I’m Affiliate

1. Add a CNAME record pointing to your RedTrack default domain in your domain registrar.
2. On the left menu, go to Tools, then Domains, add New.
3. Add the integrated domain to your RedTrack account and activate the Free SSL option.

1. Do you have an affiliate network or partner already?

An affiliate network in RedTrack is added as an Offer Source and obviously represents the platform or partner that provides your offers.
To make it easier, we will continue using the affiliate network notion for any player on that side. 

Other places where you might find the offers include but are not limited to: direct advertisers, internal partners, custom offer providers.
The Offer Source instance in RedTrack stores global settings for that network or partner, including postback configuration and essential tracking parameters. 
Once it is added, multiple offers from that source can be created and managed easily.

2. Ready to add the offer?

An Offer instance in RedTrack represents the actual product or service link the users are supposed to reach.
Examples of such links include:
– affiliate network product links
– product purchase links
– app installs
– subscription pages

Each of them might have a different desired action to accomplish, but what unites them is that the page belongs to someone else while you are only driving traffic to it. 
In RedTrack you compile your offer from:

• the offer URL (destination link) itself
• the offer source (affiliate network or partner) it belongs to

These two together make it possible to append the click id and other parameters to the link and postback and generate the postback link.
During campaign creation, set the offer as the destination users are redirected to after clicking an ad.

That is the essence of tracking.

To correctly attribute conversions to the right offer (and campaign and traffic channel), RedTrack uses a unique identifier called click id. This is the core mechanism that makes conversion tracking possible. 

The click id is generated when a user clicks a tracking link (and is redirected to your offer). 

Each click receives a unique identifier, allowing RedTrack to match the conversion to the original click.
Why RedTrack click id, you may ask? The answer is simple: affiliate networks do not usually generate the click ids that can then be used for your conversion attribution. They might have their own tracking in place, but as an affiliate marketer and media buyer, you should ensure the accuracy of your tracking.

For conversion tracking to work properly, the click id must be generated on the page, and then passed from RedTrack to the affiliate network or system where the conversion happens, and back, for RedTrack to pass the conversion info to the channel of traffic. 

To make the click id be passed through the entire flow, it should be generated in one of the following ways:

• during the redirect, in that case, it is done automatically without any extra settings
• by the script when using the no-redirect tracking on the landing or a product page

In both scenarios, the click id parameter should then be added to the offer URL, like that, it becomes available for further use.

You have the click ids in place. Good job! What’s next?

After that comes the necessity of having proper conversion attribution, as you want to know which campaign and ad is bringing you more money.
To receive conversion data back from the affiliate network/product page, you need to configure a postback URL that must be installed inside the affiliate platform.

How conversions are tracked

For RedTrack to record a conversion event, one of the following tracking methods must be implemented (the method depends on the integration type used in the campaign):

1. Regular postback tracking.
   The affiliate network sends a server-to-server request to RedTrack when a conversion occurs.
2. Tracking pixel/script.
   It should be placed on a page where conversion happens to record the actions and send the information back to RedTrack.

But what if you want to see them differently?
Like you have checkouts and purchases and need to know the performance of both?

That is solved by adding conversion types in RedTrack, each must have a name and this is how they will be distinguished in reports and attribution.
These names should be defined carefully and remain consistent across integrations to allow a stable conversion attribution across all the platforms.

If your affiliate network/partner supports tracking of various conversion events, you can see them in RedTrack as well. To do that:
1. Go to Tools → Conversion Tracking → Conversion types.
2. Add the conversion types you need. Names should match the names your affiliate network will send to you.
3. Set the duplicate postback mode for each of the events according to your business needs.

Postback modes

Together with the naming comes the necessity to decide whether you want to see the events coming under the same clickid or not, or do you want to see different events under the same clickid, or do you want to block the double checkouts?

Why might these questions arise? The same conversion event may be sent to RedTrack multiple times.

This may happen when:

• the affiliate network sends repeated postbacks: for example the conversion status changes (lead → purchase, pending -> approved),
• multiple events are triggered for the same user action,
• the same order is updated with new information.

To control how these situations are handled, RedTrack provides a tool that helps maintain accurate reporting and attribution.

So there are several options for handling duplicate postbacks, please keep in mind that they can work both for all types all together (one rule for all) or for each separately:

1. Each duplicate postback is recorded as a separate conversion no matter what.
This option is useful when each repeated event should be counted individually.

2. The first conversion might be recorded as New, and additional as Repeated conversions. This option helps distinguish original conversions from repeated ones.

3. RedTrack can ignore any repeated postbacks for the same conversion. Only the very first conversion is recorded.
This is useful when the affiliate network may send duplicate notifications, and you want to avoid counting them multiple times. For example, for the status update.

