When you need to pass information from ClickFlare to an affiliate network, you can use ClickFlare's tracking parameters, such as custom variables and ClickFlare’s tokens, which can be mapped to the appropriate parameters in the offer URL. These parameters will then be transferred to the affiliate network. This process enables seamless data flow between ClickFlare and your affiliate network, enriching your campaign reporting and providing the necessary data for proper conversion tracking.

To learn more about ClickFlare's data passing methods, read the How Click and Conversion Data is Transferred in ClickFlare article.

How It Works

To pass information from ClickFlare to an affiliate network, you will need to map ClickFlare’s tracking variables with the appropriate affiliate network parameters. This mapping occurs within your offer URL, which is typically set up through ClickFlare’s campaign settings.

Example 1: Passing Campaign Data to an Affiliate Network
Let’s say you want to pass the campaign ID, stored in ClickFlare's Tracking Field 1, to an affiliate network using the s2 parameter. You would create the following offer URL:

https://offer_network.com/offer_url?s2={trackingField1}

Upon being redirected to the offer URL, {trackingField1} will be replaced with the actual campaign ID value. The final offer URL would look like this:

https://offer_network.com/offer_url?s2=123456789

Example 2: Passing First-Party Data or ClickFlare-Specific Information
You may want to pass additional data, such as ClickFlare campaign name, ClickFlare offer name, ClickFlare click ID, or first-party data like the user’s country, city, browser, or IP address captured automatically by ClickFlare. For example, you can pass the ClickFlare campaign name and ClickFlare click ID to the affiliate network using the following URL format:

https://offer_network.com/offer_url?s2={cf_click_id}&s5={campaign_name}

Upon redirection, {cf_click_id} and {campaign_name} will be replaced with the actual values captured by ClickFlare. The final offer URL would look like this:

https://offer_network.com/offer_url?s2=1984beca-e748-4e48-8213-b912d3e703c1&s5=my_campaign_name

Alternatively, if you want to pass data like country and IP address:

https://offer_network.com/offer_url?s6={country}&s7={ip}

Mapping Custom Variables to Affiliate Network Parameters

ClickFlare allows you to map your custom variables, such as Tracking Fields and custom tokens, to the appropriate parameters required by the affiliate network. To do this, simply add the network’s parameters in the campaign URL format and map them to the respective ClickFlare tokens.

If you have specific information, such as placement ID or creative ID, captured via ClickFlare, you can pass this to the affiliate network by appending it to the offer URL.

Affiliate Network Templates

ClickFlare offers templates for a lot of affiliate networks, which provide pre-configured tracking parameters to simplify your setup. When you select the appropriate affiliate network in the campaign setup, ClickFlare will automatically suggest the necessary tracking parameters to include in the offer URL.

For example, if you select a particular affiliate network, the suggested tracking parameters will appear below the Affiliate Network dropdown in ClickFlare. You can then copy the suggested URL and use it in your campaign. Additionally, ClickFlare will automatically fill in the postback URL with the required tracking parameters.

To learn more about setting up affiliate networks in ClickFlare, read the Add an Affiliate Network to ClickFlare article.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Got questions? Find the answers below:

How do I pass custom variable data to an affiliate network?

You can pass custom variables such as ClickFlare campaign name or click ID by mapping them to the corresponding affiliate network parameters in your offer URL, like this: https://offer_network.com/offer_url?s5={campaign_name}&s2={clickid}. The token will be replaced with the actual value when the user is redirected to the offer URL.

Can I pass multiple parameters to the affiliate network at once?

Yes, you can pass multiple parameters by adding them to the offer URL. For example, you could pass both ClickFlare campaign name and ClickFlare click ID like this:

https://offer_network.com/offer_url?s2={cf_click_id}&s5={campaign_name}

Are affiliate network templates available in ClickFlare?

Yes, ClickFlare provides affiliate network templates that include pre-configured tracking parameters for specific networks. When you select an affiliate network, ClickFlare will automatically suggest the necessary parameters to include in your offer URL.

Can I customize the parameters that are passed to the affiliate network?

Yes, you can customize the parameters you pass to the affiliate network by mapping ClickFlare’s tracking fields or custom variables to the required network parameters. This ensures the correct information is transferred to the affiliate network.

Related Resources

• How Click and Conversion Data is Transferred in ClickFlare
• Add an Offer to ClickFlare
• Add an Affiliate Network to ClickFlare
• Tracking Fields Overview in ClickFlare
• Traffic Source Integration and Macros in ClickFlare
• ClickFlare Reporting and Analytics