Methods of integration with CPA networks
Integration is a technical solution that allows you to transfer lead data to the CPA network tracking system in order to track promotions in real time, analyze traffic by source to increase conversion and lead quality, and automate processes related to data reconciliation. The agency's Client Service Manager talks about how to set up integration with CPA networks CPAExchange Kristina Siukaeva.
Setting up integration with CPA networks usually occurs in one of the following ways:
1. Setting up integration using Postback
The CPA network adds a click_id token (a unique click identifier) to the URL of the landing page to which you want to drive traffic. The advertiser, on his side, selects or adds a parameter in which these values will be recorded. Click_id values are generated by the network platform when a user navigates to the advertiser’s website using an affiliate link.
In the event of a conversion, for example when a user fills out and submits an application form, the client’s website/CRM system must pass the click_id value back to the affiliate network system using a postback. The network system checks whether the click_id sent by the advertiser exists in it, and, if so, it counts the lead.
General postback:
https://go.cpaex.ru/track/goal-by-click-id?click_id={click_id}&goal_id={goal_id}&track_id={track_id}Where:
1) click_id – dynamic, 32-digit parameter, unique for each click on the link.
2) goal_id – goal identifier in the postback, a static 4-digit parameter that is generated by the affiliate network for each advertising campaign and for each goal (for example: application, interview, employment).
In the postback example below goal_id=1111
3) track_id – a postback parameter necessary for checking conversions with the client. Substituted into the postback by the advertiser’s website/CRM system. This can be the user's email, phone number, order ID, or any other parameter unique to the conversion.
In the postback example below, track_id=2222
Example
The link after the redirect will look like this:
www.test.com/?number=8216f76d406449df933f2debeb2ffd21
number – symbol of the parameter into which click_id values are written in the client’s system.
Postback that will be sent when a conversion is made:
Postback setup
The setup is done on the client server side using php methods:
1) Take the 32-digit click_id value from the parameter, in this example from number. In the example, this value is 8216f76d406449df933f2debeb2ffd21
2) Insert the click_id value and the track_id value into the postback url:
https://go.cpaex.ru/track/goal-by-click-id?goal_id=1111&click_id=8216f76d406449df933f2debeb2ffd21&track_id=2222
3) when the user performs a target action (application, registration, purchase, etc.), we send the resulting postback using a get request.
Testing
To check correct operation, use a test link like
https://go.cpaex.ru/click?o={offer_id}&a=1
After setting up on the server, you need to go through it, perform the target action and check whether the server sent a postback to the CPA network platform. If the answer is 200, and on its side the network sees a conversion in its platform, the integration is configured.
Note
The manager from the CPA network sends the postback URL and test link personally for each offer.
2. Installing a pixel on the advertiser’s website directly in the site code.
The CPA network, on its side, writes the code for a specific site and advertising campaign and sends it to the client for installation.
The script is placed in the
element on the page from which data must be transferred to the CPA network platform. To do this, add a function, let’s call it “pixel()”, which will collect user data when filling out an application on the landing page (phone number/email/user id).Calling this function, i.e. its activation occurs when you click on a certain button, for example, “Sign up” using onclick. The onclick event is a JavaScript event that fires when the user clicks on a specific page element. This could be a button, link, image, or any other clickable element.
Example script:
3. Installing a pixel on the advertiser’s website via Google Tag Manager (GTM)
Add a new tag:
Set the name:
Select the configuration of the “Custom HTML” tag:
Add the pixel code to the Tag Configuration:
Create a trigger that will fire the tag:
Select “Click – All Elements”. Go to the trigger, enter a name, select “Some clicks”, set it to the desired button using the button class:
Save the trigger and tag. Click the Send button and then Publish:
Ready!
