Skip to main content

​
TL;DR

ClickFlare supports multiple campaign types to accommodate different tracking needs and traffic sources. The two most important ones are Redirect campaigns and Direct (Google-compliant) campaigns. Choosing the right campaign type is essential for accurate tracking and platform compliance.

​
Why Campaign Types Matter

Not all traffic sources work the same way. Some platforms:
  • Allow redirect tracking
  • Allow external tracking URLs
  • Allow passing custom parameters freely
Others:
  • Require traffic to go directly to the destination
  • Restrict redirects or third-party URLs
  • Enforce strict compliance rules
ClickFlare campaign types exist to handle these differences without breaking attribution.

​
Redirect Campaigns

​
What Is a Redirect Campaign?

A Redirect campaign sends traffic through ClickFlare before reaching the destination. Flow:
This is the default and most commonly used campaign type.

​
When to Use Redirect Campaigns

Use a Redirect campaign when:
  • Your traffic source allows external tracking URLs
  • You want maximum flexibility
  • You are using affiliate offers, lead gen funnels, or RSOC setups
  • You want ClickFlare to control the full redirect flow

​
What Redirect Campaigns Support

Redirect campaigns allow:
  • Full Visit and Click tracking
  • Landing page rotation and testing
  • Offer rotation
  • Parameter capture and storage
  • All conversion tracking methods (postback, script, API)
  • Advanced routing and filtering
📌 If you’re unsure which campaign type to use, start with Redirect.

​
Direct (Google-Compliant) Campaigns

​
What Is a Direct Campaign?

A Direct campaign is designed for platforms that do not allow redirect tracking, most notably Google Ads. Flow:
In this setup:
  • Traffic does not pass through a ClickFlare redirect
  • ClickFlare tracks users using scripts and first-party cookies
  • Attribution happens without breaking platform rules

​
When to Use Direct Campaigns

Use a Direct campaign when:
  • Running Google Ads or other strict platforms
  • Redirect tracking is not allowed
  • You must send traffic directly to the final URL
  • Compliance is required

​
What Direct Campaigns Support

Direct campaigns support:
  • Visit and conversion tracking
  • First-party cookie attribution
  • Script-based event tracking
  • Conversion APIs for sending data back to ad platforms
📌 Direct campaigns trade some flexibility for compliance and stability.

​
Key Differences at a Glance

​
Other Campaign Types (Advanced)

Depending on your setup, you may also encounter:
  • Advanced Flow campaigns
  • Multi-step funnel campaigns
  • Custom routing campaigns
These are covered in Advanced Tracking & Automation and are not required for getting started.

​
How to Choose the Right Campaign Type

Ask yourself:
  1. Does my traffic source allow redirect URLs?
  2. Do I need full routing and rotation control?
  3. Am I required to send traffic directly to the page?
If the answer to #1 is yes → use Redirect If the answer to #3 is yes → use Direct

​
Common Mistakes

  • Using Redirect campaigns with Google Ads when not allowed
  • Assuming Direct campaigns behave the same as Redirect campaigns
  • Skipping the required script in Direct setups

​
Summary

  • Redirect campaigns are the most flexible and recommended starting point
  • Direct campaigns exist for compliance-driven platforms
  • The campaign type determines how tracking is implemented, not how reports work
Once the campaign type is chosen correctly, reporting and attribution behave consistently across ClickFlare.
  • Create Your First Redirect Campaign
  • How Click Tracking Works
  • How Conversion Tracking Works
  • Direct Campaign Setup (Google-Compliant)