Comments on: eBay Partner Network close accounts using shortened URLs

By: Eddie

Eddie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:27:47 +0000

Yep, thats fine as an extra click is required to set the ePN cookie – that extra click is actioned by the page reader.

Much the same as a Prune.it result, you have to click the ebay page to set the cookie, just reading/viewing a prune.it page displaying a framed ebay page does not set an ePN cookie.

By: SinBad

SinBad — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:43:21 +0000

That’s how I do it and I’m still getting money through the affiliation scheme.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:09:31 +0000

So just to clarify, eBay is fine with someone “tweeting” about a particular ebay listing, but having the twitter link go to their own website, whereupon the visitor can click an EPN link that will go to eBay?

That’s how I use twitter with EPN, and as far as I know that’s OK according to the terms. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. Thanks

By: Eddie

Eddie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:31:39 +0000

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm !

A 20 char link to the same target as Chris linked to, except the onclick result is in a removable frame :

http://prune.it/gF9o

ergo – to set an ePN cookie you would have to click the page displayed in the frame, assuming the framed page was roverised of course (which in this example it isn’t)

By: Sue Bailey

Sue Bailey — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:59:15 +0000

Thanks for the comments on this. I think I do need to point out that we did cover this policy change when it was made:

http://tamebay.com/2009/07/changes-to-ebay-affiliates-program.html

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:26:34 +0000

No ePN affiliate should be putting links that go direct to eBay on Twitter at all. For some months the rules have clearly said affiliates can only place links on sites they totally own and control.

Even third party hosted sites that make use of WordPress, Blogger, Squidoo etc. cannot be used to host ePN affiliate links now.

ePN also expect most traffic to arrive with accurate referal information (showing where the click originated from). URL shortening services usually strip referal info meaning ePN have no way of checking where the original click came from.

It’s also worth pointing out that you cannot place ePN links on a website if the domain name contains “eBay” in it (e.g. Tamebay).

Steve is right to point out that affiliates should now look to place links on any third party websites (or those with eBay in the domain name) that point to landing pages on their own affiliate websites displaying ePN links rather than go directly to eBay (or get auto-redirected by a short URL).

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:29:42 +0000

This has been in the EPN Code of Conduct for some time, along with placement of affiliate links on third party websites. I’d be surprised if this was a new occurance.

Personally I feel it is better to redirect to my own landing page anyway for the pre-sell, rather than straight into ebay. With the new QCP model, better targetting is much more preferable than just diluting EPC with unqualified clicks.

By: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:46:07 +0000

Sudha Jamthe does eBay’s Social Media strategy – I’ve asked if they can comment

By: Sue Bailey

Sue Bailey — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:28:28 +0000

Nice avatar, Mr Item.ly

This is just another ridiculous example of eBay’s utterly shortsighted attitude to social media.
Blogs with no external links? check.
(effectively) no links on Twitter? check.

SOMEONE in the company must get it, surely. Can we get Danny Chang out of eBay Motors and put him in charge of social media for the whole group? eBay have their heads firmly stuck in 1996 and unless they do something about it, they’re going to look ever more dinosaurish. Even more than they do now.

By: Item.ly

Item.ly — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:13:27 +0000

i wonder what they’ll think of http://eby.to and http://item.ly both of which allow you to put the eBay item number after the url and it takes you to your local eBay site. It’s not really ‘masking’ the destination url

eg http://eby.to/330391892633