4. It is possible to update the existing conversion with new information. Only certain fields (such as payout) can be updated. The original conversion timestamp cannot be changed in that case

5. You can keep the original conversion but increase the payout value when another postback arrives.
This is commonly used when tracking upsells or additional revenue from the same user.

6. Prevent duplicates by comparing a unique event identifier.
This is commonly used when tracking orders or transactions with extra unique IDs available.

To enable the conversion tracking:

1. Go to your affiliate network → add the postback URL (generated automatically once you create the Offer Source) to the postback settings
2. If there are several conversion types available, use this format of the postback URLs:
https://docs.trk.agency/postback?clickid=replace&sum=replace&type=conversion_type.
replace: your affiliate network macro
conversion_type: the name of the conversion type you apply the postback for.

Where do I connect my traffic?

A Traffic Channel in RedTrack is where your traffic comes from: any platform, ad network, or website where users click your ads or links. In other words, this is where your users come from.
Traffic channels can be:
– paid, a channel where you pay for each click, impression, or action (e.g., Google Ads, Meta, TikTok, MGID, PropellerAds, etc.);
– organic, a channel where you do not pay directly for clicks (e.g., your own website, blog).

In RedTrack, a traffic channel instance connects your advertising platform to your tracking system.

Adding a traffic channel allows RedTrack to:
– generate correct tracking links to use them for running the traffic,
– pass tracking parameters to campaigns for advanced reporting,
– attribute conversions to the correct sources,
– collect cost data for better decisions,
– send conversion signals back to advertising platforms for optimization.

Traffic platforms can connect to RedTrack two ways:

1. API integration.
Connects RedTrack directly with the advertising platform. With API integration, you can:

• retrieve cost data several times a day (every 5 – 60 minutes);
• view costs at Campaign, Ad Set, or Ad levels;
• apply rules based on performance metrics (for example, pause ads with low ROI or high CPA);
• reduce manual work and human errors.

Benefits of API integration include:

• automatic cost synchronization;
• more accurate reporting;
• faster optimization;
• support for automation rules.

2. Server-to-Server (S2S) Tracking.
It uses postbacks instead of direct API communication.

In this setup:

• clicks are recorded through tracking links,
• conversions are sent back using postbacks,
• costs are passed through macros or added manually.

A landing page is the page users see after clicking an ad before reaching the final offer. It acts as an intermediate step between the ad and the offer. Instead of sending traffic directly to the affiliate offer, advertisers often send users to a landing page first.
Landing pages commonly present additional information, warm up visitors, or guide them toward completing the desired action.

Landing pages help improve campaign performance in several ways.
They allow affiliates to:

• pre-qualify traffic before sending users to the offer;
• increase conversion rates by explaining the product or service;
• test different messaging or designs;
• collect additional user actions before the offer.

Landing page rotation and testing

RedTrack allows you to add multiple landing pages within a campaign. To maximize performance, multiple landing pages can be tested against each other. This is known as traffic distribution, or traffic split. This allows you to:

• run A/B (split) tests,
• compare landing page performance,
• optimize conversion rates.

How landing pages are added 

To use landing pages in your campaigns, they must first be added and configured in RedTrack. 

Landing pages are added in the Landers section. 

When creating a landing page, you need to provide the following information:

• Landing page name — used to identify the page in reports and funnels;
• Landing page URL — the URL where the landing page is hosted;
• Optional parameters — additional tracking parameters if needed.

Once the landing page is added, it can be included in a campaign funnel.

To enable proper tracking, you also need to add the corresponding RedTrack scripts to the landing page code. The exact setup depends on the tracking method used in the campaign:

1. Redirect tracking. If your campaign uses redirect tracking, you need to install two elements on the landing page:

• LP Click URL. This link should be placed in the CTA buttonon the landing page instead of the direct offer URL.
• LP Views Tracking Script. This script should be pasted into the <head> section of the landing page code.

2. No-redirect tracking. If the campaign uses no-redirect tracking, the setup is slightly different:

• LP Click URL. This link should be placed in the CTA button on the landing page instead of the direct offer URL.
• Tracking script from the Campaign settings. This script should be pasted into the  <head> or <body> section of the landing page code.

1. Go to Landers → New → Add the name and the URL of your landing page and choose the tracking that you are going to use for this lander.
All other settings are done on your side.
2. Scroll down the lander settings and find Click URL → copy it and paste it instead of the offer URL on your landing page.
3. Add one of the tracking scripts to the page code: the head or the body section.

A campaign in RedTrack is the main unit that connects all parts of your tracking setup.
It links together:
– a traffic channel – where visitors come from
– an offer – what you promote
– a tracking domain – used to generate tracking links
– (optional) landing pages
– filtering options – to set additional traffic distribution rules

When a campaign is created, RedTrack generates a tracking link – this is where the traffic goes through.
This link is placed in your traffic channel platform (e.g., your Meta ads). Every user click passes through this tracking link, allowing RedTrack to:
– record the click
– assign a click id
– redirect the user to the offer
– match conversions to the correct traffic channel
This makes the campaign the central connection point between traffic and conversions.

