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Outbrain Integration Checklist

Validate your AnyTrack-Outbrain integration setup with this complete checklist. Verify conversion tracking, Tracking Tag installation, and accurate campaign reporting.

Validate your AnyTrack-Outbrain integration setup and ensure accurate conversion tracking and campaign reporting with this complete checklist.

Prerequisites Verification

Section titled “Prerequisites Verification”

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

  • AnyTrack Tracking Tag installed in the <head> section of all pages
  • Conversion source connected (Shopify, ClickFunnels, etc.) with AnyTrack tracking conversions
  • Active Outbrain campaigns running and generating traffic
  • Outbrain guide completed — see Outbrain integration guide

Integration Setup Verification

Section titled “Integration Setup Verification”

Step 1: Account Connection Validation

Section titled “Step 1: Account Connection Validation”

Navigate to Tracking Tags > Outbrain in your AnyTrack dashboard and verify:

  • Account ID matches your Outbrain Advertiser ID (OB_ADV_ID) from the Tracking Tag code
  • Conversion API toggle is switched ON

Step 2: Conversion Event Mapping Validation

Section titled “Step 2: Conversion Event Mapping Validation”

Verify event names in AnyTrack exactly match Outbrain event names. Event names are case-sensitive.

Step 3: UTM Tracking Template Validation

Section titled “Step 3: UTM Tracking Template Validation”

Navigate to Account Settings > Suffix field in Outbrain and confirm the complete AnyTrack UTM template is pasted correctly.

Traffic and Engagement Validation

Section titled “Traffic and Engagement Validation”

Step 4: Click Tracking Verification

Section titled “Step 4: Click Tracking Verification”

Verify page views are tracked with UTM parameters:

  1. Visit your website from an Outbrain ad
  2. Use AnyTrack Pixel Helper Extension to verify PageView event
  3. Confirm campaign data (UTM parameters) is captured:
    • All UTM parameters are passed
    • Outbrain Click ID is passed

Verify campaign attribution:

  1. Navigate to Campaign Reports in AnyTrack
  2. Confirm Outbrain campaigns display:
    • Campaign names
    • Sessions count
    • UTM parameter data
  3. Verify traffic sources show utm_source=outbrain

Step 5: Conversion Tracking Validation

Section titled “Step 5: Conversion Tracking Validation”

Verify server-to-server conversions are firing:

  1. Navigate to Conversions Report in AnyTrack
  2. Check for successful conversion events from Outbrain campaigns
  3. Ensure conversions have valid ob_click_id

Verify conversions appear in Outbrain dashboard:

  1. Check Conversions page in Outbrain Amplify Dashboard
  2. Confirm conversions are active

Note: Conversions may take hours to appear as active while already showing in Campaign Reports.

Validate attribution accuracy:

  1. Compare conversion counts between AnyTrack Campaign Reports and Outbrain dashboard
  2. Allow for processing delays in timing comparison
  3. Verify conversions attributed to correct campaigns, ads, and publishers

Troubleshooting Verification

Section titled “Troubleshooting Verification”

Step 6: Error Resolution Check

Section titled “Step 6: Error Resolution Check”

No conversions in Outbrain but showing in AnyTrack:

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

UTM parameters not capturing:

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

Attribution discrepancies:

  • Account for Outbrain’s attribution windows and processing delays
  • Verify click IDs pass correctly in campaign URLs
  • Check for redirects that might break parameter passing

Step 7: Advanced Validation

Section titled “Step 7: Advanced Validation”

Cross-platform data orchestration:

If you connected Google Analytics, verify Outbrain conversions appear. Confirm conversions sync to other connected ad platforms (Facebook Ads, Google Ads, etc.).

Event value accuracy:

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

Custom audience building:

Verify utm_source parameter equals "outbrain" for proper audience segmentation.

Multiple conversion goals:

  • Test different conversion events (leads, purchases, upsells) track separately
  • Verify each conversion type optimizes campaigns in Outbrain

Final Integration Health Check

Section titled “Final Integration Health Check”

Step 8: Complete System Validation

Section titled “Step 8: Complete System Validation”

Complete real conversion test:

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

Validate campaign reporting accuracy:

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

Set up documentation and monitoring:

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