New CCBill Admin - Discuss

[Useless]

Affiliates live to be fucked.

Off topic:
I haven't seen it mentioned here, but CCBill launched a whole new admin for site owners which apparently gives their affiliates more/new tools as well. (Site owners have to request to be migrated to the new system.)

Posted March 31st, 2009 10:23:53, by CCBill Management


WMS (WEB MARKETING SERVICE) NOW AVAILABLE!

We are pleased to announce the release of WMS (Web Marketing Service), a new-generation affiliate system. By incorporating valuable feedback from clients into its design, WMS includes several new features that will help you manage your affiliate business.

* New configuration options: multiple programs and price points per subaccount
* Promotional and tiered bonus payouts on new sales and rebills
* New business activity reports
* Program management tools and Marketing material registration system

WMS also features a new user-friendly CCBill Web Admin interface to assist with system navigation. To get started using WMS, follow the steps below.

ENABLING WMS
To begin accessing WMS, contact our Client Support Department to get your account enabled. Be ready to provide your client name and account number, e-mail address, primary ID and secondary ID. Once your account is enabled, you will receive a confirmation e-mail and you can use WMS to create new programs.

MIGRATING PROGRAMS AND AFFILIATES
To start using WMS for your existing programs, contact our Client Support Department to first enable (see above) your account for WMS, and then to begin the migration process. Be ready to provide a list of subaccounts you want migrated. After migration is completed, you’ll receive a confirmation e-mail and you can use the new system to manage your current and new affiliate business.

NEXT STEPS
To learn more about WMS contact Client Support at clientsupport@ccbill.com or 800.510.2859. You can also visit our Web site to watch a brief WMS overview. Web Ex demos will be available upon request by contacting your CCBill sales representative to schedule a time.

We are excited to make WMS available to you. Check it out today!

Many thanks for your attention to this matter.

CCBill Management

A few of the new sponsor features:
• Updated User-Friendly CCBill Web Admin Interface
• New Config Options: Multiple Programs & Price
Points per Subaccount
• Promo & Tiered Bonus Payouts on new sales & rebills
• New Business Activity Reports
• Program Management Tools: Block/Remove, Private/
Public & Schedulers
• Marketing Material Registration System
• Enhanced E-mail System with Editor

A few of the new affiliate features:
• Universal ID
• Online Profile Management
• Program Management
• New Business Activity Reports
• Search, Compare & Join Program System
• Auto - Program Redirect Options
• Search / Find Program Marketing Materials

[Greenguy]

A few of the new affiliate features:
• Universal ID

The ONE thing that I like about CCBill is that I have separate account numbers for each program (and I wish it was for each site) If I need to find my Amateur Facials links or galleries, they all have 581222 in the code. Foxy Angel is 657466. Nice & Easy. You make that a universal number & you'll never be able to find just the links/galleries for one program EVER AGAIN! It's one of the biggest mistakes that Epoch did with their crappy MPA3 thing.

Maybe this needs a thread of it's own?

[Cleo]

What will happen to the old link urls when I sponsor switches over to the new system?

[Useless]

GG - I believe they said that using the universal ID is optional and that sponsor-specific codes would continue to function. Maybe Paul will stop by and clarify.

Originally Posted by Cleo

What will happen to the old link urls when a sponsor switches over to the new system?

The old links are fine, thoughI think they implied that they do intend on phasing out the old system in the very distant future.

[atlant]

Demo:

http://businesscenter.ccbill.com/dem...filiate-v5.htm

[JImmidean]

Id like to stand back in the wings and let the dust settle a bit first.
there are ALWAYS bugs to be worked out.
But I am sure we will make the switch sooner then later.

[CCBill_Paul]

Originally Posted by Greenie

The ONE thing that I like about CCBill is that I have separate account numbers for each program (and I wish it was for each site) If I need to find my Amateur Facials links or galleries, they all have 581222 in the code. Foxy Angel is 657466. Nice & Easy. You make that a universal number & you'll never be able to find just the links/galleries for one program EVER AGAIN! It's one of the biggest mistakes that Epoch did with their crappy MPA3 thing.

Maybe this needs a thread of it's own?

Sorry for the delay.

I understand your point and I can tell you that you will still have a unique ID with each sponsor but you won't necessarily be able to view it like you can with the current/old system. You will however be able to differentiate between programs/sponsors easily so not everything will be grouped together.

[CCBill_Paul]

Originally Posted by Cleo

What will happen to the old link urls when I sponsor switches over to the new system?

Good question, the old links will still work fine if a sponsor switches to the new system, however in order for the affiliate to utilize all of the new features and functions in the new system they will need to change their linking code.

