View source for Ben NATS WalkThrough I

== '''Introduction''' ==


'''NATS''' - '''N'''ext generation '''A'''ffiliate '''T'''racking '''S'''oftware

NATS is used to track surfers, internet users, as they navigate through your site. The tracking is done via a NATS linkcode which is appended to the link for your tour's landing page. A NATS linkcode identifies, in this order, the affiliate, the program, the site, the tour, the campaign, the adtool, and two (2) optional values identified as subid1 and subid2. There are three (3) types of NATS linkcodes, all of which contain the same information; encoded (common), un-encoded (rare) and shortname (rare). 

Most implementations of NATS linkcodes are encoded. The encoded linkcode uses the numeric ID for all values and generates a seemingly random assortment of characters to represent that information. The un-encoded linkcode comma seperates the required information using the affiliates username, instead of the affiliate ID, and the numeric IDs of the rest of the values. The un-encoded (shortname) linkcode comma seperates the required information using the affiliate username, program shortname, site shortname, tour shortname, and the numeric ID of the rest of the values. 

A surfer clicks a link via an adtool with a specified NATS linkcode which directs the surfer through a tracking script. This script writes a cookie on the surfer's browser that identifies the affiliate that should be credited with any future action from said surfer. Once completed, the specified tour's landing page will be displayed to the surfer. The tour landing page will have a join button that directs the surfer to your tour's join page. On the join page, the surfer will have payment options which will be specified by the billing cascade. Once the join page is completely processed, the surfer is converted to a member. 

The first part of the NATS Walk through will cover the following NATS areas:
* [[Ben_NATS_WalkThrough_Affiliates|Affiliates Area]]
* [[Ben_NATS_WalkThrough_Skins_Templates|Skins and Templates Admin]]
* [[Ben_NATS_WalkThrough_Billers|Billers Admin]]
* [[Ben_NATS_WalkThrough_Programs|Programs Admin]]
* [[Ben_NATS_WalkThrough_Sites|Sites Admin]]
* [[Ben_NATS_WalkThrough_Payments|Payments]]
* [[Ben_NATS_WalkThrough_Admin_Overview|Admin Overview]]

== Billers Admin ==
* Displayed by clicking the [[Image:ai_billers.png]] button from the Admin menu at the footer of Affiliates Area
* Displayed by clicking the [[Image:creditcard_16x16.gif]] '''<font size="1"><u>Billers Admin</u></font>''' link from the header menu of any Admin area


Now that you are able to get affiliates and customize the look and feel of your NATS install, you will want to set-up Billers that will handle the monetary transactions your affiliates and professional looking website will generate. This is handled in the "Billers Admin". The "Billers Admin" consists of two (2) important concepts; setting-up billers and creating cascades. 


'''Set up Billers'''

Billers provide NATS with integration into their system. Therefore, you can only use the billers that NATS provides. So, you will need to initiate a relationship with one or more of the billers listed in the "Setup New Biller" drop-down list. Once those relationships have been established, you can associate your relationship with them into NATS. Assuming you have said relationship, you can set-up that biller by choosing the biller from the "Setup New Biller" drop-down list and click the "Add" button under the Actions heading. This will refresh the "Billers Admin" page and allow you to enter the "Account Info" for that biller. Enter the account information provided by the biller and click the "Save" button. Repeat this process for all billers for which you want to do business. Note: Adding multiple billers to be used in your cascades will increases the chances of converting surfers into members. Once the billers are properly set-up, you will see a list of all those billers. 

Each biller in NATS has the following attributes: ID, Biller Name, Shortname, Account Info, Processing Type, Last Poll, Polling Date, and Actions. The "ID" attribute is an internal numeric value that identifies that biller for your NATS install. The "Biller Name" attribute is a friendly name for you to identify the biller. The "Shortname" attribute id is another internal identifier. These values can not be altered. The "Account Info" attribute, the only attribute that you can edit, contains the information that validates your account with the biller when a surfer attempts to purchase your products or services. The "Last Poll" and "Polling Date" attributes show you when NATS last requested transaction data from the biller and when NATS will next attempt to retrieve transaction data from the biller, respectively. 

"Actions" are how you can manipulate the biller. Clicking the [[Image:Pen_16.gif]] button allows you to change the "Account Info" attribute. Clicking the [[Image:debit_16x16.gif]] button allows you to  Clicking the [[Image:linegraph_16x16.gif]] button allows you to  Clicking the [[Image:trash_16.gif]] button allows you to

'''Cascades'''

== Programs Admin ==

In order to successfully track surfers to affiliates, you need add affiliates. Once an affiliate has signed-up, he can logon to his area of your NATS install. By default, the affiliate area is divided into five (5) sections: Home, Stats, Tools, My Account, and Support. When an affiliate first logs on, his Home page will be displayed.


== Sites Admin ==

In order to successfully track surfers to affiliates, you need add affiliates. Once an affiliate has signed-up, he can logon to his area of your NATS install. By default, the affiliate area is divided into five (5) sections: Home, Stats, Tools, My Account, and Support. When an affiliate first logs on, his Home page will be displayed.


== Payments Admin ==

In order to successfully track surfers to affiliates, you need add affiliates. Once an affiliate has signed-up, he can logon to his area of your NATS install. By default, the affiliate area is divided into five (5) sections: Home, Stats, Tools, My Account, and Support. When an affiliate first logs on, his Home page will be displayed.


== Admin Overview ==

In order to successfully track surfers to affiliates, you need add affiliates. Once an affiliate has signed-up, he can logon to his area of your NATS install. By default, the affiliate area is divided into five (5) sections: Home, Stats, Tools, My Account, and Support. When an affiliate first logs on, his Home page will be displayed.