How to know if you're getting scrubbed? (10)
EPC today is abysmal. I'm running volume, just got a bump earlier today and hardly any conversions. My epc at the network is around $0.55 normally, right now it is $0.24, and dropping fast. Should I pull the plug?
you split test the same offer with other cpa network or simlar offers
It could be scrubbing, may not be the network though, could be the advertiser. However, the day/time could affect conversions depending on which vertical you are pushing. As suggested, I would try another network and test it at the same time.
it's memorial day weekend. holiday weekends stats are always off. If you're getting scrubbed by a mainstream / well known advertiser, it's probably because the quality was crap. That being said, and based on my own stats this weekend (holiday weekend) and every other holiday, if you're running in the US, it's properly memorial day. That being said, whether you are or aren't being scrubbed, it doesn't particularly matter. What you do about it is either, ride it out, contact the advertiser and see if the quality is bad, run a different offer, but most likely just ride it out and post holiday things will come back up. I'd say almost every big pub has random crappy days, it's just something I've come to accept.
Whenever epc tanks more than 50%, I typically pause, wait a day or two, and then it normally resumes at its regular epc
If the offer is for DOI leads, their emails could possibly be getting flagged as spam.
I would definitely wait it out, I've made the mistaken on pulling campaigns too early before and it has cost me a lot of $$. Let it run a few days and if it still underperforms pause and get in contact with the network/advertiser. If you still can't find anything out I'd suggest relaunching in a week or two to see if it's back to regular performance. I have a campaign I'm running now that went from profitable to negative, but after I would test it every week to see if it would work again. After a few weeks it's back to normal and I'm making $$ again and it only takes a few minutes every week to retry it.
Edit: If you are that concerned about losing money on the campaign just lower the daily cap and let it run a few more days.
If you are running a lot of volume and worried you are being scrubbed, and running an offer were you can easily optimize the lead generation process....theeeen for example if you were running an email submit, you can just duplicate the offer page, throw up an email opt in form, then rotate that 50/50 with the offer.
That should give you an idea of scrubbing. Keep in mind they will have a few filters in place, but it should give some kind of accuracy.
Q: How to know if you're getting scrubbed?
A: You run an offer that you don't own! Hahaha
It's all part of the game. Do what Mr. G says and you can weed out the greedy fuckers
Thanks for the input everyone! I'm sure it's a number of things, I also found out my creative was ripped and the fucker was outbidding me at the time. And I'm sure memorial day is playing a role in this aswell, since I am running US traffic. It is a DOI offer, so that may be playing a part as well.
Mr. Green: I had a thought this morning about implementing something like that, I figure I should start building lists, and having my own opt-in could be beneficial. I'm starting to get this whole AM/Lead Gen stuff. Long way to go, but it's starting to stick.
I will try another small batch test later tonight to see if I can get that EPC back up. If not, I'll just resume after the holiday weekend. No biggie. Again, thanks everyone.
Just to be clear on this...
If leads are showing in your affiliate network account and then disappearing without notification then this is either the network and/or the advertiser scrubbing, legitimately (based on quality) or not.
However, if the conversion rate is being fiddled, and the leads never show in your account, this is almost certainly the network who are stealing those leads (e.g, don't show 20% of leads to the affiliate).
In the case of scrubs, we have a feature that logs and notifies you if any leads have been removed from your account, along with details. You can then use this to approach the network and ask:
1. Why the leads were scrubbed
2. Why you weren't notified
This can change their attitude to you pretty quickly, and tends to results in far fewer future scrubs!!
Hope that helps 
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