[CCBill_Paul]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

GG - I believe they said that using the universal ID is optional and that sponsor-specific codes would continue to function. Maybe Paul will stop by and clarify.
The old links are fine, thoughI think they implied that they do intend on phasing out the old system in the very distant future.

Correct and correct.

[Greenguy]

Originally Posted by CCBill_Paul

Sorry for the delay.

I understand your point and I can tell you that you will still have a unique ID with each sponsor but you won't necessarily be able to view it like you can with the current/old system. You will however be able to differentiate between programs/sponsors easily so not everything will be grouped together.

It's not so much what I see in the admin, it's how I link to the program's sites. When I posted that 581222 is my Amateur facials number, that means that I can easily search my link list & TGP data files for 581222 if I need to find all the Amateur Facial links.

But if I have to link to all the programs & all the sites using 1 code/number, that'll make it very difficult to find the links for just one program.

Follow?

[Agent]

Phasing out the old CCBILL codes? That's going to be a pain in the ass. Will this effect FHGs with the CCBILL ID in the URL? e.g. Will sponsors have to rework their old galleries for the new system and change the URLs we use to link to them? or will the old CCBill IDs be translated somehow so that old sponsor hosted FHGs need not be reworked?

I would hate having to change URLs, or worse yet, have sponsors dump galleries because they dont feel like updating them with some new ID.

[CCBill_Paul]

Originally Posted by Greenie

It's not so much what I see in the admin, it's how I link to the program's sites. When I posted that 581222 is my Amateur facials number, that means that I can easily search my link list & TGP data files for 581222 if I need to find all the Amateur Facial links.

But if I have to link to all the programs & all the sites using 1 code/number, that'll make it very difficult to find the links for just one program.

Follow?

Yes, yes I follow. It is going to take some getting used to and the links will not be quite as distinguishable but the new links will still be unique to each sponsor.

for example, sponsor A's links may look like this: http://wms.ccbill.com/wmsi/w_id/Lt-r...iLvJPZb2tsWMs*

While sponsor B's may look like this:

http://wms.ccbill.com/wmsi/w_id/Lt-K...SLvJPZb2tsWMs*

So, while they will not be as easily identified as the old ones you will still be able to associate one link with one program.

I hope that helps.

[CCBill_Paul]

Originally Posted by Agent

Phasing out the old CCBILL codes? That's going to be a pain in the ass. Will this effect FHGs with the CCBILL ID in the URL? e.g. Will sponsors have to rework their old galleries for the new system and change the URLs we use to link to them? or will the old CCBill IDs be translated somehow so that old sponsor hosted FHGs need not be reworked?

I would hate having to change URLs, or worse yet, have sponsors dump galleries because they dont feel like updating them with some new ID.

The phasing out process is going to take years and it will not be done at the expense of your business. If you wish to use the new system (your choice) than your old links will no longer work. This is on a per sponsor basis.

[Simon]

Hiya Paul ... just to be sure I understand correctly (I'm getting old)... if an affiliate webmaster decides he wants to use the new CCBill system for any particular sponsor, then the webmaster will need to change all existing links since none of the old ones will work any longer. I want to be sure I'm understanding that there will be no method whatsoever employed to catch traffic coming from the old links in order to credit the webmaster for sales from that traffic. I'm really trying to pound it into my old brain that there will be no simple scripts in place to do this, and that instead the only option a webmaster will have is to change all existing links in order to use the new system.

I misunderstood, right...it's the age thing... you can tell me, I can take it.

:|

[Toby]

Yup Simon, I think you've misunderstood. Paul will correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it the old links will continue to work even after a sponsor has switched to the new system. The only gotcha is that using the old links won't allow you to utilize the additional reports available with the new system for tracking those links.

The scenario that I forsee is that when a particular sponsor moves to the new system most of us will start using the new links for anything we add from that point forward. Some existing links may also get changed if it's not difficult to do so, but we're all probably going to have a mix of old and new style links out there on the Interwebs for quite some time. The new links will gather the full range of data available in the new system, and the old links will still track as they have been.

[tickler]

Originally Posted by CCBill_Paul

Yes, yes I follow. It is going to take some getting used to and the links will not be quite as distinguishable but the new links will still be unique to each sponsor.

for example, sponsor A's links may look like this: http://wms.ccbill.com/wmsi/w_id/Lt-r...iLvJPZb2tsWMs*

While sponsor B's may look like this:

http://wms.ccbill.com/wmsi/w_id/Lt-K...SLvJPZb2tsWMs*

So, while they will not be as easily identified as the old ones you will still be able to associate one link with one program.

I hope that helps.

I'm going to presume that there are sponsor/site/affiliate IDs encoded(base64???) buried in that mess somewhere.

