Ben NATS WalkThrough I

Introduction

NATS - Next generation Affiliate Tracking Software

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:

• Affiliates Area
• Skins and Templates Admin
• Billers Admin
• Programs Admin
• Sites Admin
• Payments
• Admin Overview

Skins and Templates Admin

A skin is a collection of templates. And, a template is base document that is used to display ever changing data. Case in point, the Affiliate page is composed of numerous templates. The page looks and feels the same for all affiliates, but the data is different and pertains to each specific affiliate. Many pages in NATS are customizable via templates in "Skins and Templates" Admin. The "Skins and Templates" Admin is divided into six (6) sections. The first three (3) are skin specific, "Basic Skins", "Advanced Skins", and "Bare Skins". The fourth is "Special Templates" followed by "Import Skin" and "Export Skin".

Inheritance is an important concept in respect to Skins and Templates. Inheritance is best exemplified using biology. When two bears procreate, they create another bear. The bear attributes from the parents are inherited by the cub. The same is true when handling skins and templates. Any changes made to the children will override the parent. For this reason, NATS does not allow you to edit the "default" skin. Instead, you need to create a copy of the skin, which creates a child of the "Default" skin. Should you make any mistakes in your child skin, you will always be able to create another skin from the NATS default. Children are indicated by being indented under its parent. In addition to understanding inheritance, it is essential to understand SMARTY. For more information about Templates and Skins with SMARTY, visit NATS4_Skins

Assuming an understanding of inheritance and SMARTY, you can create a child of any skin, in this case the "Default" skin, by clicking the button associated with the "Default" skin under the Actions heading. You will prompted to give the new skin a name. After giving the skin a name and clicking "OK", you will notice that the new skin is indented and below the "Default", parent, skin, indicating that it is a child of that skin. Now, you can alter the templates collected in this skin by clicking the button associated with this skin. You can also specify to which group; admin, sales rep, and/or affiliate the skin will apply by clicking the button. Finally, if you decide that you want to delete the skin, you can do so by clicking the button.

Basic Skins

The "Basic Skins" tab allows you to edit the header and footer templates only.

Advanced Skins

Assuming that you desire to alter a template, click the button. This will list all of the available templates that can be altered. Locate the desired template and click the under the Actions heading. This will display the contents of the template in a text area. Make any desired changes and click the "Save & Continue" or "Save" button. Note: "Save & Continue" button will bring you back to the edit template page, while "Save" will bring you back to the template list page. Additionally, you can specify different header and footer templates to be used. You will notice that the button becomes disabled. The button essentially makes a copy of the default state of the template. Once altered, the and buttons become available. All future edits of the template can be accomplished by clicking the button. At any time, you can preview the template by clicking the button. Note: Clicking the button will display the preview in a new window/tab in your browser. All future edits of the template can be accomplished by clicking the button. button. Clicking the button reverts the template back to its original state. Clicking the button creates an editable copy of the template. If you create a copy of a template, the button becomes available. Clicking the button deletes that template. Note: The button is only available for new and copied templates.

Additionally, you can create custom templates. Every "Advanced Skins" template in NATS is preceded with one (1) of five (5) template types which are determined by the first word in the template name followed by an underscore (_). The custom template can either be an "affiliate_", "include_", "function_", "css_" or "external_" type. So, first choose a template type. Then supply the rest of the template name in the adjoining textbox. Note: Template names are unique. NATS will not allow you to create a template with the name of an already existing name. You can choose a specific "Header" and "Footer" and supply a description. When satisfied with the name and settings, click the "Create" button.

Bare Skins

The "Bare Skins" tab allows you to create and edit templates from scratch.

Special Templates

The "Special Templates" tab allows you to alter templates that are not directly viewable in NATS. These are used for mailings, notifications, chainInclude, which displays a pop-up to a surfer, and COTD, if purchased separately. You can alter these templates just like templates in the "Advanced Skins" area. Additionally, you can create custom "Special Templates". Every "Special Template" in NATS is preceded with one (1) of four (4) template types which are determined by the first word in the template name followed by an underscore (_). The custom template can either be a "mail_", "notify_", "COTD_", or "chaininclude_" type. So, first choose a template type. Then supply the rest of the template name in the adjoining textbox. Note: Template names are unique. NATS will not allow you to create a template with the name of an already existing name. You can choose a specific "Header" and "Footer" and supply a description. When satisfied with the name and settings, click the "Create" button.

Import Skins

The "Import Skins" tab allows you to import a skin that was developed outside of NATS but is to be used in NATS. You will be prompted to add this skin as a child of already identified NATS skin.

Export Skins

The "Export Skins" tab allows you to export a skin.

Billers Admin

[[imagf

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 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.

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.