Overview
Click tracking in ClickFlare is designed to accurately record user intent and engagement while remaining flexible enough to support different traffic sources, compliance requirements, and funnel structures.
This article explains:
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When a Visit is recorded
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When a Click is recorded
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How the Click ID is created and reused
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How redirect and direct tracking differ
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Why ClickFlare uses Click URLs instead of direct offer links
What Click Tracking Means in ClickFlare
In ClickFlare, click tracking is split into two distinct stages of the user journey:
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Visit — when a user enters the campaign
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Click — when a user actively engages and moves forward in the funnel
Separating these stages allows ClickFlare to:
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Measure engagement quality
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Analyze funnel drop-off
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Support landing page testing and routing logic
Visits vs Clicks: What’s the Difference?
Visit
A Visit is recorded when a user opens a ClickFlare campaign tracking URL.
This usually happens when:
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A user clicks an ad
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The traffic source sends the user to the ClickFlare campaign URL
At this moment:
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ClickFlare identifies the campaign
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A Click ID is generated
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Tracking parameters are captured
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The user is forwarded to the landing page or offer
Click
A Click is recorded when a user clicks a ClickFlare click URL from a landing page to the next destination (usually an offer).
ClickFlare click URLs follow this structure:
https://your-tracking-domain.com/cf/click/1
When this URL is clicked:
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ClickFlare records a Click
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The user is redirected to the correct destination
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The Click ID continues through the funnel
📌 If a landing page links directly to the offer, no Click will be recorded.
The Role of the Click ID
The Click ID is a unique identifier created when the Visit is recorded.
It allows ClickFlare to:
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Connect Visits, Clicks, and Conversions
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Attribute actions to the correct campaign
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Pass tracking data between systems
The same Click ID is reused across:
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Redirects
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Scripts
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Postbacks
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API-based integrations
As long as the Click ID is preserved, attribution remains intact.
Redirect Tracking: How Clicks Are Recorded
Redirect tracking is the most common and flexible tracking method.
Flow
Ad → ClickFlare Campaign URL → Visit
Landing Page → ClickFlare Click URL → Click
Offer / Destination
What happens technically
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ClickFlare records the Visit at the campaign URL
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The user is redirected to the landing page
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The landing page CTA points to the ClickFlare click URL
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Clicking the CTA records a Click and forwards the user to the offer
No script is required on the landing page to record the Click itself.
Direct Tracking: How Clicks Are Recorded Without Redirects
Direct tracking is used when redirect URLs are not allowed by the traffic source.
Flow
Ad → Landing Page (script fires) → Visit
Landing Page CTA → ClickFlare Click URL → Click
Offer / Destination
What changes
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The user lands directly on the page
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A ClickFlare tracking script records the Visit
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The script generates the Click ID
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ClickFlare click URLs are dynamically handled by the script
This allows ClickFlare to track engagement without forcing a redirect.
Direct tracking is also used to track:
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Organic traffic
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SEO visits
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Non-paid sources
Why ClickFlare Uses Click URLs Instead of Offer URLs
ClickFlare does not recommend linking directly to offer URLs from landing pages.
Using ClickFlare click URLs allows the platform to:
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Record engagement accurately
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Apply routing and rotation logic
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Assign the correct offer dynamically
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Preserve attribution across complex funnels
Even though the Click URL does not contain the offer URL:
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ClickFlare already knows which destination the user should reach
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The redirection happens instantly and transparently
This design enables advanced functionality without adding friction for users.
How Transition Modes Affect Click Flow (High-Level)
ClickFlare supports multiple transition modes (e.g. 302, Meta Refresh, DMR, Direct).
While transition modes affect:
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Redirect behavior
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Referrer visibility
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Compliance
They do not change the core click tracking logic:
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Clicks are still recorded when the Click URL is used
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Attribution remains consistent across modes
Transition modes are covered in detail in a dedicated article.
Common Click Tracking Misconceptions
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“I should see Clicks without a landing page”
→ Clicks require a landing page and a Click URL -
“The script is required to track clicks”
→ Scripts are required only for direct tracking or Visit capture, not for redirect-based Clicks -
“ClickFlare redirects to the offer directly from the landing page”
→ ClickFlare controls the destination internally based on campaign logic
Summary
Click tracking in ClickFlare follows a clear logic:
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Visits measure entry
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Clicks measure engagement
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Click URLs act as controlled engagement points
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The Click ID ties everything together
Understanding this model helps prevent setup errors and ensures accurate reporting.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Got questions? Find the answers below:
Q1: Why do I see Visits but no Clicks?
A1: Because Clicks are only recorded when users click a ClickFlare click URL from a landing page.
Q2: Do I always need a landing page to track Clicks?
A2: Yes. Without a landing page, only Visits and Conversions can be tracked.
Q3: Does redirect tracking require scripts?
A3: No. Redirect-based Clicks are recorded when the Click URL is used.
Q4: Can I track Clicks with direct tracking?
A4: Yes. Direct tracking uses scripts to generate and preserve the Click ID before Click URLs are used.
Related Resources
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Campaign Types Explained
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How Conversion Tracking Works
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Click ID & Tracking Parameters
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Transition Modes Explained
