Conversion tracking is a cornerstone of performance marketing. It empowers your team with the data needed to monitor member performance, measure their impact, and optimize future marketing strategies effectively.

Every Link Tracking Offer needs to be set up with a specific Conversion Method — this determines how conversions from your website are recorded in Aspire.

We offer several conversion tracking options, each with its own advantages and limitations. These methods differ in the marketing channels they support and the level of technical resources required.

Supported conversion tracking methods include:

Below, we’ll break down each conversion method, outlining how they work, their advantages, and potential limitations to help you choose the best fit.

Also known as server-side, server-to-server, or server-based tracking, this method relies on your server — rather than the user’s browser — to track sessions generated from clicks and attribute conversions. Your server records the transaction or partner ID and then sends this information back to Aspire. No data is stored on the user’s device.

There are two protocols for server postback tracking: Transaction ID and Partner ID. We recommend using Transaction ID whenever possible, as it is the best practice and typically more reliable. However, in some cases, Transaction IDs may not be usable.

Server Postback Tracking is the most accurate and reliable method available. We highly recommend it if your team has the technical resources to implement server-side calls.

Aspire’s Javascript Postback tracking offers a cookieless solution for brands. It tracks sessions and conversions directly in the end user’s browser by embedding tracking scripts on your website pages.

This method provides client-side functionality for session storage and conversions. By using Javascript Postback tracking, you can achieve accuracy close to server-side postback tracking but with less technical setup required.

However, because this method relies on the user’s browser, it is still subject to some of the same limitations as traditional pixel tracking. For example, Apple's Safari browser deletes all first-party cookies and other script-writable storage after 7 days of no user interaction. This means conversion windows on Apple devices are limited to one week when using Javascript Postback tracking.

Aspire's Javascript Postback tracking provides a cookieless tracking solution for brands running their networks. Sessions and conversions can be generated inside the end user's browser by implementing the tracking scripts on your website page.

The Aspire Javascript postback offers client-side functionality for session storage and creator conversions. By utilizing the Javascript postback, you'll have the accuracy of server-side postback without the technical setup effort.

However, since this method depends on the user's browser, it’s still susceptible to some of the same risks and limitations as traditional pixel tracking. For example, Apple’s Safari browser now fully blocks third-party cookies by default. That means pixel tracking won’t work at all in Safari, but JavaScript Postback tracking will. However, Safari also deletes all first-party cookies (and other script-writable storage) after 7 days without user interaction. If you’re using JavaScript Postback tracking, this means your conversion windows on Apple devices will be capped at one week.

Also known as cookie-based or in-browser tracking, this method relies on the user’s browser to track conversions. It does this by placing a cookie on the initial click, which is then referenced again upon conversion to verify the session and attribute the conversion to the correct affiliate. Implementing pixel tracking is straightforward — simply add a snippet of code to your conversion page.

There are two main protocols for pixel tracking: based on HTML iframe tags or image tags. Both use cookies to track click sessions and share the same limitations imposed by modern web browsers. The best practice for cookie-based conversion tracking is to use the HTTPS iframe pixel protocol.

If you have any questions about selecting the right conversion tracking method, feel free to contact our Support Team at [email protected] — we're happy to help!