How To Set Up A Rotating Lander With The STM Mobile Tracker V3/4 (51)

Yes, it's true! With the latest version of the STM Mobile Tracker, complicated workarounds for rotating landing pages are a thing of the past.

Now you can set up LP rotation right in the software, in about two minutes.

Here's how.

Get The STM Mobile Tracker V4 here.

Other STM Mobile Tracker Tutorials

• How to install the STM Mobile Tracker V3/4
• How To Set Up A Campaign With The STM Mobile Tracker V3/V4
• How To Set Up A Rotating Lander With The STM Mobile Tracker V3/4
• How To Set Up Geo -, Carrier, Device And Other Redirects With STM Mobile Tracker v3/4
• Tracking Additional Variables In Prosper Or STM Mobile Tracker

I only have 8 options in the Setup tab, the last one being "#8 Get Postback/Pixel". I have installed the most recent version though, any idea why I don't have the addtional options?

Edit: just reinstalled the tracker, seems like I got the different versions mixed up, now everything is working just fine!

I wanted to use the offer rotation script I used with the original P202, but it doesn't seem to pass LP information that way, so click throughs are not registered in the tracker.

[PHP]<?php
/* Offer 1 */
$clickThruLink[] = 'http://mytrackingdomain.com/tracking202/redirect/off.php?acip=123&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];

/* Offer 2 */
$clickThruLink[] = 'http://mtrx.yourhookupsite.com/tracking202/redirect/off.php?acip=456&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];

if (count($clickThruLink) < 1) die ('Error! No links are defined.');
$link_num = rand(0, count($clickThruLink)-1 );
header('Location: ' . $clickThruLink[$link_num] );
?>[/PHP]

I have the script saved in a separate go.php file which I use as the target for all outgoing links. How would I have to change the script in order for the STM tracker to properly track my clicks?

Why would you do anything extra like this for offer rotation when you can rotate affiliate links in the campaign setup?

It's just the way I have set up my campaigns up until now, 1 campaign = 1 offer. If that's not possible, I'll just change my workflow, no biggie

Hmm, interesting question!

I THINK that the problem you're having is that your offer links go to tracking202/redirect/off.php rather than tracking202/redirect/lp.php. What I'd recommend is going to Step #6, creating the code as if for your landing page using each of the offers you plan to use, then copying the URL for each offer/LP combination and replacing your existing URLs with that URL.

You should end up with a bunch of URLs looking like:

$clickThruLink[] ='http://trackingurl.com/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=765&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];

I hope that makes sense! Let me know if you want any more clarification, or if that doesn't work.

Hoping to get some clarification on a couple of things. I've been setting up a few tests and this is an example situation...

I setup two offers to be rotated 50/50.
I setup two landers to be rotated 50/50.

When I set it up for the first time, everything works perfect.

If I edit the offer URLs (but keep the campaign the same), the lander links to the old campaign's offer URLs even though it's the same campaign and it's been updated.
If I edit the percentages of the offers (say 33/67), but the keep the URL the same, the percentages don't change for some reason. I changed a 50/50 split to 100/0 and got 3/10 clicks to the 0.
If I edit something (lander %, offer %) and use the same redirect (but generate a new URL), the percentages get skewed. I had a 50/50 split send about 45/50 to one landing page.

I guess the thing that has to be done is creating a new offer and creating a new rotate link, and not edit either of them. The part that sucks is that this means I have to upload new link to the traffic source, which can be two days if they aren't open on the weekend. Is there a way around this?

Muchas gracias

Hmm, that's concerning. Thanks for the detailed bug report there - I'll look into it and get back to you.

Just to clarify, when we edit the percentages for LPs to rotate, or add in new LPs, do we always have to generate a new tracking link to give to our traffic source? Or can we just change it and have the changes kick in?

I've checked this - you do not need a new tracking link when you change percentages for your LPs or when you add new landers in. Just make the changes, hit "Edit", and you're good to go.

@w3061 - Once again, thanks for the detailed bug report. I've just checked, and there does indeed appear to be a bug there.

Update - I've just spoken to Besmir and it appears there may be a fairly simple resolution. I'll update again once I've tested that.

Update 2 - OK, there should indeed be a very simple resolution for this problem. The issue's actually Memcache rather than the tracker - it's caching PHP fragments with the old data in them.

So, either flush the memcache from the command line with "flush_all":

echo "flush_all" | nc 127.0.0.1 11211

Thanks for the tutors. how can i split test landing page & direct link? thanks!

@Richardx - Good question!

You'll need to set up a direct link "landing page" to do that which simply redirects to the offer.

1) Set up a landing page called "direct" with a filename of "direct.php" in the STM Tracker, in whichever folder you'd normally put a landing page for your offer. (You don't actually need the file yet - just enter the address of where it WILL be in the Landing Page URL box.)

