This article will cover:
- What Are CAKE URL Tokens?
- How to Access CAKE URL Tokens
- How to Use Tokens on Landing Page URLs
- How to Use Tokens on Conversion Pixels
What Are CAKE URL Tokens?
URL Tokens, sometimes referred to as Macros, allow you to dynamically send values into URL query string parameters within Landing Pages, Conversion Pixels, and Creatives. This enables you to accurately track and report on campaign performance and helps automate tasks like building links and pixels.
You can use CAKE URL Tokens in three ways:
Landing Pages
Third-Party Conversion Pixels
Creative HTML files
One common example is sending the Affiliate or Source ID to the landing page URL to give the Advertiser insight into which partner and campaign are driving traffic to their website.
Example Landing Page URL using the CAKE Tokens for Affiliate ID, Offer ID, and Creative ID:
https://landingpage.com/?source=#affid#&campaign=#oid#&ad=#cid#
Another common use case for URL Tokens is sending attributes such as the conversion ID for reconciliation purposes, or their system’s session ID for server-to-server tracking.
Example Affiliate Conversion Pixel using CAKE Tokens for Transaction ID and Sub ID 2 (s2):
https://affiliatetrackingdomain.com/?transaction_id=#tid#&session=#s2#
Note:
In the example above, the affiliate’s session ID, used for server-to-server tracking, was sent to CAKE in the s2 parameter of the affiliate’s campaign tracking link, which is why the s2 parameter token is used to send this value back to the affiliate upon conversion.
How to Access CAKE URL Tokens
To view the list of available CAKE URL Tokens, complete the following steps:
Click on the Action Menu Icon on the top right of your window
Scroll down to the User section
Click Show Tokens
How to Use Tokens on Landing Page URLs
To send the same URL parameters and values to all Landing Pages within one Offer, complete the following steps from the Offer card:
Click on the Info sub-tab from within the Home tab
Click into the Redirect Parameters field
Append the advertiser’s designated URL parameters and CAKE URL Tokens
Click Save
Here is an example of the updated Redirect Parameters with CAKE Tokens:
source=#affid#&campaign=#oid#&ad=#cid#
To apply URL Tokens to only one Landing Page within an Offer, complete the following steps from the Offer card:
Click on the Landing Pages tab
Select the Landing Page Name from the list
Click into the URL field on the right
Append the advertiser’s URL parameters and CAKE Tokens to the landing page query string
Click Save
Here is an example of an updated Landing Page URL with CAKE Tokens:
http://landingpage.com/?source=#affid#&campaign=#oid#&ad=#cid#
Note:
The advertiser of the offer will provide you with defined URL parameters and which values they expect you to send in those parameters.
How to Use Tokens on Conversion Pixels
Conversion Pixel URL Tokens can be used across:
Affiliate Campaign Conversion Pixel
Affiliate Campaign Event Pixel
Affiliate Global Conversion Pixel
System Global Conversion Pixel
To send dynamic values on an Affiliate Campaign Conversion Pixel using CAKE Tokens, complete the following steps from the Campaign card:
Click on the Pixels sub-tab from the Home tab
Click into the Pixel field to modify the browser-based pixel or the Postback URL field to modify the server-to-server URL
Update the affiliate’s URL parameter(s) with the respective CAKE URL Tokens
Click Save
Here is an example of an updated affiliate campaign pixel with CAKE Tokens:
https://affiliatetrackingdomain.com/?transaction_id=#tid#&session=#s2#
Note:
For affiliate conversion and event pixels, you will primarily use the sub ID tokens since the affiliate is passing their dynamic values on the tracking link in these parameters. In this example, the affiliate is passing a unique session ID in the s2 parameter of the tracking link, so the conversion pixels will use the #s2# token to pass it back.
FAQ
How do I know which parameter(s) to use on my advertiser’s landing page URL?
Speak to your advertiser and they will define what each parameter means so that you can pair it up with the correct URL token.
How do I know which parameter(s) to use on my affiliate’s conversion pixel?
Speak to your affiliate and they will define what each parameter means so that you can pair it up with the correct URL token.
Why isn’t the URL token passing the value to the landing page or the conversion pixel?
Double-check that the CAKE Token you are using is compatible with CAKE Landing Pages or Conversion Pixels, you can verify this in the Tokens list in CAKE. Some Tokens only work with one or the other. Ex: The Transaction ID Token only works in Conversion Pixels.
If using a Sub ID Token, e.g. #s1#, you should verify that a value was passed in the s1 parameter of the tracking link. This can be verified in the Click Report under the SubAffiliate (s1) reporting column.