Tutorials / Attribute every channel

Track sponsors, affiliates and QR codes

3 minute read

Sponsoring a newsletter, paying an affiliate, printing a QR code on packaging: all three are the same measurement problem. Give each one a link only they use.

1. One tag per partner

Sponsored newsletter:  https://acme.com/?via=morning-brew
Affiliate Jane:        https://acme.com/?via=jane
QR on the box:         https://acme.com/?ref=box-qr

?via= and ?ref= both count as the source. For a QR code, encode the tagged URL and the print world becomes measurable like the web.

2. Read each partner's row

Each tag gets its own row with visitors, orders and revenue, credited by last non-direct touch. "Did the $500 sponsorship make more than $500" stops being a feeling.

3. A segment per deal you repeat

Filter to the partner's tag, save it as a segment named after the deal, and renewal time becomes: open segment, read number, decide.