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Tracking conversions via sources: Identify new VS existing users

This guide helps to understand how to track the users sources and setup logic to identify new and existing users in Tapfiliate

Nikhil Kandpal avatar
Written by Nikhil Kandpal
Updated this week

In this article we will discuss:

Overview

If you're using Tapfiliate for your affiliate marketing program, you might have noticed that by default, it attributes conversions based on the last-click model. This means that if a user clicks an affiliate link at any point, subsequent conversions are credited to that affiliate. While this approach works well for many businesses, you might prefer to ensure that only affiliates who were responsible for the initial acquisition of a new user are credited for conversions.
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Here's how you can set up Tapfiliate to achieve this:

Detect New vs. Existing Users

During a user's visit, determine whether they are a new or returning user. This can be achieved by checking their login status or session data.

  • New Users: Users who are not logged in or do not have an active session are considered new users.

  • Existing Users: Users who are logged in or have an active session are considered existing users.

This distinction is crucial for ensuring that only new users are attributed to affiliates.

Capture Attribution Source at Signup

When a new user signs up, check for the presence of Tapfiliate’s tracking cookie (tap_vid). This cookie contains attribution data that points to the affiliate that referred that user.

  • Cookie Present: If the tap_vid cookie is found, store the attribution source as “affiliate.”

  • Cookie Not Present: If the tap_vid cookie is not found, tag the source as “direct” or another channel.

This step ensures that the source of the user's acquisition is recorded accurately.

Track Conversions Based on Original Attribution

For subsequent conversions, reference the attribution source stored during signup:

  • Affiliate Source: If the original attribution source was “affiliate,” trigger the conversion tracking script:

    tap('conversion');

  • Non-Affiliate Source: If the original attribution source was not “affiliate,” do not trigger the conversion tracking script.

This approach ensures that only affiliates who were responsible for the initial acquisition of a new user are credited for conversions.

📌 Important Considerations

  • Cookie Duration: Tapfiliate uses first-party cookies to track conversions. The default cookie duration is 45 days, but it can be adjusted up to 365 days. Ensure that the cookie duration aligns with your attribution model.

  • Cross-Domain Tracking: Tapfiliate does not support cross-domain tracking. Ensure that your tracking scripts are implemented within the same domain to maintain accurate attribution.

  • Ad Blockers and Privacy Settings: Be aware that ad blockers and strict browser privacy settings can interfere with cookie-based tracking, potentially affecting attribution accuracy.

✅ Conclusion

By implementing the steps outlined above, you can ensure that Tapfiliate's last-click attribution model credits affiliates only for conversions resulting from new user acquisitions. This approach aligns with your business requirements while leveraging Tapfiliate's robust tracking capabilities.
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You can reach out to us directly at support@tapfiliate.com in case you require any other help regarding the implementation of this setup.

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