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Outbrain Integration Verification Checklist

Use this comprehensive checklist to validate your AnyTrack-Outbrain integration setup and ensure accurate conversion tracking and campaign reporting.

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Use this comprehensive checklist to validate your AnyTrack-Outbrain integration setup and ensure accurate conversion tracking and campaign reporting.

Prerequisites Verification

Before validating your integration, ensure these foundational elements are in place:

  • AnyTrack Tracking Tag is installed in the <head> section of all pages of your website
  • Conversion source is connected (Shopify, ClickFunnels, etc.) and AnyTrack is tracking conversions
  • Active Outbrain campaigns are running and generating traffic to your website
  • You have followed the Outbrain guide.

Integration Setup Verification

Step 1: Account Connection Validation

Correct Advertiser ID (OB_ADV_ID) is connected

  • Navigate to Tracking Pixels > Outbrain in your AnyTrack dashboard
  • Verify the Account ID matches your Outbrain Advertiser ID from the pixel code

Server-to-Server tracking is enabled

  • Confirm the Conversion API toggle is switched ON

Step 2: Conversion Event Mapping Validation

Verify that the event names set in AnyTrack match the event names in Outbrain (case sensitive)


Step 3: UTM Tracking Template Validation

Verify that you have added the AnyTrack-provided UTM tracking template

  • Navigate to Account Settings > Suffix field in Outbrain
  • Confirm the complete AnyTrack UTM template is pasted correctly

Traffic and Engagement Validation

Step 4: Click Tracking Verification

Page views are tracked with UTM parameters

  • Visit your website from an Outbrain ad
  • Use AnyTrack Pixel Helper Extension to verify PageView event
  • Check that campaign data (UTM parameters) is captured in the event details
    • All UTM parameters are passed
    • The Outbrain Click ID is passed

Campaign attribution is working

  • Navigate to Campaign Reports in AnyTrack
  • Verify Outbrain campaigns are listed with correct:
    • Campaign names
    • Sessions count
    • UTM parameter data
  • Check that traffic sources show "outbrain" as utm_source

Step 5: Conversion Tracking Validation

Server-to-server conversions are firing

  • Navigate to Conversions Report in AnyTrack
  • Check for successful conversion events from Outbrain campaigns
  • Ensure conversions have valid ob_click_id in the Conversion Report

Conversions appear in Outbrain dashboard

  • Check Conversions page in Outbrain Amplify Dashboard
  • Verify conversions are active

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Note

In some cases it can take hours for the conversion to appear as active, while the conversion is already showing in your Outbrain Campaign report.

Attribution accuracy validation

  • Compare conversion counts between AnyTrack Campaign Reports and Outbrain dashboard
  • Check that conversion timing aligns (allowing for processing delays)
  • Verify conversions are attributed to the correct campaigns, ads, and publishers

Troubleshooting Verification

Step 6: Error Resolution Check

If you encounter issues, verify these common problem areas:

No conversions in Outbrain but showing in AnyTrack

  • Confirm exact event name matching between platforms (case sensitive)
  • Verify server-to-server tracking is enabled
  • Check correct OB_ADV_ID is connected
  • Ensure conversions have valid ob_click_id in the Conversion Report

UTM parameters not capturing

  • Verify UTM template is saved in Outbrain Account Settings
  • Check campaign URLs include the suffix parameters
  • Confirm AnyTrack Tag is loading on landing pages

Attribution discrepancies

  • Account for Outbrain's attribution windows and processing delays
  • Verify click IDs are being passed correctly in campaign URLs
  • Check for any redirect issues that might break parameter passing

Step 7: Advanced Validation

Cross-platform data orchestration

  • If you connected GA4, you should see Outbrain conversions
  • Verify conversions from Outbrain campaigns are also sent to other connected ad platforms (Facebook, Google Ads, etc.)

Event value accuracy

  • Confirm commission/revenue values from affiliate networks are passed correctly
  • Verify currency settings match between AnyTrack and Outbrain

Custom audience building

  • Verify utm_source parameter = "outbrain" for proper audience segmentation

Multiple conversion goals optimization

  • Test that different conversion events (leads, purchases, upsells) are tracked separately
  • Verify each conversion type can be used for campaign optimization in Outbrain

Final Integration Health Check

Step 8: Complete System Validation

Real conversion test completed

  • Generate a test conversion through your normal funnel
  • Verify it appears in both AnyTrack and Outbrain within expected timeframes
  • Confirm all data attributes are correctly captured

Campaign reporting accuracy

  • Check that campaign performance metrics align between platforms
  • Verify cost data synchronization (when available)
  • Confirm ROI/ROAS calculations are accurate

Documentation and monitoring setup

  • Save screenshots of successful configuration for reference
  • Set up monitoring alerts for integration disconnection
  • Document any custom event mappings for future reference

Quick Reference

Key URLs for Validation:

  • AnyTrack Dashboard: https://dashboard.anytrack.io
  • Outbrain Amplify: Your Outbrain dashboard URL
  • Campaign Reports: Dashboard > Campaign Reports
  • Conversions Report: Dashboard > Conversions Report

Updated 21 days ago