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How to read the Link-Type Report
The Link-Type report shows performance of the differing link and placement types offered by the Associates program as it relates to product orders and shipments. The report is organized much the same way as the different Build Link options offered in Associate Central.
Column definitions
- Link Group
- Clicks – The number of click-through from an Associate site that arrived during the specified period of the report through the link type described in the left hand column.
- Conversion – The percentage of clicks that resulted in orders. As discussed in the Order Report overview, the timing of the report can affect the results in this line. If a recent click resulted in a customer adding a product to their cart for future purchase, no order will appear until the customer completes the check-out process (assuming it occurs within 90 days).
- Items Ordered – Total number of items (direct and indirect) that were ordered during the timeframe specified through the Link Type on the left.
- Items Shipped - The number of items referred through the link type in the left-hand column that were shipped in the period specified.
- Earnings – The total commissions earned on the shipments resulting from the link referenced in the left-hand column. Please note: The commission income earnings generated refer ONLY to product sales.
A note on time frames for the report
The report will only show the impressions, clicks, orders and dispatches for the time frame specified. Associates get credit for items placed in the cart within the 24-hour session window and then purchased from the cart within 90 days. Over shorter periods of time, it is possible to see orders without clicks or clicks without the expected number of orders or dispatches. For example, it is possible to see orders that were placed in a shopping cart a long time ago and thus have no clicks associated within the time frame. It is also possible to see clicks that may have resulted in additions to the shopping cart but where the customer has not yet decided to check out or where the order has been completed but the product has not yet shipped.