2) Get the Landing Page code, and modify it from

<?php

	  global $clickThruLink;
			
	  $clickThruLink = 'http://YOURSERVER/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=958&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
	  /*Sample: <a href="<?php echo $clickThruLink ?>">Join!</a>*/	  
	?>

<?php
	  
	  global $clickThruLink;
			
	  $clickThruLink = 'http://YOURSERVER/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=958&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
header('Location: '.$clickThruLink);
  ?>

Here comes the gripes. I hate when things change, so help me understand why I'm having trouble rotating landers so I can get back to launching camps.

I set up my offers for a campaign: ( there are 4 here )


After editing the landers with the tracking code and testing them out I'm ready to get my rotation link so I can split test landing pages.



Now notice above that the Landing Pages are in red and I don't have the option to rename anything like in your screen shots... ALSO, let me point out that I have to reselect Aff Network to bring up Aff Campaign. But either way it's like the program doesnt' keep any information. But I can pull a rotation link for some reason? wtf i dunno

Also, when I add the weights to the landers in that campaign, I have to click edit then I see the part on the right (pic below)



So it seems that after I click edit (after setting a weight for the landers) the weight isn't kept for some reason. So I have no idea if this is working or not. Especially when I pull the link for the rotation

http://mytrackingdomain.com/tracking202/redirect/tracker.php?&t202id=999&t202kw=ad1&ver=3

Right, gotcha, that does sound frustrating!

Really obvious question you've probably thought of already - have you set up each of the landers in STM Mobile Tracker, as you would normally set up a lander in Prosper or the STM Tracker?

yeah definitely. Set them up as "Simple Landing Pages"

OK, that's very strange. It looks like the tracker doesn't believe you have any LPs set up for that offer (or offer selection, rather).

Can you get a working link for the Simple Landers from #7 Get Links?

If you would like, I'd be happy to take a look at your setup and see if I can figure out what's up - PM me if you'd like me to do that! Of course, I completely understand if you'd prefer to continue bugfixing this without disclosing sensitive info!

well its a brand new install since I had to revamp everything. I'll pm you. but yeah simple lander links work

Originally Posted by caurmen

@Richardx - Good question!

You'll need to set up a direct link "landing page" to do that which simply redirects to the offer.

1) Set up a landing page called "direct" with a filename of "direct.php" in the STM Tracker, in whichever folder you'd normally put a landing page for your offer. (You don't actually need the file yet - just enter the address of where it WILL be in the Landing Page URL box.)

2) Get the Landing Page code, and modify it from

Code:

<?php

	  global $clickThruLink;
			
	  $clickThruLink = 'http://YOURSERVER/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=958&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
	  /*Sample: <a href="<?php echo $clickThruLink ?>">Join!</a>*/	  
	?>

to

Code:

<?php
	  
	  global $clickThruLink;
			
	  $clickThruLink = 'http://YOURSERVER/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=958&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
header('Location: '.$clickThruLink);
  ?>

3) Save that as direct.php and upload it to the location you specified.

Check that if you navigate to that page it forwards you to the offer.

You can now specify a landing page of "Direct" in your LP rotation and it'll act as a direct link.

Let me know if that works OK for you!

It says the Output started on line #1, so make sure there's no spaces in the very top of the page. Sometimes there could be some white space before the <?php

Thanks Jasper. No white spaces. Here's my file:

<?php
	  
	  global $clickThruLink;
			
	  $clickThruLink = 'http://MYTRACKER/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=LPID&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
header('Location: '.$clickThruLink);
  ?>

can you post the error again? I know you replaced it with [my tracker URL], but I'm just curious if it's coming from a different PHP file.

It comes from the same PHP file:

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/MYFOLDER/public_html/MYFOLDER/direct.php:1) in /home/MYFOLDER/public_html/MYFOLDER/direct.php on line 6

There could be invisible character(s) before the <?php in there. One way to absolutely check is to use a hex editor, but before I get into that, here's a couple of things to try:

1. Delete the first line completely and type <?php:

1. Click on the first line containing <?php
2. Hit the "HOME" key to go to the beginning of the line
3. Hit "SHIFT + Down" to highlight the entire line
4. Hit Delete
5. Manually type in "<?php" as the absolutely first line (Don't copy and paste this)

The second solution worked. I also deleted one line after <?php so it looks like this now:

<?php
global $clickThruLink;
			
	  $clickThruLink = 'http://MYTRACKER/tracking202/redirect/lp.php?lpip=LPID&'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
header('Location: '.$clickThruLink);
  ?>

awesome.. glad to hear it worked out!

Fantastic stuff, Jasper - thanks.

I have a problem with analysing data.

I set up a campaign rotating 2 offers 50/50.
And i want to see which of them got a lead. But i can't find where i can do that

Originally Posted by pmmdevelop

I have a problem with analysing data.

I set up a campaign rotating 2 offers 50/50.
And i want to see which of them got a lead. But i can't find where i can do that

Can't find it here. I've set up advanced landing page and choose one campaign with 2 rotating offers. And when i go to Analyze >> Landing Pages i can only see stats for this landing page, but there is no info about which of the rotating url's made a conversion.

Originally Posted by pmmdevelop

Can't find it here. I've set up advanced landing page and choose one campaign with 2 rotating offers. And when i go to Analyze >> Landing Pages i can only see stats for this landing page, but there is no info about which of the rotating url's made a conversion.

