite manager...

I've been trying to use the Creative Suite Manager since it rolled out, across a number of different casino sites, and it's just not working for me yet. Sometimes I can find what I want, other times it's near impossible.

Take now. I'm trying to generate a simple tracking link embedded with a campaign code for Ladbrokes Casino in the Income Access backend. In the old IA system, I could pull this type of link easily. I can do it at sites still using the old system, such as Betfred. Marketing Tools > Link Creator and I've got a tracking link, for any casino, with any campaign tracker. Now, I'm selecting 'Ladbrokes - Casino' as the merchant and the next field, 'promotional group' offers 7 options, none of which are the Ladbrokes Casino homepage. They're all inappropriate options. I can't generate a simple text link for Ladbrokes. And if I can, I have no idea where to find it.

I'm trying to send out a mailer now, including Ladbrokes Casino in there, with a tracker. And I can't even generate a URL to do this.

The new Creative manager appears to be another affiliate system that's clearly taken lots of time and lots of effort with the best of intentions, but is failing because no-one thought to ask affiliates to test it before it went live.

It's not just Income Access. It's everyone. The NetRefer system is appalling (both for affiliates and merchants). WagerShare recently rolled out a new system that's worse than the old one. Because no-one pulled in affiliates during its development. I've been an affilate now for 13 years and a casino affiliate for 11 of those years. Not one, ever, has a casino asked me for input when putting together a new system. I'm the affiliate. I'm the person the system is for. And no-one, ever, has asked me what I want it to do before it's already been built.

If I'm honest, I'm also not a fan of the new creative suite - the old way worked great so i didn't really see the need to change.

Plus about 50% of the time when I select all the options and hit enter, nothing happens...

I agree, this new "Creative Manager" is actually a time waster for affiliates. Too many buttons to push to just grab a quick link and go. What used to take less than a minute now takes several minutes and much sorting and perusing. I compare it too the Fortune Affs software that takes forever to grab a quick creative or link.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chips

I compare it too the Fortune Affs software that takes forever to grab a quick creative or link.

The whole shopping cart thing at FA makes no sense whatsoever, I don't know why they can't just have the code with the banner in the first place like every other aff program in the world.

/derail

Hi All

We would like to thank you for the feedback you have provided regarding the Creative Suite Manager. Before upgrading the tool we collected feedback from affiliate partners and as with all affiliate feedback we receive, we will evaluate your additional feedback and work with you to ensure we are meeting your needs.

We will have an Income Access Affiliate team member get in touch with you directly to go through using the Creative Suite Manager effectively and efficiently.

A new feature of the banner manager allows you to generate a direct or simple tracking link for any banner. To do this, choose a merchant, choose the promotional group of your choice, banner type, and landing page and generate your search. When the banners have populated you will be able to choose one of your choice and located above the complete banner code you will be able to see and copy the Direct Link: http://www.incomeaccess.com/processing/clickthrgh.asp?

Please send us your additional feedback to info@incomeaccess.com and we will review the and try to incorporate this feedback to the creative suite manager.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieF

A new feature of the banner manager allows you to generate a direct or simple tracking link for any banner.

Please add a feature where we can pull a simple redirect URL to a merchant, with campaign trackers encoded - and not have to go anywhere near banners, unless we want images.

Jamie, I do recall Bana from IA contacting me around September last year, looking for suggestions for the new system. I was clearly incorrect when I said no-one had asked for my input so apologies for making that false claim. However, I did send back some input and it appears none of my suggestions were implemented.

My suggestion - next time you build a system like this, pull in affiliates properly. Get them to your offices by whatever means necessary and have them work with you whilst it's being built. Pay whatever it takes. It'd be worth it to have the best affiliate backend and it'd probably be the first casino affiliate system to do what its users want and need. JMO.

I've been on both sides of the fence and in general the creative suite manager is ok - it could be simpler to be honest :(

NetRefer is very simple for me as I've used it extensively on the operator side - that's just my opinion.

I think a lot boils down to how operators label the creatives - many don't have the keywords/descriptions attached to them so they are hard to find :)

Whilst the bet365 system may look outdated, it's simple and works

Jamie contacted me yesterday and we spent a good amount of time going over the software and was able to chase down a few bugs. Was nice to have him work with me on this and even better to get a "Oh, that is not right" and "we will get that fixed" from him. Kudos to Jamie and IA for reacting to our concerns and taking appropriate action. Always a pleasure doing business with the IA team.

Hi All

I will address everyone's feedback in the post so far as it will be easier!

FictionNet - Thanks for your honesty and we can look to include your suggestion. In pulling a quick "simple link" from the system you can do this still, in the menu under the "Creative Suite Manager" there is a sub menu called Link Creator, this will give you the simple redirect URL to a merchant. I am happy to change the name of the link Creator in the sub menu to make it clearer. Would something like "Direct Merchant Link" work for everyone? A team member has been in touch with you to walk you through the new Creative Suite Manager.

Slotsaff -Thanks for your comments, we all get used to certain systems. I know for myself if there is a change to something I like it takes a while for me to like the change.

Chips - I do enjoy our chats and I was happy to hear about you still fishing over the mild winter.

Baldidiot - We will try to call you to go through the new banner and hear your feedback.