How to configure rules for traffic sources in an Admitad program

Traffic sources allow publishers to attract users to your website and/or app, as well as to promote your products or services.

For example, publishers can post promotional posts about your products on their social media or post articles about them on their websites.

To prepare your program for launch, you must specify which traffic sources can be used by publishers to attract users to your website and which ones can't.

If you don't know which traffic sources should be allowed and which should be prohibited, read the tips in this section and then configure the rules using these instructions.

Procedure for configuring rules for traffic sources

The configuration procedure depends on the type of program management.

• Management via an account manager — in this case, contact your manager, and they will complete the configuration for you.
• Independent management — in this case, you will configure the rules for traffic sources on your own.

To configure the rules for traffic sources in the program on your own, go to the Traffic Source Settings section (Program → Traffic sources).

Below you will find tips on configuring this section.

If you want a manager to set up your program, switch to Plus or Enterprise plan. Learn more

Specifics of working with the Traffic Source Settings section

• If you don't know which traffic sources should be allowed and which should be prohibited, read the tips in this section and then configure the rules using these instructions.
• To see a short description of the traffic source, click the symbol to the left of its name.
• Once the program is launched, the rules for traffic sources can be changed only by the manager or by sending a request to the support service at support@admitad.com. See more

How to configure the rules for traffic sources

The following settings must be filled out for each traffic source:

• Show on the program page
• Permissions
• Auto-connection for publishers

The Show on the program page setting

This setting determines whether publishers will see this traffic source and permissions for it on your program page.

Tip: Leave the toggle switch in the Show status for all traffic sources. 

How it works:

• If the toggle switch is on, this traffic source will be displayed on the program page. In this case, you can configure permissions and auto-connection of publishers for it.
• If the toggle switch is off, this traffic source will not be displayed to publishers on the program page and other settings in the section are unavailable for it.
  Publishers with this traffic source can still submit a request to connect to your program. It will be sent for manual moderation.

The Permissions setting

This setting determines which traffic sources can be used by publishers to attract users to your website and which cannot. 

Tip: Allow as many traffic sources as possible that are suitable for you, and use limitations sparingly.
The more traffic sources you allow in the program, the more publishers will connect to it and attract new clients and customers for you.

Configure the permissions for every traffic source by selecting the appropriate option: 

• Allowed — select this to allow publishers to use this traffic source.
• Needs approval — select this if you have doubts about a certain traffic source.
  • In this case, requests from publishers with this traffic source will be sent for manual moderation, and you will be able to review them one by one.
  • When selecting this option, do not turn on auto-connection for publishers for this traffic source. 
• Forbidden — select this to prohibit publishers from using this traffic source. If this rule is violated, you can decline part of all actions of a publisher or disconnect them from the program completely.

The Auto-connection for publishers setting

This setting turns on auto-connection to your program for publishers. 

• If the ad space's traffic source is allowed and publisher's account level correspond to the conditions in the settings, the publisher will submit a request to connect to your program, and their ad space will be instantly connected to the program. Learn more about auto-moderation

  Example. 

  Auto-joining is enabled for the Messengers traffic source for account level AD1. If a publisher’s ad space uses the Messengers traffic source (for example, Influencer: Telegram), it will automatically join the affiliate program when the publisher clicks Join on the program card or page and accepts the terms of cooperation.

Tip: Leave the Auto-connection setting turned on for traffic sources that you allow. This way, publishers' requests to connect will be approved automatically, and they will be able to start working with your program faster. You also won't have to check every request manually. 

Auto-connection will work only if at least one account level is configured in the settings.

Configure auto-connection for every traffic source by selecting appropriate account levels.

How to change the rules for traffic sources

The procedure for making changes depends on the program launch status and its management type.

Important note: If the program has already been launched and the rules become stricter due to the changes, the publishers have to be informed about it at least 5 days before the new rules go into effect.

This is necessary for the publishers to have time to prepare for the changes, such as removing contextual ads if you prohibit contextual ads with the new rules.

Therefore, it is best to send the request to the support service or to your manager well in advance. 

After receiving the request, Admitad employees will: 

• Prepare the newsletter and inform publishers 5 days before the changes are made
• On the necessary day, they will make the changes to the settings of the traffic source rules. 

If the rules become less strict due to the changes — for example, you're allowing new traffic sources — it's sufficient to inform the publishers about it one day before the changes go into effect.

Tips for configuring permissions for traffic sources

Allow the most popular traffic sources. They are effective for promotion and are suitable for practically all affiliate programs: 

• Social media communities and blogs 
• Messengers
• YouTube channel
• Contextual advertising
• Targeted advertising
• Content websites
• Cashback
• Loyalty programs
• Coupon services 
• Email newsletters
• Teaser and banner advertising
• Extensions
• PopUp / ClickUnder

The traffic types presented below are not any less popular or effective, but deciding whether or not to allow them depends on your program's features. Some of them are not suitable for programs in certain categories, while others require special attention to quality.  

If you are afraid that you will receive low-quality traffic due to lenient requirements, set up manual moderation for the specific sources that you have doubts about and check the ad spaces with these traffic sources one by one. Learn more about manual moderation

Press the traffic source to view tips for it.

• Brand bidding is a type of contextual advertising that mentions your brand. 

  The effectiveness of this traffic source depends on your promotion strategy.  

  • When to allow it: If you are willing to outsource your brand's promotion in contextual advertising. Admitad publishers can promote your brand to the top positions of the search engine results, increase brand awareness, and attract new customers.
  • When to prohibit it: If you are posting contextual advertising on your own. Publishers' ads will compete with your ads, which will increase the cost of ads for your contextual advertising. 

  You should also prohibit brand bidding if you have a popular brand that spends great resources on SEO. In this case, publisher's ads can displace your website from the top positions in the search engine results.

• With this traffic source, publishers attract users by promising non-monetary rewards (points, bonuses, gifts) for performing target actions.

  Whether or not you should allow incentive traffic depends on your aims and the program's work model. 

  • When to allow it: If it doesn't matter to you that the user was incentivized to perform the target action.

    For example: 

    • To promote online games and mobile apps when you have to reach good positions in Google Play or the App Store.
    • To promote tourist or financial programs or online stores where the publisher's reward is paid for purchases made.
  • When to prohibit it: If you are planning to pay publishers for attracting users (a Lead type action): registration, request, or another action that does not require the user to make a financial contribution.

• With this traffic source, promotion happens with the use of pop-up windows that display ads for your website, products, or services. 

  This format allows you to increase your website traffic and brand awareness.

  Advertisers often prohibit Pop-Up and Click-Under due to the prevailing opinion that they are annoying and ineffective. However, it all depends on the professionalism and integrity of the publishers that you work with. 

  • When to allow it: If you are willing to use more "insistent" advertising formats to promote your brand and products.
  • When to prohibit it: If you are afraid that this format can scare away your target audience or have a negative impact on your users' loyalty to your brand.