Types of campaigns

RedTrack supports several campaign structures depending on your setup:

1. Direct link
   Traffic goes directly from the ad to the offer through the redirect. This is the simplest campaign type and is commonly used by affiliate marketers.
   Flow example: Traffic Channel → RedTrack → Offer
2. Landing page
   Traffic first goes to a landing page before the offer. Can be both redirect and no-redirect as you own the landing page and have access to the page code. Landing pages are often used to improve conversion rates or pre-qualify traffic.
   Flow example: Traffic Channel → RedTrack → Landing Page → Offer
3. Multi-step funnel
   In more advanced setups, multiple landing pages or offers may be used. Also can be both redirect and no-redirect.
   This structure allows testing different pages or funnels to optimize performance.
   Flow example: Traffic Channel → RedTrack → Prelander → Landing Page → Offer

Main sections of campaign setup

When creating a campaign in RedTrack, you configure several sections that determine how traffic is received, routed, and tracked. These settings define how users move through your campaign and how performance data is collected.

1. General settings

The section contains the basic campaign information and establishes the connection between the traffic channel and RedTrack.

• Campaign name — the name used to identify the campaign in reports and dashboards;
• Traffic channel — the platform where your traffic originates (for example, Meta, TikTok or a push network);
• Tracking domain — the custom tracking domain used to generate campaign tracking links;
• Cost model — defines how campaign cost data is tracked (automatic via API or manual).

2. Funnels and traffic split

Funnels define how traffic flows after it enters a campaign. Instead of sending all users to a single destination, RedTrack allows you to distribute traffic across multiple destinations. These can include landing pages, prelanders, offers, and different user flows. Traffic distribution is controlled using the traffic split. Each path is tracked separately, allowing you to analyze performance and conversion data for every destination.

3. Tracking links and parameters

When a campaign is created, RedTrack generates a final tracking link & parameters. These must be copied and placed into the traffic channel where traffic is launched.
How this should be done, depends on the tracking method selected for the campaign:

a. Redirect tracking. The tracking link is placed directly in the ad, banner, or traffic channel URL. Users first go through the RedTrack tracking link, then are redirected to the offer.

b. Universal tracking script / No redirect. The website or lander URL is used directly in the traffic channel. Tracking is handled by a script installed on the Landing page rather than via a redirect link.

4. Redirect tracking options 

When creating a campaign, you can select a redirect type. This setting affects how users are redirected, whether the original referrer is visible, and how fast the redirect happens. Different redirect types are used depending on traffic channel requirements and referrer visibility needs:

• Regular redirect (HTTP/S 302 or 307) — standard redirect that passes referrer data to the destination offer.
• Meta refresh with hidden referrer — hides the original referrer using an HTML redirect in the browser.
• JS refresh — similar to meta refresh but performed using JavaScript; generally not recommended for SEO.
• Server redirect (HTTP/S 302) with hidden referrer — hides the referrer on the server side and is usually the fastest hidden-referrer option.
• Double meta refresh with hidden referrer — hides the referrer using two browser-based redirects.

5. Postbacks and advanced attribution

A postback is a notification sent by RedTrack when a conversion occurs. Postbacks are especially important for paid traffic channels that require conversion data to be sent back for reporting, optimization, or automation. It informs the traffic channel or partner that a conversion has been recorded. The method depends on how the traffic channel is integrated. RedTrack supports the following postback methods:

a. S2S postbacks send conversion data directly from RedTrack to the traffic channel.

This method:

• is more reliable than browser-based tracking;
• is not affected by ad blockers;
• is commonly used for non-API traffic channels.

To send conversion data back to the traffic channel you work with, the postback setup must be active. In RedTrack, this means the S2S postback section must be added. If it is not added, conversions appear in RedTrack but are not sent back to the traffic platform.

b. For API-integrated traffic channels, conversion data should be sent using native API or CAPI integrations.

This improves:
attribution accuracy;
optimization signals for ad platforms;
automation and rule-based optimization.

How to create a campaign

Go to Campaigns → New → Fill in the info in all the sections and tabs:

• General: Give it the name, and choose the traffic channel, tracking domain, and cost-tracking method.
• Funnels: Choose the type of funnel you are using and add the elements from the drop-downs.
• S2S postback: This field will be filled in automatically based on the data you have added to your traffic channel settings.
• Auto update costs: Remember to turn the toggle on if you are working with the API-integrated traffic channel.

