Skip to content
English
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Tracking Integrations: Important Terms and Definitions

When discussing technical details, such as those that come up in a discussion about integrating 3rd party trackers, it is important that we are on the same page whenever we are using specific terms. Below is a list of some terms that are frequently used when we discuss tracking integrations, along with how we are using them:

  • Conversion - We almost always use this term to refer to the "base conversion" of an offer. In other words, it is whatever action the customer needs to take for you to earn a commission (such as a purchase or a lead submit)
  • Event - This is technically a type of conversion, but it is optional and can only be used in conjunction with a conversion (i.e., an offer can have a conversion and no events, but it cannot have an event with no conversion). Events are used for many different purposes. Some examples include:
    • Optimization Events - such as when a user adds a product to their cart, or when they hit the "checkout" button
    • Pixel Tracking Integration - if an offer supports tracking via pixel, we would set them up as separate events
    • Upsells - Some offers may have upsells that they will pay a commission on if the customer buys one of them after the base conversion
  • Postbacks - When we use this term, we are generally referring to the server-to-server postback URL that is generated by one platform for the purpose of receiving conversion data from another platform
  • Click ID - Click ID refers to the unique value a tracking platform assigns to a specific click. Some platforms may also call this a "transaction ID"'
  • Tracking Parameter - Tracking parameters are data fields, often appended to the end of a tracking link or postback URL, that are used to pass specific data values. 
    For example, the tracking link below has the parameter "sub1" passing the word "google":
    https://www.example-trackinglink.com/2H8NUUW1/WT40ITW/?sub1=google
  • Tracking Macro - A "macro", or placeholder, is a dynamic value that is replaced with specific data once the click passes through a platform. For example, this tracking link will be inserted into a 3rd party tracker:
    https://www.example-trackinglink.com/2H8NUUW1/WT40ITW/?sub1=
    • You will notice that, at the end of the link, it has the parameter, "sub1", set equal to a macro for "campaign name"
    • When a click is sent through the tracker from a traffic source, the tracker will automatically insert the campaign name as a value in sub1
  • Tracking Pixel - This refers an img pixel or iframe that is used in place of a postback. The Google Pixel and the Meta Pixel are both examples of tracking pixels
  • Tracking Link - The link generated by the platform that is unique to your account and the offer that it was generated for. Do not confuse it with the "Preview Link"
  • Preview Link - The link that would be visible in the offer's description that is not unique to you. If this link is used to promote an offer, we will not be able to credit any conversions that are generated
  • API - This is an acronym that literally stands for "Application Programming Interface". In the context of tracking integrations, it generally refers to a method of connecting and transferring data between two platforms automatically, usually using an API Key. Some third party trackers may have an API integration to pass conversion data to traffic sources like Google or Facebook without needing to rely on their pixels.