Custom Tracking Domain in Affiliate Marketing

Tracking the performance of your campaigns is essential for maximizing your earnings and optimizing your affiliate strategies. One powerful option that can greatly enhance your affiliate tracking capabilities is a custom tracking domain.

But what exactly is a custom tracking domain, and how can it help with your affiliate marketing efforts?

In this article, we explore how a custom tracking domain can enhance your affiliate marketing campaigns, drive better results, and ultimately increase your earnings.

What is a Custom Tracking Domain?

A custom tracking domain replaces the default tracking URLs generated by tracking platforms with a domain that you own and enhances the readable link structure of your choice.

Imagine being able to personalize your tracking links with a domain of your choice, creating an online presence that resonates with your audience. Having a custom domain name for your tracking URLs is like having an Email with your own domain name – it can be a big deal!

Example:

If your tracking Link from your ad tracker is: https://clp1.dev123/campaign

Then, by using a custom tracking domain like https://go.eathealthyfood.com/campaign your campaign will be much more trustworthy!

This not only enhances the perceived trustworthiness of your campaign but also aligns better with CPA network approval standards, increasing the likelihood of acceptance and success in these networks

Advantages of Custom Tracking Domains

By utilizing a custom tracking domain, you not only improve user experience but also establish trust and credibility, ultimately increasing the likelihood of conversions and boosting your affiliate earnings.

Nobody likes to click on an unknown link, and using a custom domain adds much-needed familiarity along with a whole set of advantages.

The most important 3 advantages are:

• Enhanced Branding and Professionalism

Using a custom tracking domain adds a layer of professionalism to your tracking links. Instead of generic URLs, you can incorporate your brand name or relevant keywords into the domain, creating a cohesive and recognizable link structure. This not only enhances the user experience but also encourages clicks on the links.

• Improved Trust and Credibility

When users encounter a custom tracking domain that aligns with your brand, they are more likely to perceive it as trustworthy. By reinforcing your brand image through consistent link structures, you can establish credibility and encourage users to click on your tracking links, ultimately driving conversions and achieving your marketing goals.

That is why most super affiliates have hundreds of domains, for each vertical.

• First Party data usage

Another important advantage of using custom tracking domains is that in this way you will be using First Party cookies.

And we all know that third party cookies are almost out of the picture and we need to use first party cookies.

But, if you don’t know that yet, you can check more about first party cookies vs third party cookies in this article.

Important to remember is this: if you place the tracking link on a subdomain of your main domain (where you have your website or your landing page), then you will be using First Party data as the tracking link is on the same domain.

Implementing a Custom Tracking Domain with CPV Lab

In the affiliate tracking software CPV Lab and CPV One you can use custom tracking domains for your campaigns.

The process of adding a custom tracking domain is quite simple. Here are the steps:

You need to have a domain (or a subdomain in most cases)

For example:

If you have your landing pages or website at the domain:

https://mywayoflife.com

Then, you can define a subdomain and have it point to the tracker location.

For example, you can use the subdomain:

go.mywayoflife.com

Note: This will help you use first party data as well, which is supported by all browsers.

Point the domain to your tracker

You need to point that domain to the Cname record of your tracker;

This means that the new domain will act like your tracker, and you can’t use it for other purposes (like hosting landing pages, etc).

Note: depending if you are using the self-hosted or the cloud-based ad tracker, you will have a little different settings to take care of. But the process is similar.

Here you can find more details on how to point the custom tracking domain to the tracker.

Add the domain in CPV Lab

You will add that domain in the Settings section in your marketing tracker and add the new custom tracking domain.

Note: You can test the domain to make sure it has all the settings correctly.

Use the custom tracking domain for your campaigns

Once you have your custom tracking domain added to the system, you can start using it for your campaigns.

It will show up when you setup a campaign and you can select it.

The campaign affiliate link generated by the ad tracker will contain this domain.

Best Practices for Custom Tracking Domains

By using a custom tracking domain, you can leave a lasting impression on your customers and increase the likelihood of conversions. It provides consistency across your affiliate campaigns, making it easier for your customers to recognize and associate your links with the product/brand you promote. 

• Keep it Short, Simple, and Relevant

When selecting a custom tracking domain, opt for a name or keyword that is concise, easy to remember, and relevant to your brand or campaign. Shorter domains are more user-friendly and less prone to errors when manually entered. Additionally, choose a domain extension that is commonly associated with your niche or region.

• Consistency across Campaigns and Platforms

If you promote your own brand, then maintaining consistency across your tracking links is essential for reinforcing your brand image. Using the same custom tracking domain across all your campaigns and platforms not only creates a cohesive user experience but also strengthens your brand identity and has potential SEO benefits. It helps establish trust, builds recognition, and contributes to a unified online presence.

• Regular Monitoring and Maintenance

To ensure the optimal performance of your custom tracking domain, regularly monitor its functionality and resolve any issues promptly. Check for broken links, redirection errors, or any changes in tracking behavior. Regular maintenance guarantees that your tracking links are reliable, and accurate, and contribute to your marketing success.

• Utilizing Subdomains for Better Organization

If you run multiple campaigns or track different types of marketing activities, consider utilizing subdomains for better organization. By creating subdomains for each campaign or activity, you can further segment and analyze your tracking data. This approach simplifies campaign management and enables more granular insights into the performance of individual initiatives.

FAQs about Custom Tracking Domains

Key Takeaways:

• Custom tracking domains improve affiliate marketing with personalized and branded tracking links for a cohesive user experience.
• They offer increased control, flexibility, and efficiency in campaign management.
• Regular maintenance and monitoring ensure accurate tracking and staying updated with industry trends.
• Custom domains ensure that you get first party data and first party cookies which are accepted by all browsers;

For example: if you have your landing page at “yourdomain.com” then you can use a custom tracking subdomain for “go.yourdomain.com”.

Author: Julia Draghici

Julia is the CEO of CPV Lab ad tracker. She has 15+ years experience in the software industry, from development to management. For more than 5 years she is helping marketers get the best out of their marketing campaigns by using a performant ad tracker. Passionate about entrepreneurship, business and performance marketing, Julia loves helping people!