Any idea why it doesn't print the code you use on your lander?

When I make a new landing page, either basic or advanced, it just prints the redirection link.

@getzlaf15 - sorry, I'm not quite following you, I'm afraid. Can you explain a bit more what you mean there?

In the last stm tracker i used, and in a default prosper install

If you do

Setup > Get Landing Code > Advanced Landing Page

Then set your LP and offer

and click "GET LANDING PAGE CODES"

I get one box on that screen with just the // Tracking202 PHP Redirection

I do not get 2 boxes with one having the code you paste on your landing page.

Did this change?

You don't need the two codes any more: just the one code, which you add to the top of your lander.

See this tutorial on setting up campaigns and landers with the STM Mobile Tracker.

I setup an advanced landing page because I'm using two offers (18+ or 35+) and javascript to send users to the correct offer based on the age they select. Can I use the the landing page rotator with an advanced landing page? If not is there a work around? Everytime I try I am given no way to select my lander. Thanks

Originally Posted by leeches

I setup an advanced landing page because I'm using two offers (18+ or 35+) and javascript to send users to the correct offer based on the age they select. Can I use the the landing page rotator with an advanced landing page? If not is there a work around? Everytime I try I am given no way to select my lander. Thanks

I'm a little bit stuck here, normaly i add a text ad "website-ntv-a", go to "get links" and generate my tracking link. Is the STM tracker not able to generate a link for a specific text ad when you use the landing page rotator?

@panicore - what traffic source are you using it for? I must admit, I haven't used the Prosper text ad tracking in forever, but I shall look into it...

Well it doesn't really have to do with the traffic source, its probably just the way i build campaigns in tracking202/STM. I use the text ad while most people will probably use the keyword variable to track their different ad spots. I am using the old way of rotating landers now and it's working fine

I cannot find the option 10 on the top right, i did verything you asked to do, but i cannot see it.

Plus when i create the code for the lander i see that on the video you provide the code is completely different from what i got and i don t see the clicktrulink php code but mine is like this one

I also tried to put the lp php code and put this code <?php echo $clickThruLink ?> for the offer link but it doesn't seem to work.

Andrea, did you install the STM modded version of p202 or just normal p202? They are quite different. I can't see much in the attachment (don't use the forum attachment function, upload images at e.g. imgur and link them), but it does look more like original p202.

Beyond hosting installed both of them and i am quite sure it's stm tracker because on group overview i see mobile, os, brand...anyway here is the picture http://i.imgur.com/NGUWmNP.png

I have tried the first lp code which is the javascript and at least i get the clicks on the report but on the lander where i should put the link for the offer i appended this <?php echo $clickThruLink ?> and it basically it redirects me to the same web page, i am probably messing something up http://i.imgur.com/OITpj2K.png

ps:i am losing health...it's really been 3 hours trying to understand only this...i will get crazy even before running something XD

It's not the STM modded p202 in the screenshot. If they are both installed they are presumably on different domains? Prosper202 needs to be installed in the root of a domain so they can't share. You may want to ask them to get just the STM-modded one going. There is no point in having both.

Don't mix the inbound javascript and php tracking codes. You use one or the other. As for the outbound, if I remember rightly you make a file called whatever.php, replace it's content with the outbound redirect code, then on your lander you point users to that file (i.e. your buttons link to whatever.php).

As far as I can remember $clickThruLink has nothing to do with original p202 - you seem to be mixing and matching things here.

I am pretty sure this is stm tracker i gave them the file and they installed it. This is where is installed! http://i.imgur.com/wM1Fm8A.png
I have tried prosper 202 and it gives the same codes on lp code.
For the tracking well i follow the guide but is different on my screen, i am getting crazy, i honestly don't know what to do now
IT'S been literally 5 days trying to figure this out, i hoped since i am in this forum i would have taken less time.

I think it's much better for me if i go with Voluum!

If you go to the STM tracker > click tracking202 > setup tab > is there a #10 Get Rotating Lander option? If not then there has been a mix up and it is definitely not the STM tracker.

You can certainly figure this out but at this point, if it's still giving you trouble, then going elsewhere for the moment may be a good idea (e.g. Voluum). At least this way you can de-stress and focus on making a campaign, then come back to sorting out your p202 woes later

After I click on my lander it redirects briefly to a white page that says 'page stuck? click here' and then quickly redirects to the offer.. any idea how to fix this?

Is that your affiliate URL which is doing that? Do you have javascript disabled?

I tried just clicking on my offer link and didn't show that white page, so not sure.. I'm testing 3 different landers and they all do this for some reason. Javascript disable didn't work either.. hmm

Edit: nevermind it's the offer.. I tried a diff offer and white page is gone.. thanks.

Ok. Btw, with javascript, sometimes offers have a redirect that uses javascript (who knows why...) and if you have it disabled, e.g. by using NoScript, the greatest browser plugin ever, it can break the redirect. Hence why javascript is often a liability in tracking!