Add a Custom Traffic Source to Voluum
To run a campaign, you first need a steady stream of traffic to target. Traffic sources provide you with these visitors. You need to configure the traffic source element in Voluum to be able to set up a campaign. The following article describes how to add a new traffic source.
Custom Element
Creating a custom element means that you will have to manually fill all the necessary information needed to correctly match traffic source platform data with Voluum. It is a good idea to have your traffic sources documentation nearby for a quick reference.
- In Voluum, go to Traffic sources.
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Click the Create button and select the Traffic source option from the drop-down menu.
- Select the Create custom traffic sources option.
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Click the Next button.
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Provide a unique name in the Traffic source name field.
When you start typing the name of the traffic source, Voluum will suggest you a traffic source template that matches the name you provide.
- Select the Workspace from the drop-down menu that this traffic source will be assigned to. To learn more, read the Workspaces: Overview article.
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The Parameters section enables you to pass additional visit characteristics from the traffic source platform, for example, source or zone ID, that can be then used as a basis for targeting and optimization. All of them are automatically appended to the Campaign URL or Impression pixel URL in the configuration of a campaign created per traffic source entity.
Type in parameters according to your traffic source platform's documentation. Click the Add parameter button to add more parameters. Read the Pass Information from a Traffic Source to Voluum article to learn more.
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Select the cost currency from the Currency drop-down menu. The default currency is USD. If your traffic source platform uses a different currency, select an appropriate option from the Cost currency drop-down menu. Voluum will use this currency to record cost information. The currency of the recorded cost information cannot be changed. Read the Multicurrency in Voluum article to learn more.
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(Optional) In the Passing conversions to a traffic source section you can select between the two methods of reporting conversions:
The following two options determine the way how you are going to pass information about conversions back to the traffic source. Enable the toggle to use either method. Note that only some options are supported by your traffic source platform.
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(Optional) The More tracking options section contains an additional tracking option that you can set:
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Impression tracking
Voluum can generate an impression pixel for sources that support impression tracking and Cost per thousand impressions (cost per mille, CPM) costs. Turn on the toggle, if you want to use the impression tracking method for your campaigns associated with this traffic source entity.
Voluum Note: The Impression tracking field can be only set up, if the traffic source supports it. Read the Tracking Impressions article to learn more
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Click the Save button.
What's Next?
After you have created a traffic source element, read the following articles to learn how to add rest of elements:
Necessary elements:
Optional elements:
- Add a Lander Element
- Adding Click URLs to a Lander
- Add an Affiliate Network to Voluum
- Set Flows and Paths
Video Tutorial
Click here to expand the video tutorial section:
The below video will instruct you how to create a custom traffic source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? You might find the answers below:
I would like to find out more about the automatic tracking cost of a campaign.
To track cost automatically in Voluum, first you need to set it up in the traffic source’s configuration and then, select the Auto option in the Edit Campaign window. To double-check if all options are correct, in the configuration of the traffic source selected for your campaign check if the Cost in the Advanced Parameters is mapped with the cost parameter provided by the traffic source. To do so, first you need to go to the traffic source documentation and find the name of the parameter and then double check the provided Cost field in the Advanced Parameters section.
Take a look at the example of mapping the Cost parameter in the Advanced Parameters section in the traffic source configuration:
Once the Cost field has been mapped, select the Auto option in the campaign’s configuration with the traffic source entity you have set up. You should see the campaign’s cost in Voluum.
What is {externalid}?
{externalid} is a unique parameter in a postback URL that you can define while adding a traffic source in Voluum. The server-to-server postback URL enables you to send data from one server to another by requesting a unique URL using the HTTP (or HTTPS) protocol. When you define the postback URL with tokens such as clickid, you can send this data back to the traffic source. The clickids (or subid, the token name is defined by the traffic source) are used to track a unique conversion event per user. You need to map this clickid with the Voluum’s externalid while configuring the traffic source. This allows to send back information to the traffic source that the successful conversion has been registered.
What are the {var1}, {var2}, ... tokens?
The {var1}, {var2} and var-typed fields are tokens that return values of given custom variables passed from the traffic source.
There are Available URL tokens listed in the traffic source configuration window? Should I use them? What do they mean?
Tokens enable you to pass back additional data to the traffic source upon conversion via their supported S2S postback URL. You can only use them if your traffic source uses a server-to-server postback call. If there is only a pixel redirect URL, you do not need to use tokens at all. The most important is the {externalid} field in Voluum that should be mapped with a unique clickid/subid defined in the traffic source.
I am trying to create a template for my traffic source but I don't have a postback URL. Does it mean that this traffic source won't work with Voluum?
Traffic source postback URL is used to report conversions from Voluum to a traffic source. It is an optional element and is not required for setting up a traffic source or a campaign in Voluum.
