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
We recommend watching this video, which makes it easier to understand and follow the process of configuring rules for traffic sources in your affiliate program.
The configuration procedure depends on the type of program management.
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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 settings → 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.
- Some traffic sources have subtypes. To see them, click the ▽ symbol to the left of the name of the parent traffic source.
- 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:
If a setting has been configured for the parent traffic source, it is automatically applied to all of its subtypes. You can also configure additional settings for each traffic subtype.
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 and subtypes.
How it works:
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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.
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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 and subtypes 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 and/or subtype by selecting the appropriate option:
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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.
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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.
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With limitation — this option is automatically selected for a parent traffic source if its subtypes have different permissions (Allowed, Forbidden, Needs approval).
The Auto-connection for publishers setting
This setting turns on auto-connection to your program for publishers.
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If the ad space type 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
The Brand bidding traffic source has an auto-connection setting for ad spaces with the Traffic buying: Google Ads type and the AD1 account level.
Ad spaces of such publishers will be connected automatically as soon as the publisher presses Connect in the card or on the program page and accepts the cooperation rules.
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 both conditions are configured in the settings: both the ad space type and the account level.
Configure auto-connection for every traffic source and/or subtype.
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Ad space type — place checkmarks by the types of ad spaces that will connect to the program automatically.
- Account level — place checkmarks next to the appropriate account levels.
If a traffic source has subtypes, then checkmarks for the ad space type and account level are automatically placed for the entire group at once (both for the parent traffic source and its subtypes).
Example
Option AD2 is checked in the Account level setting for the Content websites traffic source, Forum subtype.
The same option will be automatically configured for the parent traffic source (Content websites) and the other two subtypes (Affiliate stores and price comparison services and Other)
How to change the rules for traffic sources
The procedure for making changes depends on the program launch status and its management type.
| Program launch status | Independent management | Management via an account manager |
| Not launched yet | Change the settings using these instructions. |
Contact your manager and ask them to make the changes. |
| Already launched |
Contact the support service at support@admitad.com and ask them to make the changes. |
Contact your manager and ask them to make the changes. |
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
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.
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Brand bidding is a type of contextual advertising that mentions your brand.
The effectiveness of this traffic source depends on your promotion strategy.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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When to allow it: If it doesn't matter to you that the user was incentivized to perform the target action.
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With this traffic source, your products' or services' ads will appear in the browser panel. Publishers develop their toolbars with built-in partner links that users will click.
There is nothing bad about the toolbar. When used properly, it can only benefit your program.
However, this traffic source requires special attention because, in some cases, it can be used to substitute a cookie and make fraudulent orders.
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When to allow it: If you are willing to keep track of your traffic quality and filter out violators.
- When to prohibit it: If you don't want to keep track of this traffic source.
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When to allow it: If you are willing to keep track of your traffic quality and filter out violators.
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With this traffic source, advertisements are placed in ad spaces with 18+ content (pornographic resources, intimate magazines, and so on).
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When to allow it: If the websites' 18+ content matches your products or if your target audience visits these websites.
- When to prohibit it: If you don't want your brand to be mentioned on ad spaces with 18+ advertisements.
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When to allow it: If the websites' 18+ content matches your products or if your target audience visits these websites.
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This traffic source is suitable only for companies whose websites use call-tracking technology (tracking orders placed over the phone).
Currently, Lead call is in test mode and is available only to publishers working with traffic from Russia. Learn more about Lead call
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When to allow it: If your website uses a technology for tracking orders placed over the phone.
- When to prohibit it: If your website does not support the option to track orders placed over the phone.
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When to allow it: If your website uses a technology for tracking orders placed over the phone.
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This traffic source is suitable only for programs in the Financial programs category where the target action is filling out a request.
For example, a request to get credit, open a bank account, sign up for insurance, and so on. Learn more about API traffic
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When to allow it: If your program belongs to the Financial programs category and you are willing to assign publishers the task of collecting requests from users.
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When to prohibit it: If your program does not belong to the Financial programs category.
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When to allow it: If your program belongs to the Financial programs category and you are willing to assign publishers the task of collecting requests from users.
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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.
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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.
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When to allow it: If you are willing to use more "insistent" advertising formats to promote your brand and products.
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With this traffic source, the target action is performed specifically from a mobile device (phone or tablet).
It doesn't matter what the means or format of advertisement placement is, i.e., mobile traffic can actually be attracted from any type of ad space.
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When to allow it: Only if your program has a configured option to track target actions made from mobile devices and you are willing to pay publishers for such actions. Learn more about mobile tracking
- When to prohibit it: If your program does not have a configured option to track target actions made from mobile devices.
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When to allow it: Only if your program has a configured option to track target actions made from mobile devices and you are willing to pay publishers for such actions. Learn more about mobile tracking
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This traffic source is relevant for companies from the eCommerce sector. Only the permission setting is available for it: Allowed/Forbidden.
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When to allow it: If you are planning to create vendor bonuses in your program, meaning to pay publishers an additional reward for selling products by specific brands.
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When to prohibit it: If work with vendor bonuses is not relevant to your program.
Learn more about vendor bonuses:
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When to allow it: If you are planning to create vendor bonuses in your program, meaning to pay publishers an additional reward for selling products by specific brands.
