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S2S Tracking Integration: Outbrain
Updated over a week ago

Overview

ClickBank affiliates can use the Outbrain Integration to track, optimize, and measure the performance of their Outbrain Ads.

The integration utilizes the Outbrain S2S Conversions Tracking method to send server-to-server (S2S) events directly to Outbrain. Server-side tracking is the most reliable tracking integration method, therefore ensuring that you get the best results based on accurate data.

Two event types are integrated: ClickBank order form impressions and purchase events. This event data is sent to Outbrain ads in real time, empowering ClickBank affiliates to make data-informed decisions about their Outbrain ad strategy.

Before setting up this integration you must have the following:

  • A ClickBank account with owner or account nickname permissions enabled

  • An active Outbrain account

NOTE: This integration requires the Outbrain Click ID (‘ob_click_id’) to be passed to ClickBank on the HopLink or Direct Tracking Link in order for ClickBank conversions to be tracked and reported in Outbrain.

To ensure conversions are accurately tracked in Outbrain, we highly recommend using Direct Offer Tracking Link as the ad destination URL, in addition to modifying the tracking settings to ensure that the Outbrain Click ID is automatically appended to your landing page URL so that ClickBank is passed the required data for conversions to be accurately tracked in OutBrain.

This article contains the following sections:

How to Set Up Your Outbrain Integration in Outbrain

NOTE: This step requires that you have a Outbrain Ads account.

Step 1: Sign into your Outbrain account.


Step 2: Go to the Campaigns tab and click Create Campaign.
NOTE: You can also edit an existing campaign.

Step 3: Modify the tracking settings within the campaign by adding tracking parameters to automatically append required click ID data to your ad landing page URL ensuring that the Outbrain Click ID {ob_click_id is passed to ClickBank in ‘ob_click_id’ parameter, like …&ob_click_id=##{{ob_click_id}}

Recommended Tracking Suffix:
&traffic_source=outbrain&traffic_type=paid&campaign={campaign_name}&ob_click_id=##{{ob_click_id}}

Create Conversion(s) in Outbrain for the ClickBank events to be mapped to in Outbrain

  1. Click on the “Pixels” tab and select “Conversions.”.

  2. Click “Add Conversion” to open up the “Create Conversion” screen. Select “Event-Based Conversion” (not “URL-Based Conversion”)

  3. Then create a unique event “Name”, for example ‘add_to_cart’, ‘purchase’, ‘upsell_purchase’. The event name defined here will be referenced in ClickBank integration settings.

  4. Configure desired conversion settings “Window” (the time it takes from click to conversion) and “Value” (such as average order value), and then click “Save.”

NOTE: A snippet of code will pop up, prompting you to install but you can ignore this as it’s not applicable for the server-to-server integration.

How to Create Conversion Events in Outbrain

Step 1: Log in to your Outbrain account.

Step 2: Go to the Pixels tab and select Conversions.

Step 3: Create a unique event Name. For example add_to_cart, purchase, upsell_purchase.


NOTE: The event name defined here will be referenced in ClickBank integration settings.

Step 4: Configure desired conversion settings window (the time it takes from click to conversion) and value (such as average order value), and then click Save.

How to Set Up Your Outbrain Integration in ClickBank

Step 1: Log in to your ClickBank account.

Step 2: Select Integrations then Postback/Pixels.

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Step 3: Click Add Integration.

Step 4: Select Outbrain.

Step 5: Complete the integrations form.

  • Name
    Name your integration so you can easily identify it.
    NOTE: This name is not shared anywhere outside of your account and is for your purposes only. ​

  • Account Nickname
    Select which account nickname you wish to integrate from the Account dropdown.

  • Role
    Select the role (affiliate or seller) you are operating as in that account nickname.

  • Integration Level
    ​NOTE:
    It’s recommended to select Custom and apply filter, such as traffic_source=outbrain so only conversions which originated from clicks containing ‘traffic_source=outbrain’ in your affiliate tracking link will be sent to Outbrain.

  • Event Types
    Select the event type(s) you want to track in Microsoft Ads

Step 6: Input the Outbrain conversion event name for ClickBank events to map too in Outbrain. For example:

  • Order form impression = add_to_cart

  • Initial purchase = purchase

  • Upsell purchase = upsell_purchase

Step 7: Click Save.

Once you have saved the integration, test it to ensure that it is working as expected.

How to Test Your Outbrain Integration

Utilize ClickBank’s Test Integration feature to verify your integration.
NOTE: Testing your integration will result in a real conversion event being tracked.

Step 1: Verify the integration is configured correctly utilizing the ‘Test’ integration feature. This tool can be accessed by clicking on the integration action menu as pictured below.

Step 2: Generate a Outbrain click ID by clicking on your live ad. Extract and copy the Outbrain Click ID value automatically appended to the the ad destination URL

Step 3: Paste the click ID value into the ClickBank Test Integration Input, and click the Test button to trigger events to Outbrain

Step 4: Review the results within Outbrain reporting; note conversions may take up to 20 minutes to be reported in Outbrain reporting.

Step 5: Once verified, remember to activate your integration when you’re ready to start tracking ClickBank conversions in Outbrain.

Troubleshooting

Check these tips if your ClickBank conversions are not showing in your Taboola Ads account.

Additional Resources & Related Articles

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