Campaign Types Explained

TL;DR

ClickFlare supports multiple campaign types to accommodate different tracking needs and traffic sources.
The two most important ones are Redirect campaigns and Direct (Google-compliant) campaigns.

Choosing the right campaign type is essential for accurate tracking and platform compliance.

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Why Campaign Types Matter

Not all traffic sources work the same way.

Some platforms:

• Allow redirect tracking

• Allow external tracking URLs

• Allow passing custom parameters freely

Others:

• Require traffic to go directly to the destination

• Restrict redirects or third-party URLs

• Enforce strict compliance rules

ClickFlare campaign types exist to handle these differences without breaking attribution.

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Redirect Campaigns

What Is a Redirect Campaign?

A Redirect campaign sends traffic through ClickFlare before reaching the destination.

Flow:

Traffic Source → ClickFlare → Landing Page (optional) → Offer

This is the default and most commonly used campaign type.

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When to Use Redirect Campaigns

Use a Redirect campaign when:

• Your traffic source allows external tracking URLs

• You want maximum flexibility

• You are using affiliate offers, lead gen funnels, or RSOC setups

• You want ClickFlare to control the full redirect flow

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What Redirect Campaigns Support

Redirect campaigns allow:

• Full Visit and Click tracking

• Landing page rotation and testing

• Offer rotation

• Parameter capture and storage

• All conversion tracking methods (postback, script, API)

• Advanced routing and filtering

📌 If you’re unsure which campaign type to use, start with Redirect.

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Direct (Google-Compliant) Campaigns

What Is a Direct Campaign?

A Direct campaign is designed for platforms that do not allow redirect tracking, most notably Google Ads.

Flow:

Traffic Source → Landing Page / Offer
        ↓
    ClickFlare tracking runs directly on the page

In this setup:

• Traffic does not pass through a ClickFlare redirect

• ClickFlare tracks users using scripts and first-party cookies

• Attribution happens without breaking platform rules

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When to Use Direct Campaigns

Use a Direct campaign when:

• Running Google Ads or other strict platforms

• Redirect tracking is not allowed

• You must send traffic directly to the final URL

• Compliance is required

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What Direct Campaigns Support

Direct campaigns support:

• Visit and conversion tracking

• First-party cookie attribution

• Script-based event tracking

• Conversion APIs for sending data back to ad platforms

📌 Direct campaigns trade some flexibility for compliance and stability.

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Key Differences at a Glance

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Other Campaign Types (Advanced)

Depending on your setup, you may also encounter:

• Advanced Flow campaigns

• Multi-step funnel campaigns

• Custom routing campaigns

These are covered in Advanced Tracking & Automation and are not required for getting started.

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How to Choose the Right Campaign Type

Ask yourself:

1. Does my traffic source allow redirect URLs?

2. Do I need full routing and rotation control?

3. Am I required to send traffic directly to the page?

If the answer to #1 is yes → use Redirect
If the answer to #3 is yes → use Direct

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Common Mistakes

• Using Redirect campaigns with Google Ads when not allowed

• Assuming Direct campaigns behave the same as Redirect campaigns

• Skipping the required script in Direct setups

Summary

• Redirect campaigns are the most flexible and recommended starting point

• Direct campaigns exist for compliance-driven platforms

• The campaign type determines how tracking is implemented, not how reports work

Once the campaign type is chosen correctly, reporting and attribution behave consistently across ClickFlare.

Related Resources

• Create Your First Redirect Campaign

• How Click Tracking Works

• How Conversion Tracking Works

• Direct Campaign Setup (Google-Compliant)