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How to Perform a Tracking Test for Advertisers/Merchants

  • Updated

When to test

  • When integrating with AvantLink for the first time, you should test your tracking after your have integrated the tracking script and your product datafeed.
  • When you are an active merchant, you should test anytime you update or change anything on your merchant site.  Such as implementing a new theme or switching to a new eCommerce platform.

Overview

  • Tracking tests work exactly like an affiliate link.  The tracking link will use AvantLink's test affiliate account (ID 101) and when an order tracks it will automatically cancel it so that no commissions are paid out.
  • Test results are sent via email.

 

How to place a test order

  1. Build a test tracking link.

  2. Click the test tracking link or paste the link into a browser.  It will redirect to your homepage. 

      • Ensure that you do not have any plugins installed on your browser that can block cookies when testing.
      • Reach out to your integration rep if you need to designate a specific landing page for the tracking test.  This important if you are testing on dev/staging servers on different sub-domains.

  3. Complete the purchase within ten minutes using each of the scenarios outlined in the next section

      • The transaction amount must be greater than zero.

  4. The results will be emailed within 20 minutes.  Keep the "Thank You / Order Confirmation" page open in your browser until you receive one of the Tracking Results emails. 

      • If you receive either a Partial Success or a Failure email, please refer to the tracking troubleshooting article.
      • If you receive a Successful test email, ensure all the data is accurate and perform additional tests using each of the test scenarios outlined below.
  5. Make sure to cancel the order(s) in your e-commerce platform.

 

 

Test scenarios to ensure data is accurate 

  1. Scenario 1: Ensure basic order information is correct.  Add at least three products to your cart.  Have a quantity of two for one product and then add at least one other product.  
    • Are the Request Details correct?
      • Is the Transaction ID (Order Number) correct?
      • Is the Sale Amount correct? 
        • It should omit tax and shipping. 
        • Ensure the correct currency is being passed.
    • Are the Order Item Details correct?
      • Are both the Item Parent SKU and Item Variant SKU accurate?
      • Is the Item Quantity correct?
      • Is the Item Price correct?
        •  It should reflect the cost of one item.
      • Is the Product Name correct? 
        • For the Product Name to be correct the Item Parent SKU must have a match in your product datafeed.  If your datafeed has not been configured yet or is the SKU is unavailable in the product datafeed, you will not see this data in your test results.   
  2. Scenario 2: Ensure the coupon code is correct.  After ensuring the data is accurate in the first scenario, place an additional tracking test using a coupon code.  Add three products to your cart (use different products than scenario 1.  Have a quantity of two for one product and then add at least one other product.  
    • Is the data outlined in scenario 1 still correct?
    • Does the Sale Amount reflect the discount?
    • Is the Coupon Code correct?
  3. Scenario 3: Ensure the new customer is correct.  After ensuring the data is accurate in the previous scenarios, place two additional tests to check new customer sales.  Place one order by logging into your store, then place a second order by using the guest checkout.  
    • Is the New Customer correct?
      • Existing customers are identified if you logged to your store before completing the purchase.
      • Guest checkouts are identified as New Customers. 

You may stop testing after you have verified the data is accurate for all of above scenarios.  This indicates all of the recommended tracking parameters are tracking properly.

 

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