Getting Started
Inside the ShortMax Distribution Platform: Link Types, Drama Discovery, and Earnings Data
A walkthrough of the ShortMax distribution backend for new partners: how to find dramas worth promoting, which of the three link types to use, and where your earnings data lives.
Key takeaways
- Registration requires an invitation code, which attaches your account to a team for support, attribution, and settlement.
- Discover dramas in two places: the recommendation feed for current hits, and the drama library's recharge-cycle ranking for titles that convert viewers into paying users.
- Three link types are live — app link, drama deep link, and in-app promo code (the code is the attribution anchor); the standalone site link is announced but not yet open.
- Settlement is monthly: the previous month's earnings are confirmed in the first week, currently paid offline through your team leader, while the dashboard updates hourly.
The ShortMax distribution platform is deliberately simple: register with an invitation code, pick dramas from a recommendation feed, generate a link or a promo code, and watch the numbers on an earnings dashboard. Simple does not mean self-explanatory, though. This walkthrough covers what each feature is actually for and the decisions behind it, so you spend your first week promoting instead of clicking around.
This is an independent channel-docking resource operated by an authorized ShortMax distribution partner. It is not the official ShortMax website.
Getting in: registration runs on invitation codes#
There is no open signup. A new user must enter an invitation code at registration, and the code places your account inside a team hierarchy — which is what makes support, attribution, and settlement possible. If you have not registered yet, the application walkthrough is in how to get a ShortMax invitation code, and if a code was rejected, check why an invitation code fails before asking for another.
Finding what to promote#
Two discovery surfaces, two different jobs:
| Surface | What it shows | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Recommendation feed | Current hit dramas, ranked by plays and favorites | Default choice — promote what the audience is already watching |
| Drama library | Full catalog, filterable by category and by recharge-cycle ranking | When you want a niche, or want to spot dramas climbing before they peak |
The recharge-cycle ranking is the interesting one. A drama's recharge cycle measures how strongly paying viewers keep spending inside it, so dramas near the top of that ranking are the ones most likely to convert your traffic into commission — even if they are not the loudest titles on the recommendation feed. A practical routine: start each week from the recommendation feed for one or two safe titles, then check the library rankings for one rising title worth testing early.
The three link types (and the fourth coming later)#
| Type | What the viewer sees | Suited for |
|---|---|---|
| App link | App-store download, then the app home screen | General channel content where no single drama fits |
| Drama link | App-store download, then a deep link straight into that drama | Reviews, recaps, and "watch this one" content |
| Promo code | The viewer searches a short code inside the app; the code both surfaces the resource and binds attribution | Platforms where raw links are restricted, or where codes survive comment moderation |
| Standalone site link | The ShortMax web home page | Announced but not yet open — ignore until it goes live |
Two operational notes. First, the promo code is not a cosmetic alternative to the link: it is the attribution anchor. On several platforms the code in the video detail area plus the link is what keeps your conversion credited when moderation strips one of the two. Second, always copy links from inside the platform for the specific drama you reviewed — a generic app link under a specific drama's recap splits your own funnel. The mounting matrix per social platform is covered in the per-platform content rules.
Where your numbers live#
Three views, three questions:
- Per-drama promotion data (My Promotion → drama detail). Which of my dramas convert? Watch install-to-first-purchase per title, not raw clicks — the logic is the same as in how affiliate tracking and attribution are measured.
- Personal earnings (My Earnings). A time-windowed dashboard plus a line-item list; figures update on an hourly basis, so do not refresh hourly and expect answers.
- Team earnings (Team Promotion). Visible if you run sub-members; the team side has its own playbook in running a ShortMax distribution team.
The settlement rhythm around all this data#
Settlement is monthly: during the first week of each month, the previous month's earnings are confirmed and settled. At present the payout runs offline through your team leader, with an online withdrawal feature on the platform roadmap. Practically: export or screenshot your dashboard on the last day of the month, reconcile against what your leader reports, and raise any gap in the first week while records are fresh. The timing math — and why your first payout lags your first conversion — is explained in the commission payment schedule.
Common Platform-Feature Mistakes#
Promoting from the feed only. The feed is a popularity snapshot, not a conversion ranking. The library's recharge-cycle filter is where you find titles that pay.
Using one generic app link everywhere. A drama link under drama content converts meaningfully better than a home-screen link, because the viewer lands inside the story you described.
Reading the hourly dashboard like a verdict. Hourly updates exist for spot-checking, not for judging content. Judge pages and videos on weekly windows.
Forgetting the promo code. A video with a link but no code loses attribution the moment a platform strips the link. Mount both.
Skipping reconciliation. Compare your dashboard totals against your leader's settlement report every cycle. Small gaps happen; silent ones compound.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need anything besides an invitation code to register?
- No. Registration asks for the code plus standard account details. The code is what attaches you to a team, which determines who supports you and who settles your payout.
- Which link type converts better, the drama link or the promo code?
- They do different jobs. The drama link converts better when it survives — the viewer lands directly in the story. The promo code survives moderation better and binds attribution inside the app. On platforms that allow both, use both.
- How current is the earnings dashboard?
- The dashboard aggregates the current day in hourly updates and keeps a daily line-item history. Use it to spot direction, not to time decisions by the minute.
- What is a recharge-cycle ranking?
- It is a ranking of dramas by how strongly paying viewers keep recharging inside them. High positions usually mean strong monetization, which is what your commission is a share of.
- Can I promote the standalone site link yet?
- It is announced in the platform but not open at the time of writing. Promote with app links, drama links, and promo codes — the app-store jump itself is the standard mechanism behind listings like those on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps) — and switch when the standalone link goes live.
Want the version with a named contact?
Email lokyjia@gmail.com for channel-docking consultation and help applying for your ShortMax invitation code through official channels.
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Independence notice: This is an independent channel-docking resource operated by an authorized ShortMax distribution partner. It is not the official ShortMax website. Nothing on this page is an earnings promise; commission terms are set by the platform and can change.