Postback/Pixels recommended?

[Mr.RichardBanks]

Hi guys and gals,
do any 'regular' affiliates that aren't networks use postback?

I'm looking at getting into it and needed a bit more info if anyone would like to volunteer.

Do you use a cloud based system or desktop (if Mac please specify which is best)

Is it complicated to set up and is it able to gather emails?

I have looked online and there is so much to chose from, with different prices.

Is there a free one you think is worth trying or do you think there's one out there that's so good, just go all in.

I'm eagerly awaiting your replies on this one.

[marlies]

Hi, something to add before you set up, a number of casinos i send traffic too don't support pixel integration, so I never got any further than asking. But i'll closely monitor this thread to see what people say

[Renee]

If you're on a revshare deal, I don't see any reason you'd need to use pixels. The only reason you'd need them is if you are getting paid on an event.

Eg, per registration/lead etc

[Luke Affalliance]

If you're on a revshare deal, I don't see any reason you'd need to use pixels. The only reason you'd need them is if you are getting paid on an event.

Eg, per registration/lead etc

Well, yeah, you've got the point here. The only reason for a pixel on Rev Share deal is to track conversion rates the brands that are exposed on the affiliate website.

I'm looking at getting into it and needed a bit more info if anyone would like to volunteer.

There is a difference between pixel and postback.

Pixel

Also called client-side, cookie-based, in-browser tracking. This method relies on the user’s browser to track conversions by placing a cookie on the click that is called again on conversion to authenticate the session and attribute the conversion to the correct affiliate.

Postback

Also known as server-side, server call, server 2 server, s2s and, mistakenly, server pixel tracking, relies on the advertiser’s servers to track sessions generated on clicks to attribute conversions.

Postback tracking can be thought of as two separate processes: what happens when a user clicks on an offer and what happens upon conversion.

In Affalliance we only do work with postback. Here is how we do it.

You wrap affiliate program tracking link in your own tracking link. Once a player makes a click to your link, the unique clickid is generated and assigned to affiliate program link as a dynamic parameter. Whenever a player makes an action - registration and first deposit, affiliate program will fire you your generated clickid back. Usually if you get this clickid back once, it means registration. If twice - first deposit.

Do you use a cloud based system or desktop (if Mac please specify which is best)

The tracking is performed using the web services like linktrackr(.)com
(In any way I am not endorsing this service. It's just a result of quick google research.)

Is it complicated to set up and is it able to gather emails?

It's not complicated to set up, however, it might get a little tricky. As for emails - pixel & postback are not capable of doing that.

[Mr.RichardBanks]

Thsnk you Luke this is great!!

[Renee]

[SIZE=3]Well, yeah, you've got the point here. The only reason for a pixel on Rev Share deal is to track conversion rates the brands that are exposed on the affiliate website.

If a program tracks those things though, which it should, you still wouldn't need to place a pixel.

[Luke Affalliance]

If a program tracks those things though, which it should, you still wouldn't need to place a pixel.

Well, let's imagine a webmaster enthusiast who wants to get the stats gathered in one place instead of manually collecting data from the backend of each program.

P.S. Program tracking should be out of question since if program doesn't track, the postback won't track ether.

[Renee]

Well, let's imagine a webmaster enthusiast who wants to get the stats gathered in one place instead of manually collecting data from the backend of each program.

P.S. Program tracking should be out of question since if program doesn't track, the postback won't track ether.

Yes ok, but it's a nicety in the example above, not a necessity though (need vs want). One huge problem I see with doing that is if a program uses their backend to push important updates on login (eg hey your payment rejected and our emails are bouncing, please contact us), the affiliate is going to miss those. You can count on an affiliate logging into their account, but you can't count on them opening (or even receiving) their emails.

Regarding the PS - IMO if you don't trust a program to track correctly you shouldn't be working with them.

[Mr.RichardBanks]

Ok so I registered today with LinkTrackr went for the second one up, up to 500 links.
20$ a month which is managable if it does what it says on the tin.
I've got over 100 casinos on site so I can't be ###### to log in to each one to check.
It's registering clicks though I've set it to 'Affiliate link' and just going with the default 'Aff Sub' setting (I haven't entered any custom paramaters as I don't want to accidentally touch anything) maybe it will recognise the link automatically and fingers crossed register logins and conversions... I'll update in time. Thanks everyone for your contributions

[wingate]

Hi Everyone - Laurent here from Trackingdesk (a conversion tracking platform for affiliate marketers).
I'd like to clarify a few aspects of "pixel/postback" since i've seen some very accurate comments and some that could be genuinely misguiding.

First and foremost, postback or pixels are useful to track any type of conversions: fun/real registraction, first time deposit and recurring revenues.
But more importantly, the reason you want to use a conversin tracking platform / pixel /postback is to have your own set of data, that you can than use to improve your business.

Due to the nature of the gambling industry, each conversion goal is important and can guide the marketer to better and more informed decisions.

For instance, if you invest countless hours in social media posts which generate lots of fun accounts but not FTD - would you keep investing in this venue? Would you try different messaging?

On the other hand, if such marketing activity was generating fantastic real/ftd conversions, but low revshare commissions, would you focus only on operator where you have a CPA deals?

As a former operator, we've always optimized our campaigns and /or affiliate traffic according to the the signup funnel - fun/real/ftd/netrevenue

As an affiliate marketer who control the top of the funnel - the initial visit to your portal - not only you have many more "touch points" than the operator, but if you track your traffic properly - meaning that you can attribute conversion events and revenues to the initial touch point - you can improve many aspects of your own operation:
- Where to get more traffic from?
- Which operator to focus on - correlate traffic sources and operators (as in example above)

One last thing: conversion tracking for email marketing.

This is also something that can be tracked, whether you send the traffic directly to the operator or through your site.

Technically:
Postback is a url that is called by a server. Therefore, it's the preferred method to track events, as a server call is more secure and more reliable than a pixel that loads on a browswer - which can be blocked by all sorts of things like adblockers and privacy/security extensions/software. It can and should also be used to track registration and app installs. yet, any event that happens on the browser can normally be tracked by a pixel / javascript.

The (good) resaons operators do not want to place pixels on their site is either for privacy or security reasons or that they don't want to maintain hundreds of tracking script running on their "thank you page".

Hope that clarifies the question.
More info on this, just ping/dm me.

[WBM]

I track every possible aspect of any page on all of my sites with a simple custom script and store it all in just 1 database table
I track which buttons / images are clicked on what site at what time, what country the visitor is from , whether its a unique click that day or in the last 30 days + tons more

Knowing what is being clicked is essential otherwise all your changes etc are just guess work