Complete Parallel & S2S Tracking Setup Guide
In traditional redirect tracking, when a user clicks an ad, their browser is forced to load a tracking redirect link before arriving at the final landing page. This redirect chain adds 500ms to 2 seconds of latency, leading to user drop-offs and lost revenue.
Parallel Tracking solves this. The ad network loads the landing page instantly in the user's browser, while executing the tracking link in the background.
Here is how to configure Parallel Tracking with PostbackFlow for all major ad platforms.
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The Core Concept: How Parallel Tracking Works with PostbackFlow
Because the tracker redirect happens in the background (server-side by Google/Microsoft), the browser bypasses the tracker. This means:
1. Traditional browser redirect cookies cannot be set.
2. You must pass click identifiers (like gclid or msclkid) directly to the target URL.
3. The affiliate network must capture this identifier and send it back via the Postback URL.
4. PostbackFlow receives the identifier (e.g., gclid) and uploads it directly to the ad network's Offline Conversions API.
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1. Google Ads Parallel Tracking Setup
Google Ads mandates Parallel Tracking for all search, shopping, and display campaigns.
Step 1: Set the Final URL
Enter your landing page URL or direct affiliate offer link:https://yourlandingpage.com
Step 2: Set the Tracking Template
In your Google Ads campaign settings (under Campaign URL options), set the Tracking Template to:https://track.postbackflow.com/click?sub1={gclid}&sub2={campaignid}&sub3={adgroupid}&sub4={creative}&sub5={keyword}&url={escapedurl}
{gclid}is Google's Click ID.
{escapedurl}dynamically inserts your Final URL.
Step 3: Configure the Final URL Suffix (Crucial!)
Because the redirect happens in the background, you must append thegclid to the user's browser. In the Final URL Suffix box, enter:
s2={gclid}
s2 with the parameter name your affiliate network or landing page uses to receive click IDs. For MaxBounty, use s2; for ClickBank, use tid; for Impact, use subId1).*
Step 4: Configure the Affiliate Network Postback
Inside your affiliate network panel, configure the global postback URL to return the click ID to PostbackFlow:https://track.postbackflow.com/pb?click_id={s2}&payout={payout}
click_id is a raw gclid and automatically uploads it to the Google Ads Offline Conversions API.*
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2. Microsoft Ads (Bing) Parallel Tracking Setup
Microsoft Ads handles parallel tracking identically to Google Ads.
Step 1: Set the Final URL
https://yourlandingpage.com
Step 2: Set the Tracking Template
https://track.postbackflow.com/click?sub1={msclkid}&sub2={campaignid}&sub3={adgroupid}&sub4={creative}&sub5={keyword}&url={escapedurl}
Step 3: Set the Final URL Suffix
s2={msclkid}
Step 4: Configure the Postback
Set your affiliate network postback to send the parameter containing themsclkid to PostbackFlow:
https://track.postbackflow.com/pb?click_id={s2}&payout={payout}
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3. Meta Ads (Facebook) Configuration
Meta Ads does not use a background Tracking Template. Instead, Meta redirects users directly to your Final URL with a Facebook Click ID (fbclid) appended.
To implement parallel-style tracking on Facebook:
Step 1: Enable Meta Conversions API (CAPI) in PostbackFlow
Connect your Meta Pixel and API Access Token under the Integrations tab.Step 2: Set your Ad Destination URL
Meta automatically appends?fbclid=... to all click URLs. Set your ad URL to:
https://yourlandingpage.com
Step 3: Implement PostbackFlow JS Pixel on Landing Page
Paste our single-line JS Pixel tag inside the<head> of your landing page. The script automatically:
- Extracts the
fbclidfrom the URL.
- Saves it in the user's local storage/cookies.
- Auto-injects it into all outbound affiliate links.
Step 4: Network Postback Setup
Ensure the affiliate network returns the tracking ID back:https://track.postbackflow.com/pb?click_id={s2}&payout={payout}
fbclid and sends a server-to-server Conversions API payload to Meta.*
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4. TikTok Ads Configuration
TikTok Ads uses the TikTok Click ID (ttclid) for offline event matching.
Step 1: Destination URL
TikTok automatically appends?ttclid=... to clicks. Set your URL to:
https://yourlandingpage.com
Step 2: JS Pixel Capture
The PostbackFlow landing page script automatically detects and capturesttclid from the URL query parameters and forwards it to your outbound affiliate links.
Step 3: Network Postback
https://track.postbackflow.com/pb?click_id={s2}&payout={payout}