Postback Setup in MGID Ads

This article describes how to set Postback in the MGID Ads system.

In this article:

Definition

Setting up Postback in the MGID Ads Dashboard

Manual Postback Setup

Template Postback Setup


Definition

Postback is a server-to-server (S2S) tracking method used to track user actions or conversions by communicating directly between servers rather than relying on client-side data such as cookies or pixels. Server-to-server communication is typically more reliable, ensuring that conversions are tracked even if the user’s browser crashes or they navigate away quickly.

Setting up Postback in the MGID Ads Dashboard

1. Create a new advertising campaign or edit an existing one by clicking on its respective icon in the dashboard.

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2. Navigate to the Conversion tracking section and select the Postback option in the Tracking settings tab.

3. Select either Manual setup or one of the available Postback templates.

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Let’s take a closer look at both options in detail.

Manual Postback Setup

1. Once you select the Manual setup option, add a new conversion goal and create a unique name for the goal. You can select an existing goal here as well. This field accepts only Latin letters and numbers; when filled in, it is automatically assigned as the "e" parameter.

Here, you can also indicate the conversion cost (optional).

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Repeat these steps (i.e., add another goal) if you want to track more than one conversion goal. The system allows for tracking up to three conversion goals using Postback. 

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You can track unique and non-unique conversions using Postback.

Find the conversion counting button under the advanced settings dropdown. By default, it’s set up to track only unique conversions. However, some funnels require counting multiple conversions with the same click ID. An example of this is a standard funnel with a "purchase" conversion and an upsell action after the first purchase. In this case, counting non-unique conversions feature will be useful for accurate tracking. The conversion counting setting is available separately for each of the three conversion goals. 

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Keep in mind that if the setting is mistakenly switched to count all conversions, it may result in inaccurate statistics. Use this feature only when necessary for specific scenarios.

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2. Click Get Postback URL and then copy the URL. Save the link on your device, as you will need it later.

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3. Under the Tracking Tags section, add the real get parameter for the click_id macro third-party tool uses:

  • click on the corresponding macro on the list under the input 
  • customize the left part of the preset (parameter)

Postback_tracking tags_field

The {click_id} macro is crucial for postback conversion tracking.  To make sure your Postback works as intended, add the real parameter for the {click_id} macro in this field. For instance, if MGID  click ID is located in the {sub_id} macro of your system, you need to add sub_id={click_id} at the end of the link.

It's important to note that the tracking link is not the same as a postback link. A tracking link is the URL a user is directed to after clicking on an ad, and it automatically includes data from our system, using the information from the "Tracking Tags" section.

A postback link, on the other hand, is a generated endpoint added on the third-party side, which is used to send conversion data back to MGID.

4. Save changes if editing, or publish the campaign if creating a new one.

5. Add postback link(s) on the third-party side.

Template Postback Setup

A Postback template is a preconfigured set of settings designed for seamless integration with a specific third-party platform for tracking purposes. The template automatically includes all the necessary data, such as conversion steps and event names, GET parameters for the {click_id} macro, third-party {click_id} and {revenue} macros in the generated postback link.

Additionally, all conversion steps can be customized to meet your specific needs.

An example of template configurations can be seen in the screenshot below, where the Voluum template is selected. The click_id GET parameter is automatically added, and the postback link is generated with the real macros.

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When using a template, simply select your platform and allow the mandatory data to be auto-generated. You can customize the conversion goal names as needed.

When setting up postback using a template, you can track unique and non-unique conversions. The logic here is the same as that described above for the manual postback setup.

Tracking System Dashboard Settings

Add the Postback URL to the system that will transfer the data to your tracker or affiliate platform and modify it with a correct macro.

Example: 

https://a.mgid.com/postback/client_ID?c={externalid}&e=test_event&r={payout}

Where:

  • client_ID is a unique parameter assigned to each user in our system.
  • "c" parameter accepts data from the third party tool {click_id} macro (must be changed to the real one in case postback is set up manually, not with a template);
  • "e" parameter indicates the name of the event;
  • "r" parameter accepts data from the third party tool {revenue} macro (must be changed to the real one in case postback is set up manually, not with a template).

Only the "c" and "e" parameters are mandatory.
Revenue data ("r" parameter value) will be accepted by the system and displayed only in your account’s selected currency in the MGID system.
Please note that our system supports only MGID macros within a tracking link.

Use the following guide here to verify the Postback URL settings.