Question: Mechanics of CPA offer linking
OK, I've been accepted into a handful of CPA networks. I notice that they seem to use the same software/system platform. So I think this question would apply to all (or most) of them:
On the info page for a given offer, I see my affiliate link plus some boxes I can check to add additional tracking data to the link (I assume that's what they do -- haven't tried ticking any of them yet).
It looks sort of like this, except the "Tracking Link" field would be pre-filled with my affiliate link for that offer, and on the real page there are tick boxes for items 2, 3, 4 and 5:
My question is, can I use just the link alone if I want to? Such as embedding the link in one of my web pages, with maybe relevant anchor text? Or will I somehow not get credited properly if I don't use some of the other stuff?
I realize there may be advantages to me ticking some of those other boxes, but which ones?
I did send a link for one offer "out into the world" already, without any of the "extras." I notice on my account page that there are now 3 clicks showing, with 0 impressions (and 0 conversions). Is this because I did not tick the "impression pixel" thingie? And would that hurt me with the advertiser and/or network?
Somewhat on the same subject, I see a lot of discussion about pixel images and pixel tracking. Do I need to somehow be inserting these pixel images on my own web pages, or is that just in reference to the advertiser's offer site?
Hope these questions are clear!
Thanks.
On the info page for a given offer, I see my affiliate link plus some boxes I can check to add additional tracking data to the link (I assume that's what they do -- haven't tried ticking any of them yet).
It looks sort of like this, except the "Tracking Link" field would be pre-filled with my affiliate link for that offer, and on the real page there are tick boxes for items 2, 3, 4 and 5:
- Tracking Link: Update
- Generate Tiny URL: Display Tracking Link in Tiny URL format
- Add Sub ID: Pass in unique user information for conversion tracking
- Add Source: Pass in a unique value to group and filter by on the stats page
- Impression Pixel: Track the number of impressions the Tracking URL receives
My question is, can I use just the link alone if I want to? Such as embedding the link in one of my web pages, with maybe relevant anchor text? Or will I somehow not get credited properly if I don't use some of the other stuff?
I realize there may be advantages to me ticking some of those other boxes, but which ones?
I did send a link for one offer "out into the world" already, without any of the "extras." I notice on my account page that there are now 3 clicks showing, with 0 impressions (and 0 conversions). Is this because I did not tick the "impression pixel" thingie? And would that hurt me with the advertiser and/or network?
Somewhat on the same subject, I see a lot of discussion about pixel images and pixel tracking. Do I need to somehow be inserting these pixel images on my own web pages, or is that just in reference to the advertiser's offer site?
Hope these questions are clear!
Thanks.