Rakuten

Rakuten Integration Overview

Rakuten and AnyTrack are joining forces to bring you the ultimate conversion tracking experience. With Rakuten, you can easily access valuable data from your affiliate network that shows which campaigns are performing best - all in one place. And with AnyTrack's powerful integration technology, this data is automatically sent to Google Ads, Facebook Conversion API and Tiktok API for further analysis. Now it only takes a few simple steps to ensure accurate measurement of conversions across multiple channels!

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This article was first published on 2023-04-19and was last updated on 2023-05-31. If you you notice something that is outdated, please suggest an edit.

How does the Rakuten AnyTrack integration work:

1. Traffic: When visitors land on your website, AnyTrack collects traffic source data and First Party data.
2. Engagements: When visitors click on your Rakuten affiliate links, AnyTrack does a few things:
   1. Collects granular data tied to the OutboundClick.
   2. Triggers Event Tracking API requests to your pixels and analytics.
3. Conversions: When visitors convert on the merchant's website, AnyTrack receives real time conversion data through Postback URL.
4. Attribution: AnyTrack processes the conversion data and reports it across various reporting sections of the Anytrack Dashboard.
5. Conversion API: AnyTrack then sends your conversions to your Ad Platforms' Conversion API so you can feed your ad platform's Machine Learning, AI and automatic optimization according to 100% of your conversion data.

Technical details

Standard Conversions

The Rakuten Postback URL

The Postback URL is fully pre-defined and ready to be implemented with your Rakuten account.

https://t1.anytrack.io/hBtoE3hN/collect/rakuten

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Before you begin

The Rakuten integration requires that the AnyTrack Tracking Tag in the head section of your website or landing pages. Learn now to Install the AnyTrack Tag on your website.

Configuring Rakuten Integration with AnyTrack Dashboard

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to configure Rakuten integration with the AnyTrack dashboard. By following these steps, users can easily set up the integration and add a Global postback URL to fire conversion events for all offers in Rakuten. This guide is essential for anyone looking to streamline their advertising efforts and track conversions accurately.

Interactive tutorial

1. From the AnyTrack Dashboard, Click on the Integration Catalog

2. Click on Add Integration

3. Search for the Rakuten Integration

4. Click on the Rakuten Card

5. Now click on Install Integration to access the detailed instructions.

6. Follow the on screen instructions.

7. Access your Rakuten Publisher Account and copy the Publisher ID

8. Return to AnyTrack and Paste your Publisher ID.

9. Now "Go to Developers Portal" in order to get your API Credentials.

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Note:

If you don't have a Developer Account you will have to create one. It's a simple process which is automatically approved.

10. Now Click on "Add Application".

11. Name it Anytrack and Click Create.

12. Copy the Client ID

13. Return to AnyTrack and Paste the Client ID.

14. Return to Rakuten Developer Portal and Copy the Client Secret.

15. Return to AnyTrack and Paste the Client Secret.

16. Now Click Connect!

AnyTrack will send an API CAll to Rakuten which will add and activate your Postback URL in your account.

17. Finally Save your account settings.

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Note:

The Integration will remain "inactive" until a conversion is sent from Rakuten to Anytrack.

18. Check the Event Log Tab to see your conversions coming through.

19. Here you can see a conversion Payload From Rakuten.

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Note:

All conversion parameters are mapped to AnyTrack Event Attributes. They will be automatically forwarded to your Ad Platforms' Conversion API to enrich your audience data.

Validate your integration

This section will enable you to validate the main aspects of your setup.

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Install the AnyTrack Pixel Helper Extension

Install the AnyTrack Pixel Helper Chrome extension to verify the AnyTrack Tag is installed on your website. It also shows connected ad networks and browser-side events. Learn more.

Link tracking

Since Tracking starts when visitors clicks on offer links, you should verify that your links are tracked and AutoTagged.

AutoTag Methods

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Reminder about AutoTag:

AutoTag is a function that is enabled by default through the AnyTrack Tracking Tag, and that appends u1 & click_id data to affiliate links. Learn more about AutoTag.

