How to Use Ad Channels for Separate Tracking in Post Affiliate Pro

Problem definition

Managing multiple promotional efforts or websites as an affiliate often requires understanding which sources generate the best results. Post Affiliate Pro addresses this need using Ad Channels, allowing affiliates to categorize and separately track their traffic and conversions. This guide explains how to set up and use Ad Channels, how to construct affiliate links, and how to interpret channel-based reports for optimal campaign management.

For a comprehensive overview, you can also consult the official SubID / Channels tracking knowledgebase article .

Creating Ad Channels in Post Affiliate Pro

Before using channel tracking, affiliates must create the necessary channels within their affiliate panel. This is usually found under Promotion → Ad channels. Each channel represents a unique source (such as a specific website, landing page, or campaign).

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To add a new channel:

1. Log into the affiliate panel.
2. Navigate to Promotion → Ad channels.
3. Click “Add Channel,” enter a channel name (e.g., “fc” for a second website), and save.

Using the Channel Parameter in Affiliate URLs

After creating a channel, affiliates should add the channel code to their affiliate URLs using the chan parameter. This ensures clicks and sales are attributed to the correct channel.

Example URL:

https://www.yoursite.com/?a_aid=yourAffiliateID&chan=fc

Replace yourAffiliateID with the actual affiliate ID and fc with the desired channel code.
Default parameter names like a_aid, chan, data1, and data2 are commonly used, but merchants can change these in the merchant panel under Configuration → URL parameter names.

Best practice:
Assign a unique channel code for each website, placement, or campaign to easily compare performance across sources.

Viewing Channel Performance Reports

Post Affiliate Pro provides detailed reporting for each channel. Merchants and affiliates can view statistics such as impressions, clicks, sales, and commissions for every channel in the Channel Stats Report (found under Reports → Channel stats report).

This makes it easy to identify which sources, websites, or promotions perform best and optimize marketing strategies accordingly.

Troubleshooting Channel Tracking

• Channel not appearing in reports: Ensure the channel was created in the affiliate panel before using the code in URLs.
• No data for a channel: Double-check that the correct chan parameter is present and spelled correctly in all affiliate links.
• Combining with other parameters: You can safely use chan alongside other tracking parameters like data1 and data2 for advanced segmentation. Remember, these parameter names may be customized by your merchant.

Best Practices for Ad Channel Tracking in Post Affiliate Pro

• Always create channels before using their codes in affiliate URLs.
• Use descriptive channel names to easily identify their purpose.
• Regularly review the Channel Stats Report to measure and compare campaign effectiveness.
• For SEO-friendly links, refer to your .htaccess configuration to support channel and custom data parameters as outlined in official documentation.

Additional Questions about Channel and SubID Tracking

Can I use Ad Channels in SEO-friendly (referral) links?

Yes, channels can be included in SEO links if your .htaccess is configured accordingly. For example:
https://www.yoursite.com/ref/affiliateID/bannerID/channelCode

Refer to your system documentation or hosting provider for precise .htaccess settings.

How do I use extra tracking parameters with channels?

You can append data1 and data2 parameters to your affiliate links for further tracking. For example:
https://www.yoursite.com/?a_aid=yourAffiliateID&chan=fc&data1=sourceA&data2=summer2025

These values will be available in the Raw Clicks and Commissions reports for granular analysis.
Again, these are default parameter names and can be modified by the merchant under Configuration → URL parameter names.

Where can I find official documentation about Ad Channels?

Detailed guidance is available in the SubID / Channels tracking knowledgebase article .