Issue with using VPN to test offers conv with Affiliate Networks? (10)
Issue with using VPN to test offers conv with Affiliate Networks?
I'm using a VPN (HMA) so I can view geo specific offers, to test their offer page loading speed, and also to see the conversion flow
However this issue is particularly with Tapgerine:
I'm running their CPI Gaming Install offers - for Australia
So I wanted to check if the Tapgerine redirect link works and it ends up in the Google Play Store
However, from my VPN, it does not. I tried on my desktop, on an actual Android phone, and even on an iPhone (all VPNed to Australia IP with HMA)
It just lands me on some random sweep offer, and some times, it even redirected me to a blank page (I tried about 20 times over and over)
So my Aff Manager says he "suppose there's some protection against VPN"
And he doesn't know how the technical part works, but he has an in-house checker and they've checked that the offers are working, and they saw conversions
So are there such things as "protection against VPN"? Then how am I supposed to view the offer page and conversion & redirect flow?
Update: I've also got my friend in Australia to do a test conversion for me by downloading the game, and she's able to do it and see the offer page (which leads to Google Play Store download)
Also is it strange that an offer in network Tapgerine says game XXX, but when my Australian friend clicked the link, it leads to game YYY? (a totally different game - thus not even being able to record the conversion)
So how come my VPN isn't able to see the offer page?
It's definitely not the VPN issue because I am able to see other geo offers from other affiliate networks (Adsimilis, Clickdealer)
And I've also checked my VPNed IP against whatismyip.com
And even double checked with Google.com (It shows Google Australia, and at the bottom it's able to track my location of VPN - Australia)
Hello,
HMA is one of the most notoriously known VPN services and as such, it's also one of the most easy to detect and block. It's also not working in 100% of cases, some of their servers are better than the rest. The service is great, but not 100% reliable.
Your problems are caused by fallback redirects from the most part - many networks have these in place and redirect traffic to different offers based on a set of criteria : out of GEO, bad device, VPN/fake traffic ... repetitive visits etc ... I personally am not a fan of these fallbacks, they cause more problems than good. You can try to ask your AM to turn off all redirects for your account, but not all can or want to do it.
You can try to find a less widely used VPN, use a service like geoedge or simply learn to live with this annoyance.
Matej.
Usually networks have also a special "preview" link for the offer, which goes directly to the offer page, so it should not redirect you (but sometimes its still redirects).
Otherwise it's quite difficult.
Which is strange that your friend was redirected somewhere else, that looks suspicious to me. Did he have the correct OS that the offer targets?
If your friend is in AU and using the correct device and OS, they should be able to see the app you want to promote. If they dont, it means the offer is dead and redirecting to a fallback.
It could very well be that Tapgerine is not even aware of this matter at all and believe the offer is live.
The best way to avoid this matter with affiliate networks is to ask them to run the CPI offers they are getting directly from the advertiser. when offers are rebrokered through networks, pause notifications tend to disappear. but when the network is working direct they are on top of everything. including quality 
Originally Posted by evy123
First of all - its possible that the network has some sort of protection against VPN/proxies.
Now, if your friend is from AU and he is shown a different offer than the one intended, are you sure he fits all the criteria (OS, Device...)?
Also, as Matuloo said, maybe the offer reached its cap or something like that.
BTW, checking loading speeds while on VPN is probably not very accurate as connecting via VPN is slowing down your entire connection (think about it...).
Thank you to everyone's reply! It really made some sense - and I believe it most likely may be that the offer has paused/reached daily cap that's why even my friend from the geo got redirected
Originally Posted by affiliaxeoran
One question: Is it feasible to use a website speed tester tool (like https://www.dotcom-tools.com/website-speed-test.aspx) to test the offer loading time? (Once I got the final offer URL at the offer page) Since this is not taking into account all the multiple re-directs from the Affiliate Network's side
Or do you guys even bother checking for the offer page website load time?
I just discovered this tool yesterday https://affilitest.com/ (I'm not the owner and have no idea who is behind it).
You just enter your tracking link and select OS, device type and the geo and it will follow the redirect scripts.
Sometimes it throws random errors, but definitely interesting tool.
Originally Posted by aloeveraa1491
Some food for thought, here is a list of more things to check for to figure out whether an offer sucks : https://stmforum.com/forum/showthrea...low-Testing-It
A lot of networks use a VPN blocker - not only to block bad leads - they also wanna block the competition to find out the campaigns behind it, in adult for example the usual page you see in this case is Bongacams :-D In Mainstream Sweeps!
Even if the offer is not rebrokered from an other network its possible that the APP owner has changed it and somebody was sleeping updating it. Hit up the guys and request a check of the offer with their advertiser.
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