Choosing the right tracking method

The tracking method defines how users move through your campaign and how clicks are recorded. RedTrack supports:

• redirect tracking,
• no-redirect (direct) tracking.

Redirect 

In this setup, users are first sent to a RedTrack tracking link and then redirected to the  final destination page.
How it works: User clicks the ad → goes to RedTrack tracking link → redirected to the offer.
It gives you:
– Full control over tracking
– Reliable attribution (click ID is always generated and passed correctly)
– Full funnels and routing support
– Flexible setup

But be careful with:
– Platform restrictions (some platforms (e.g., Meta, Google, etc.) may restrict or reject redirect links)
– Slight delay (redirect step may add minimal loading time)
– Dependency on tracking link (if the wrong link is used, tracking breaks completely)

No-Redirect

In no-redirect tracking, users go directly to the page without passing through a redirect link. Tracking is handled via a script.
How it works: User clicks the ad → lands on the Landing page or a website → script captures click and sends data to RedTrack → Offer or whatever comes next.
It gives you:
– No visible redirect, thus a cleaner user experience
– All platform compliance
– Direct linking (users land directly on the page)

Be careful with:
– More complex setup (requires correct script and parameter configuration)
– Limited routing flexibility (restricted traffic split and funnel logic)

Implementing tracking methods

Choosing a tracking method is not enough. You must also implement it correctly on the Traffic Channel side. The implementation differs depending on the tracking method:

1. Redirect tracking

What you need to do:

1. Copy the tracking link (Click URL) generated by RedTrack in the campaign.
2. Paste this link into the destination URL field in your traffic channel.
3. Launch the campaign using this tracking link.

2. No-redirect

What you need to do:

1. Install the RedTrack tracking script at the end of the <head> or <body> section of the Landing page.
2. Copy the tracking parameters from the RedTrack campaign and add them to the appropriate field in your Traffic Channel, for example:
   • Tracking template (Google Ads),
   • URL parameters (Meta),
   • Or directly after the landing page URL if no separate field exists.

When creating and optimizing campaigns in RedTrack, you need to understand how cost models and cost tracking work. Cost data is essential for measuring profitability, calculating ROI, and making informed campaign decisions.

Cost tracking is the process of recording how much you spend on traffic so it can be compared with conversions and revenue.

When cost data is present, RedTrack can:

• calculate profit and ROI;
• show accurate performance metrics across campaigns;
• help you optimize and scale effectively.

Without cost data, RedTrack can still track clicks and conversions, but profitability and spend-based decisions won’t be available.

Cost model variety
A cost model defines how the cost you pay for traffic is calculated in RedTrack. You choose the cost model when creating a campaign. To track costs correctly, you must select the appropriate cost model.
CPC (Cost Per Click) — you pay for each click.
CPM / PopCPM (Cost Per Mille / per 1000 impressions) — you pay per thousand impressions.
CPA (Cost per Action) — you pay when a specific action occurs (e.g., conversion).
RevShare (Revenue Share) — you pay a percentage of revenue.
Do Not Track — cost tracking is disabled (used when you don’t want cost data).

Different models suit different traffic types and pricing structures. Understanding which model matches your payment method ensures that cost data is accurate and meaningful. 

How cost data is tracked

1. Static cost tracking. Cost data can be added directly to the tracking link or the campaign settings.

This is useful for:

• simple campaigns with fixed cost values;
• traffic channels that don’t provide cost data dynamically.

Once the cost is added, RedTrack applies it to clicks or impressions based on the cost model.

2. Dynamic cost tracking means cost data is automatically retrieved from the traffic channel, using either:

• macros (if the traffic platform uses them), or
• API-based cost updates (for integrated traffic channels).

RedTrack has API integrations with 20+ major traffic platforms, including Google Ads, Meta, TikTok, and others.

When a traffic channel is API-integrated:

• RedTrack connects directly to the ad platform via API;
• cost data is pulled automatically from the platform;
• data is updated at regular intervals.

How API cost updates work

1. RedTrack connects securely to the traffic platform.
2. The platform shares cost data at defined intervals.
3. RedTrack matches cost data to campaigns, ad sets, and ads.
4. Reports are automatically updated with fresh spend information.

Cost data can be updated at the Campaign, Ad Set, and Ad levels.

Cost Update Frequency

One of the strongest advantages of API-based cost tracking is update frequency. Cost data can be refreshed every 6 hours or 60/30/15/5 minutes. 

The near-real-time synchronization ensures:
– spend data stays accurate throughout the day;
– ROI and profit metrics are always up to date;
– automation rules can react quickly to performance changes.

We guarantee a close to 0 discrepancy for the conversion data between your affiliate network and RedTrack.
For the cases when you use the universal tracking script, the conversion distribution between the paid and organic campaigns may vary since RedTrack normally attaches the conversion to the specific touch points tracked.