The Superior Tracking and Transformation (STAT) Tag is a Javascript tag designed to improve tracking and make it easier to monetize partner websites. To use the STAT tag, partners simply add a snippet of Javascript code to their web pages—the tag then automatically begins converting direct links to joined brands into tracking links.
Besides the link transformation aspect, the STAT tag also enables more consistent impression tracking and cross-device user identity tracking.
The STAT Tag allows brands to effortlessly harness the power of accurate impression tracking and improved user identity matching. With reliable impression tracking, brands can better evaluate each partner's overall value, traffic quality, and effectiveness. And, of course, improved user identification means an increased number of cross-device sales will be correctly attributed to the partner channel. This improved tracking all comes by way of a first-party cookie set whenever a user loads your partner's page.
Partners invest a lot of time and money to produce quality content. However, content is just one side of the equation. It's also essential to properly coordinate ad and link placement with relevant content, and even the best partners sometimes miss opportunities to include tracking links. The link transformation functionality of the STAT Tag automatically detects all of the relevant direct URLs on the partner's site and transforms them into tracking links. Since the transformation is both automatic and comprehensive, partners no longer need to go through the effort of manually pulling tracking links.
From the left navigation bar, select
[Menu] → Settings.In the right-hand column, under Tracking, select General.
On the General Tracking Settings screen, in the Impression Reporting field, select
[Edit].Select
[Toggle on] Enable statistics for impressions.Select Save.
The STAT Tag has the following three functions.
- Why do we transform links?
Many of the links on a partner's page may not earn even though they are valuable. Our transform link functionality will solve that problem by auto-transforming any direct links to associated affiliate links so that partners can focus their time more on creating the content while impact.com transforms the links for them.
- When and how do we transform links?
Once a STAT Tag is placed on the partner's web page, the transformation function searches for links on the page that contain joined brand domains. When we find a relevant link, we transform that direct link into a tracking link while preserving the specific landing page.
- Why do we track impressions?
Impressions are usually the first interaction with a potential converting user and are more useful for measuring how often users engage with the associated ad. While brands rarely desire to base payout rates on the number of impressions served, impression data can help brands make better strategic decisions.
- When do we track impressions?
An impression is tracked each time a user loads a web page that contains the STAT Tag and any links to a joined brand's content.
- How do we track impressions?
The STAT Tag keys into the URL of each link and logs an impression for each one. If there are multiple instances of the same URL (e.g.,
https://advertiser.com), then the tag will only log a single impression on that page load. If there are multiple URLs (e.g.,https://advertiser.comandhttps://advertiser/com/clothing), the tag will register one impression for each unique URL.
- What is Identify User?
As the name indicates, this function captures information about the user and passes that data to our impact.com Consortium user identity pools. The more often we identify users, the better our cross-device tracking will be.
- How do we identify users?
When a page loads, the STAT Tag drops a first-party cookie in the partner's browser. This cookie allows us to track user activity and helps stitch together different sessions by the same user.
The STAT Tag integration only happens partner-side. See STAT Tag Implementation for Partners for more information.
Yes! Impression tracking is available for all brands. See As a brand, how do I turn on impression tracking? above to learn how to do so. If you do not see the option to turn on impression reporting in your tracking settings, contact support.
First, you should confirm that impression tracking is enabled. See As a brand, how do I turn on impression tracking? above to learn how to do so. Impression reports are available under Performance Reporting. If you cannot find this report in the reporting section, contact support.
It's technically possible for the partners to modify the tag during implementation, stripping out parts of the functionality. We recommend that partners use all three functions in order to provide the best user identity and impression insights.
If one of your partners has implemented the tag and you have enabled impression tracking, but you are not seeing impressions, we recommend reaching out directly and confirming that the partner is using all three functions of the tag.
The STAT Tag has no inherent functionality to override any tags of the web page. We respect all existing affiliate links on the partner's page, and we do not overwrite any links that already have affiliate tracking. Our script will only modify brand links (for brands currently joined to the partner in impact.com) that do not already have affiliate tracking information.
Function Type | Data Captured/Parameters |
Identify User | The following data is captured on page load.
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Transform Links | The following data is captured only when the user clicks on the ad/link.
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Track Impression | The following data is captured upon page load.
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