Affiliate offer rotation
Offer rotation selects a destination for the next eligible click. Define which offers are available before choosing how traffic is allocated.
Weights, priorities and a bandit
Fixed weights define relative shares among eligible offers rather than exact click counts over a short period. Priorities define a selection order. A bandit changes weights using observed results. These are different flow modes, each suited to a different operational question.
EPC and exploration
The inotrack bandit uses Thompson sampling based on conversion rate and average payout over seven days. Weights update every minute, with 5% of traffic shared equally for exploration. The flow goal affects the signal. Consider approval delays before comparing a new offer with one that has mature data.
Caps, schedules and availability
Caps limit volume; schedules define when an offer participates in the flow time zone. An offer outside its window is excluded from normal rotation. Check status, geography and network restrictions before publishing. A large payout does not override eligibility.
Fallback when no offer is eligible
Set the flow fallback URL and test the case where all offers are unavailable. Also check exhausted caps and empty schedule windows. The fallback page must work and comply with source requirements; otherwise it merely moves the failure elsewhere.
Rotation versus a fixed A/B test
Adaptive allocation can serve an operating offer pool. A controlled hypothesis needs a separate test with fixed shares. Receiving more clicks is not proof that an offer won a fair experiment: audience composition and timing may differ.
Reports and manual checks
Compare clicks, approved conversions and EPC by offer for the same period. Review weight history and reasons for changes. Follow controlled test clicks to the final pages and verify clickid returns. Record the configuration and change time for reconciliation.
Questions
Why do click shares differ from weights?
Short periods have random variation. Caps, schedules and eligibility also change which offers can receive traffic.
Does the bandit guarantee more revenue?
No. It depends on historical events, data volume and delays; future performance is uncertain.
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