It is recommended that you first understand the tracking process before continuing with this article.
In this article, we will cover the basics of tracking parameters and how they are used within Affelios to attribute clicks and conversions to specific sources or affiliates.
Understanding Tracking Parameters
In online marketing, terms like ClickID, GCLID and btag as well as many others refer to the parameter name used within the process of tracking marketing performance.
ClickID: This is a generic term for a unique identifier assigned to a click on an advertisement or affiliate link. It helps in tracking which clicks lead to conversions (such as sales or sign-ups), allowing advertisers and affiliates to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns.
GCLID (Google Click Identifier): This is a specific type of ClickID used by Google Ads. It is a unique tracking parameter that Google appends to the URL when a user clicks on an ad from Google Ads. The GCLID enabled advertisers to track conversions and the effectiveness of their Google Ads campaigns.
Btag: This is often used in the context of affiliate marketing programs, especially in online gaming and betting platforms. A btag is a unique code that tracks the activity of users referred by an affiliate to ensure the affiliate gets credit for the traffic or conversions generated.
While terms such as ClickID, GCLID, and btag are widely recognized within the industry, it is important to acknowledge that various platforms may utilize alternative nomenclature for these parameters. As such, it is highly recommended to refer to the documentation provided by your specific platform or to seek assistance from their support team for authoritative guidance on identifying the precise name of these parameters.
Configuring the ClickKey
In Affelios, we allow you to specify the parameter name required by your platform and inject the tracking ID into this parameter, aptly named ClickKey.
When configuring your brand, you'll be required to provide your URL and your specific ClickKey parameter:
If your system uses clickId, then it will look something similar to this:
If your system uses btag, then it will look something similar to this:
The [ClickKey] in this respect is removed and the actual ClickKey value is provided instead. The value of the [ClickKey] will be used to attribute clicks and conversions to each customer.