I think question is if he can easily pull one individual sponsors' sites out of links databases.

Also, please tell me that sponsors will have to use sub-account coding for their individual sites with the new linking codes.

[CCBill_Paul]

Originally Posted by Toby

Yup Simon, I think you've misunderstood. Paul will correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it the old links will continue to work even after a sponsor has switched to the new system. The only gotcha is that using the old links won't allow you to utilize the additional reports available with the new system for tracking those links.

The scenario that I forsee is that when a particular sponsor moves to the new system most of us will start using the new links for anything we add from that point forward. Some existing links may also get changed if it's not difficult to do so, but we're all probably going to have a mix of old and new style links out there on the Interwebs for quite some time. The new links will gather the full range of data available in the new system, and the old links will still track as they have been.

Yes, you are correct Toby, thanks. An affiliate can choose to use the old links or the new ones the only difference being that the new reports and functionality will not be available unless you use the new links.

[CCBill_Paul]

Originally Posted by tickler

I'm going to presume that there are sponsor/site/affiliate IDs encoded(base64???) buried in that mess somewhere.

I think question is if he can easily pull one individual sponsors' sites out of links databases.

I think you will be able to easily pull an individual sponsor's link(s), it may however, be a little more difficult than it was before.

Originally Posted by tickler

Also, please tell me that sponsors will have to use sub-account coding for their individual sites with the new linking codes.

This will really depend on the sponsors settings, as it did before.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by CCBill_Paul

Yes, you are correct Toby, thanks. An affiliate can choose to use the old links or the new ones the only difference being that the new reports and functionality will not be available unless you use the new links.

Thanks for the clarification. I guess what confused me was when you said this...

Originally Posted by CCBill_Paul

If you wish to use the new system (your choice) than your old links will no longer work. This is on a per sponsor basis.

Emphassis is mine 'cause I'm still not crystal clear on what you meant by that, or in what way it applies.

[Greenguy]

I'm to to comment right now - I'm going to have to re-read this after the weekend & then come up with some other questions.

But I will says that there is a difference between link codes still working & them being phased out in the coming years. My master CCBill account number is 193. I have a SHITLOAD of links out there. It'll take me YEARS just to find the old codes

But I am disappointed with the mess that looks to be the referring URL. To me, it'd make sense to use the existing acct code that everyone has, seeing as it's the perfect common denominator.

More on Tuesday.....

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Simon

Emphassis is mine 'cause I'm still not crystal clear on what you meant by that, or in what way it applies.

On one hand they seem to be saying that links/codes will work, but that statement appears to be contradiction of sorts. I think the links he's referring to in that statement may be something on the sponsor's end, such as form links. That's me guessing.

For now, sponsors can request to have their program transitioned to the new system. Eventually, I'd assume that there will be a forced migration for the "all change is bad" stragglers. It seems as if they are intentionally (and very diplomatically) allowing the paysite owners to create the pace of the transition rather than setting a public deadline. Of course, this will allow CCBill to repair any unexpected bugs at a workable rate rather than flipping a switch on every site and suddenly realizing that one bug is mucking everything for everyone and creating panic throughout the industry. If a sponsor has a bunch of specialized tools that based on the old system, it could create some headaches.

Scraped from another board:

Originally Posted by Kellie

OKay just to make sure I understand this right from a program prospective, for example all the tools etc that we would have available on LTC for example would become worthless (flash videos, page peels, potd, votd, etc)? If we wanted to utilize this new system we would have to do everything via CCBill's new system and the tools etc will then be all through there?

Originally Posted by CCBill Paul

If you have a ton of marketing materials with links already, and wish to continue using them, they WILL still work, even when migrated. But if you wanted, for example, to register those marketing materials with us to be able to track them through our new WMS marketing materials reports and make them available to new affiliates through our marketing materials screens, then yes, they would need be registered through WMS, and likely links would need to change.

[Cleo]

I'm so confused...

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Greenie

But I am disappointed with the mess that looks to be the referring URL. To me, it'd make sense to use the existing acct code that everyone has, seeing as it's the perfect common denominator

I'm not a fan of encrypted linking codes either, but at least these ones don't have "nats" in them.

[CCBill_Paul]

I apologize sincerely everyone, I made a mistake in my wording. Here is the official:

Your old links WILL still work even if you choose to use the new system. However, if a sponsor is using the new system and you choose to keep using your old links you will not be able to use the new system funcionality and reports for that sponsor.

I hope that clears up the confusion and I am sorry once again.

[Cleo]

So to be clear on this...
If FoxyAngel moves to the new system we could make a new tour for the new system and the old tour using the old system would also continue tracking sales for the affiliates that didn't want to switch and for all the old links that affiliates have.