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Pixel Tracking

by roady
5 replies
Hey guys,

This is not really a technical question per se.. but generally with respect to the tracking issue we face with literally all networks/merchant-thank-you-pages.

I've always wondered why is the tracking not 100% correct anywhere?

I mean, despite placing the pixel on a merchant's thank you page, chances are that some times ( ~10%) the pixel wouldn't fire.

This is said keeping in mind that
1) there is no ad block software used
2) no "do not track" plugin or any sort
3) 3rd party cookies are allowed


So basically, despite all this, what are the vague reasons for the same? I also need to add that if a campaign is available on 2 different networks, A and B, and even if the visitor clicks on ONLY network A's link.. the sale still some times does not credit to network A. (and definitely not to B)

As there are many tracking software available out there like direct track, hasoffers, propertracking... which one do you feel is the the best in tracking?

For instance, I've heard/read about DT that next to 30% sales go untracked despite the pixel stored on the merchant thankyou page. How is hasoffers?

Also, what difference it makes to have script tag and image source pixel?

Please share your thoughts on the same.
#pixel #tracking
  • Profile picture of the author euraffiliates
    Originally Posted by roady View Post

    Hey guys,
    I've always wondered why is the tracking not 100% correct anywhere?
    .
    Normally all online tracking software uses cookie. In fact it is still the only reliable weapon for all tracking software (including ours) for the first time customers. Here are cases a sale may not be tracked.

    In the below cases the pixel or affiliate software has no control at all.
    1. The customer first came to your website using one computer / browser but purchased using another.
    2. He has installed an ad-blocker or tracking-blocker plugin (AVAST has one) in his browser and simply denied to be tracked
    3. He has cleared his browser cookie after his first visit or simply he has used private browsing
    4. He has purchased after the cookie expiry. Google has 30 has cookie.

    Here are some reasons where affiliate software or tracking method has something to do

    1. Your tracking provider site becomes too slow due to high load. It fails to execute the page and get times out. It can happen in hosted services at rush hours.
    2. Sometimes at 'thank you page' redirection is used. If the provider site/ ISP is slow there is a great chance pixel fails to be executed.
    3. The provider uses a 3rd party cookie tracking. 30% browser refuses to save it.
    4. If you setup a cookie that never expires, many browser refuses to save it.
    5. Repeat sales are not tracked if your tracking system does not take care of it. But normally systems that tracks repeat sales, they yield 100% reliability because they don't rely on cookie but cust_unique_ID for tracking repeat sales.
    There are some ways you can definitely increase tracking probability. But it can never reach 100%. Because first 4 points are on customer control, where you cant do any thing.

    Using script tag (cURL) you can avoid issue related with redirection, but it may delay the page content it is called before any content display (say footer part).

    Hope it will help. Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author roady
      Originally Posted by euraffiliates View Post

      Normally all online tracking software uses cookie. In fact it is still the only reliable weapon for all tracking software (including ours) for the first time customers. Here are cases a sale may not be tracked.

      In the below cases the pixel or affiliate software has no control at all.
      1. The customer first came to your website using one computer / browser but purchased using another.
      2. He has installed an ad-blocker or tracking-blocker plugin (AVAST has one) in his browser and simply denied to be tracked
      3. He has cleared his browser cookie after his first visit or simply he has used private browsing
      4. He has purchased after the cookie expiry. Google has 30 has cookie.

      Here are some reasons where affiliate software or tracking method has something to do

      1. Your tracking provider site becomes too slow due to high load. It fails to execute the page and get times out. It can happen in hosted services at rush hours.
      2. Sometimes at 'thank you page' redirection is used. If the provider site/ ISP is slow there is a great chance pixel fails to be executed.
      3. The provider uses a 3rd party cookie tracking. 30% browser refuses to save it.
      4. If you setup a cookie that never expires, many browser refuses to save it.
      5. Repeat sales are not tracked if your tracking system does not take care of it. But normally systems that tracks repeat sales, they yield 100% reliability because they don't rely on cookie but cust_unique_ID for tracking repeat sales.
      There are some ways you can definitely increase tracking probability. But it can never reach 100%. Because first 4 points are on customer control, where you cant do any thing.

      Using script tag (cURL) you can avoid issue related with redirection, but it may delay the page content it is called before any content display (say footer part).

      Hope it will help. Thanks.
      Thanks for the explanation @euraffiliates!

      Regarding the code placed on thankyou pages, 3 types of codes are there:

      1) JS tag
      2) image source pixel
      3) noscript tag

      Keeping in mind that the user did not do anything which would cause the tracking to fail, there are still, at times, when I tried to test the pixel and ~5% of the times it didn't fire. Plus the cookie stored is 1st party cookie. That's what's making me go curious all over it.

      I'm currently looking for some comparison between DT and Hasoffers. Time to do some more research!
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      • Profile picture of the author Joey Babbs
        There is cookieless tracking also which in my experience is the most accurate...for example the server to server postback does not use cookies...many networks should have postback url as an option for a pixel...but sometimes a specific offer wont allow it...of course manually updating your 3rd party tracking with subids is always going to give u best results....
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  • Profile picture of the author badboy_Nick
    Ah pixel tracking. See I only use it for Adwords etc to track my traffic -> conversions. However, I ALSO ensure I get a receipt after each lead I deliver and then match these up to my total conversions. As long as you are about 95% accurate and do a lot of volume (i.e. 10+ per day) you wont need 100% tracking accuracy as this should be good enough for you to turn a profit anyway :- )

    I also ensure that each lead receipt echoes back my converting keyword so essentially, Im running 2 tracking tools at the same time just to make sure I have more or less every angle covered. But adwords tracking is always pretty accurate so no need to use anything else in my opinion.

    Nick
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  • Profile picture of the author euraffiliates
    Yes, using postback URLs or cURL cookie in reading cookie and notifying almost solves the problem but in certain cases only.

    It only helps when you have image pixel, first party cookie saved and the provider has given you the API to read the cookie using server-side code and notify the read data to the tracking system. It is unlikely to work for a 3rd party pixel provider because normally they leave cookie in their own domain name and your server side code will not be able to read cookie left in the user's browser under their domain name because it is breach of browser security.

    If the code is NOscript / JS tag and 3rd party tracking providers (e.g. GA) normally use first party cookie tracking using javacript code. But normally they do not provide you the API to read and notify the tracking information directly through server side code (postback/cURL). They do it in their own way.

    If the system is installed in-house, and you have the API, you can easily use postback/cURL to get over this problem. In fact the root of problem, slow page/pixel load, is also under your control.

    Hope it helps.
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    Euraff - Next-G Affiliate Software. With all advanced tools. Know Source and Keyword behind every Non Affiliate Sale and Lead too. Automate 'Revenue Sharing Deals' with your Suppliers and JV partners. Special Edition for Multiple Website Owners. 30 days Free Trial!
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