Tracking is how conversions get into PalDock. It records clicks, leads, prospects, sales, and any custom type you define, and it decides what data those records carry. Turning them into payouts is a separate step, handled by commissions.
The tracking methods
- Pixel: browser based, fired on the advertiser’s confirmation page. Easy to deploy, but depends on cookies and can be blocked.
- S2S postback: server to server, sent by the advertiser’s system. Reliable and cookie free.
- Tracking API: PalDock asks the advertiser’s system about a conversion, or forwards results out to an affiliate.
- Manual import: upload conversions yourself when no automated method is available.
Most setups combine at least two, typically a pixel and a postback, so a blocked pixel does not cost you the conversion. When the advertiser sends their own external ID, PalDock recognises the repeats and keeps a single conversion.
Start here
- Conversion IDs explained: which identifier to send and when. Read this before you brief an advertiser.
- Tracking processing: what happens to a request after it arrives.
- Conversion type: which types exist, which channel can create which type, and how to add your own.
- Tracking parameters: the full parameter reference.
A step by step setup guide for a specific offer is in the Offer editor, Tracking tab.
Setting up each method
- How to set up pixel tracking
- Update pixel, for adding URL and cookie data to a conversion that already exists
- Tracking S2S Postback
- Tracking API
- Manual Tracking and Transaction Import
Attribution and duplicates
- Tracking by vouchers: a discount code assigns the conversion to the affiliate who owns the code.
- Click deduplication: repeated clicks from the same visitor count once.
- Deduplication based on advertiser’s ID: the same order reported twice counts once.
Sending results out
- Affiliate postback: affiliates forward their own results into their systems.
When something does not work
- Tracking and Conversion Logs: see the raw requests and the conversions they produced.
- Tracking errors and reasons: what each outcome and status means, and what to do about it.
A conversion that is recorded correctly still does not have to produce a payout. That depends on the commission. See How PalDock picks a commission.
