Overview
ClickBank affiliates can use the Microsoft Ads Tracking Integration to track, optimize, and measure the performance of their Microsoft Ads.
The integration utilizes the Microsoft UET Conversion Tracking Tag to send server-to-server (S2S) events directly to Microsoft Ads. 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 Microsoft in real time, empowering ClickBank affiliates to make data-informed decisions about their Microsoft ad strategy.
Before setting up this integration you must have the following:
- A ClickBank account with owner or account nickname permissions enabled
- An active Microsoft Ads account with a Universal Event Tracking (UET) tag for conversion tracking
NOTE: The Microsoft Ads integration requires the Microsoft Click ID (msclkid) to be passed to ClickBank on the HopLink or the Direct Tracking Link in order for ClickBank conversions to be accepted as an event type in Microsoft Ads
To ensure ClickBank conversions are accurately tracking in Microsoft, we recommend using Direct Offer Tracking Links as the ad destination URL, in addition to modifying the tracking settings to enable auto-tagging to that the ClickID (msclkid) is automatically appended to your landing page URL to that ClickBank is passed the required data for conversions to be accurately tracking in Microsoft ads.
This article contains the following sections:
- How to Set Up Your Microsoft Ads Integration in Microsoft Ads
- How to Set Up Your Microsoft Ads Integration in ClickBank
- How to Test Your Microsoft Ads Integration
- Troubleshooting
- Additional Resources & Related Articles
How to Set Up Your Microsoft Ads Integration in Microsoft Ads
NOTE: This step requires that you have a Microsoft Ads account.
Step 1: Log in to your Microsoft ads account.
Step 2: Navigate to the Conversions tab.
Step 3: Tracking conversions in Microsoft requires a UET tag. UET stands for universal event tracking. Copy the UET tag ID in the you want to tie ClickBank conversions to. Paste this somewhere safe. You will use it in the next steps.
Related: What is UET and how can it help me?
Step 4: Return the Conversions tab and select Conversion goals.
Step 5: Click Create.
Step 6: Select Website as the conversion type.
Step 7: Configure the Goal Category in a way that makes sense for your business.
NOTE: Goal categories don't affect performance—they are here to help you segment your goals and their performance metrics.
Recommended conversion goal type for tracking ClickBank Events:
-
- Order Form Impression = Add to Cart
- Initial Purchase = Purchase
- Upsell = Purchase or Other
Step 8: Select Goal Type as Event.
Step 9: Provide the conversion goal a unique event name. For example add_to_cart, purchase, or upsell purchase.
NOTE: The event name defined here will be referenced in ClickBank integration settings.
Step 10: Adjust the Revenue settings for the event as desired. For tracking purchase events we recommend selecting the option Conversion action value may vary to enable ClickBank to dynamically pass your account earnings for each transaction event.
Step 11: OPTIONAL -- Adjust the Advanced Settings to meet your specific business needs and then click Save and Next.
NOTE: An option to enable enhanced conversion tracking will be presented; this is generally not applicable for this integration, select I don’t want to use enhanced conversions.
Step 12: Set up tagging and select the option Yes, the UET tag was already installed on all your website pages. Click Save and Next.
Step 13: Select Manual installation. Then click Save and Next.
NOTE: In the next screens you may be prompted to adjust the event tracking parameters and then presented with a tracking script to install. These steps are not applicable for the ClickBank Integration.
Step 14: Modify the campaign tracking settings to ensure that Microsoft Click ID and other essential data is automatically tracked when a Microsoft Ad is clicked. Navigate to Campaigns → Settings → Account level options and confirm that Auto-tagging of Click ID is enabled.
Recommended Final URL Suffix: &traffic_source=microsoft&traffic_type=paid&campaign={campaignid}&aff_sub2={keyword}
How to Set Up Your Microsoft Ads Integration in ClickBank
Step 1: Log in to your ClickBank account.
Step 2: Select Integrations then Postback/Pixels.
Step 3: Click Add Integration.
Step 4: Select Microsoft Ads.
Step 6: 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.
-
Microsoft Conversion Tracking UET Tag ID
Use the Tracking UET ID here from How to Set Up Your Microsoft Ads Integration in Microsoft Ads, Step 3. -
Integration Level
NOTE: It’s recommended to select Custom and apply filter, such as traffic_source=bing so only conversions which originated from clicks containing ‘traffic_source=bing’ in your affiliate tracking link will be sent to Microsoft Ads.
-
Event Types
Select the event type(s) you want to track in Microsoft Ads
Step 7: Input the Microsoft Ads conversion event name (created in step 1.c) for ClickBank events to map to in Microsoft. For example:
-
- Order form impression = add_to_cart
- Initial purchase = purchase
- Upsell purchase = purchase
Step 8: Click Save.
Once you have saved the integration, test it to ensure that it is working as expected.
How to Test Your Microsoft Ads Integration
Utilize ClickBank’s Test Integration feature to verify your integration.
NOTE: Testing your integration will result in a real conversion event being tracked.
Tracking may be confirmed by testing with live campaigns, clicking through your Microsoft Ad to generate a Microsoft Click ID, extracting the click ID from the ad landing page URL value passed into url parameter ‘msclkid=’, and pasting the click ID value in ClickBank’s test integration feature.
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 Microsoft click ID by clicking on your live ad, inspect the URL, finding the parameter ‘msclkid=’ in the URL, and copying the string value after the ‘=’ up until the & value
Step 3: Paste the Click ID value into the ClickBank Test Integration Input, and click the Test button to trigger events to Microsoft Ads
Step 4: Review the results within Microsoft reporting; note conversions may take up to 2 hours to be reported in Microsoft Ads reporting.
Step 5: Once verified, remember to activate your integration within ClickBank when you’re ready to start tracking your ClickBank conversions in Microsoft Ads
Troubleshooting
Check these tips if your ClickBank conversions are not showing in your Google Ads.
- Confirm that the Microsoft Click ID is passed into the ClickBank affiliate tracking link (Direct Offer Tracking Link or HopLink) using msclkid URL parameter. All conversion events sent to Microsoft Ads must have the msclkid (Click ID) otherwise the event will not be reported in Microsoft Ads.
- Verify the configured event name labels match the event names configured in Microsoft. Note these values are case-sensitive.
- Verify that your integration within ClickBank is set to ‘Active’ status
NOTE: Test sales made with ClickBank Test Credit Card details do not trigger conversion events.
Additional Resources & Related Articles
- KNOWLEDGEBASE: Postback/Pixels Guide
- KNOWLEDGEBASE: Transitioning to the New Postback/Pixel Technology
- KNOWLEDGEBASE: Reporting FAQ
- Microsoft Advertising Help Center