Skimlinks

Skimlinks Integration Overview

The Skimlinks & AnyTrack integration allows you to track, measure and optimize your affiliate marketing performance. By leveraging the power of both platforms, you can now send conversion data from Skimlinks directly into AnyTrack for accurate tracking and measurement. The data is then forwarded to major advertising networks like Google Ads, Facebook Conversion API and Tiktok API so that all conversions are accurately attributed across channel sources in real-time without any extra effort on your part. With this powerful combination of tools at hand, marketers can ensure maximum ROI on their campaigns with minimal time investment!

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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 If you you notice something that is outdated, please suggest an edit.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 Skimlinks 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 Skimlinks 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 API Integration.
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 Skimlinks API Integration

The API Integration is fully pre-defined and ready to be implemented with your Skimlinks account.

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Before you begin

The Skimlinks 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.

Setup Guide

Step #1: Add Skimlinks to your AnyTrack Account

1. Go to the Integration Catalog, search for Skimlinks.

2. Now click on the Skimlinks cardand then Click on Install.

Step #2: Connect your Skimlinks account

1. Log in to the Publisher Hub
2. go to Toolbox > APIs > API Authentication credentials
3. retrieve your Client ID and Client Secret
4. Return to the AnyTrack settings and fill the fields below
5. Save

Step #3: Adjust the Conversion Event Mapping

The Event Mapping allows you to define which events to track and map them to Conversion Events you will forward to your Ads Integrations (ex: Facebook Conversion API)

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 xcust & click_id data to affiliate links. Learn more about AutoTag.

• Default: By default, AnyTrack automatically identifies and AutoTags Skimlinks links found on your website.
• 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="skimlinks" or rel="skimlinks". More about Tracking Group.
  • Click ID Token: You Manually append the subid: &xcust=--CLICK-ID-- to the offer link.

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

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

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

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Tracking Group

Tracking Group refers to the integration technology. For example, Skimlinks Tracking Group tracking group is skimlinks 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.

Skimlinks conversion payload example

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 Skimlinks 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 traffic 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 API Integration you've set in the integration matches the pre-defined API Integration we provide.
    • Copy the Event Reference from the Conversion Event Log and contact the support.

  • You're not getting any conversions:

  • Check that the API Integration is set and active in your platform.
  • Check that you're passing the correct AutoTag xcust parameter to the offer link.
  • Check that the Postback URL is correctly inserted in the custom integration.