• Default: By default, AnyTrack automatically identifies and AutoTags Rakuten links found on your website.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h4>Rakuten regular offer link</h4>
<p><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=3EXBwEUh9KI&offerid=311675.10000157&bids=311675.10000157&type=3&subid=0">Technology Used by Successful Businesses</a>
<img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="https://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=3EXBwEUh9KI&offerid=311675.10000157&bids=311675.10000157&type=3&subid=0" /></p>
  
<h4>Rakuten Deep link link</h4>
<p><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=7VeMhFdLOPg&mid=36310&murl=https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/cordless/v8/silver-nickel" data-tracking-group="rakuten">With Data Tracking Group</a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=7VeMhFdLOPg&mid=36310&murl=https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/cordless/v8/silver-nickel">Without Data Tracking Group</a>
</p>
  </body>
</html>

Now the Real link embedded in the page

• AutoScan: AnyTrack scans links that are embedded in redirects plugins and AutoTags them accordingly.
• Manual:
  • Tracking Group Attribute: You add the tracking group attribute to links according to their tracking requirements. For example: data-tracking-group="rakuten" or rel="rakuten". More about Tracking Group.
  • Click ID Token: You Manually append the u1: &u1=--CLICK-ID-- to the offer link.

Once the links are set up, you can check in your Rakuten account reports and see whether the u1 parameters are passed to the offer links.

Here is an example of how you would manually update links from rakuten:

<a href="https://example.foo/goto/rakuten" data-tracking-group="rakuten">Hover on theRakuten Demo   
Link to see the AnyTrack `click_id`</a>

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Tracking Group

Tracking Group refers to the integration technology. For example, Rakuten Tracking Group tracking group is rakuten and ClickBank is clickbank. The Tracking Group

Conversion Tracking

To validate your setup, you should either wait for a conversion or trigger a test conversion yourself and inspect the conversion logs.

Rakuten Postback Data Example

{
  "transaction_date": "2023-05-21T06:58:45.000+0000",
  "sku_number": "TRCAT5DB",
  "quantity": "1",
  "etransaction_id": "B7B2BE0B83ECDD168FD50BC789F508AC",
  "transaction_type": "realtime",
  "product_name": "TRCAT5DB",
  "offer_id": "1262960",
  "advertiser_id": "45904",
  "sid": "3771737",
  "is_event": "Y",
  "commissions": "25",
  "process_date": "2023-05-21T06:58:45.000+0000",
  "currency": "EUR",
  "u1": "Zojr5qPF3fVk9OckC3bBS8H4tHkcn7pGuE",
  "order_id": "4000110733",
  "sale_amount": "43.17"
}

FAQ & Troubleshooting

• Can I import past conversions into Anytrack?

  No. Anytrack can only ingest conversions that have been triggered following a visitor session on your website.

• Can I track direct linking campaigns?

  Yes, but this requires a custom setup. Please refer to this article.

• Can I use a different subid parameter than the one predefined by AnyTrack?

  No.

• Can I track conversions without the click_id?

  No. The click_id passed to the Rakuten links is required to track conversions.

• The Conversion Event Name is not what I am expecting, how can I change it?

  You can update the Event Mapping in the Integration page.

Take these steps to troubleshoot errors you encounter in AnyTrack

• General troubleshooting

  • Verify that your tracking tag is set in the head section of your website.
  • If you're on the free plan, verify that you didn't reach the monthly limit and upgrade if needed.

• Conversion sources

  When you are not tracking conversions, or most conversions trigger an error follow the guidelines below.

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Before you reach out to the tech support, please inspect the conversion log to see what type of errors you are getting and try to fix the integration by following these troubleshooting guidelines.

• Native integrations

  Native integrations refer to platforms that are predefined in the catalog and should provide an error-free data flow.
  The most common error is that the click_id is unknown or missing. It happens when AutoTag could not be activated.
  • Check that your links are not hidden behind some javascripts or double redirects.
  • Check that the links are in a standard a element.
  • Try to manually set the tracking group attribute (check the integration guidelines).
  • Check whether your offers are not getting traffic from websites where the AnyTrack Tag isn't set.
  • If you just installed AnyTrack, errors might be from traffic that wasn't tracked by AnyTrack.

  • Conversion data doesn't trigger an error 🔴, but is not validated 🟢:

    • Check that the Postback URL you've set in the integration matches the pre-defined Postback URL we provide.
    • Copy the Event Reference from the Conversion Event Log and contact the support.

  • You're not getting any conversions:

  • Check that the Postback URL is set and active in your platform.
  • Check that you're passing the correct AutoTag u1 parameter to the offer link.