Setting up multi-store Android attribution

The Android package name determines which dashboard will contain the attribution data. In the single dashboard method, all stores have identical Android package names. There is no concept of a channel parameter here.

The identification of the download store is by way of the AF_STORE parameter set in the SDK, as described in this section. 

To prepare the APK:

1. Create a copy of the App build. Note: Don't change the Android package name. 
2. To identify the individual store use one of the following methods:
   • Manifest method: Add the following within the <application> tag of the AndroidManfest.xml to identify the store. Set the AF_STORE parameter to the app store name.

     <application>
     <meta-data android:name="AF_STORE" android:value="enter_store_name_here">
     </application>

     --OR--
   • API method: Prepare a separate APK for each out-of-store market. Call the setOutOfStore API to set the AF_STORE value. Set a unique value for each store.
     

     AppsFlyerLib.getInstance().setOutOfStore("example_store")

The value set here appears in AppsFlyer raw data install_app_store field. This field is available in:

• Cohort analysis 
• Raw data reports (Raw data reports are an AppsFlyer premium feature)

1. Go to Configuration > Integrated Partners and choose the ad network.
2. In the Attribution Link tab, set the Out-of-store URL parameter. This populates the af_r macro on the attribution link to redirect users to the correct app store landing page. For example, &af_r=http://www.destinationurl.com The default URL is set in the App Settings page.
3. Populate the af_r macro with the store landing page URL.
4. Set additional attribution link parameters.
5. Out-of-store media sources make use of ID matching for attribution and the AppsFlyer Probabilistic modeling serves as a fallback method.
6. Add one or more user ID placeholders to the link URL:
   • android_id
   • advertising_id
   • oaid
7. Copy the attribution link and give it to the ad network partner.

The Android package name combined with the channel parameter set in the manifest determines which store dashboard will contain the attribution data. 

To prepare a separate APK/manifest for each store:

• Add the following within the <application> tag of the AndroidManfest.xml to identify the store. Set CHANNEL parameter to the app store name. 

  <application>
  < meta-data android:name="CHANNEL" android:value="enter_store_name_here">
  </application

  Note: Parameters are case sensitive.

Add a dashboard (app) identified by the combination of the Android package name and channel set in the APK/manifest. Example: Android package name is com.myapp and the channel name is abcstore then the unique dashboard name is com.myapp—abcstore. 

To add a dashboard per store in AppsFlyer:

1. Go to, My apps, click Add app.
   The Add your app window opens.

   

2. Select Android out of store APK (Standalone, Amazon, etc.)
   
3. Complete:
   • Android Package Name: The package name exactly as it appears in the app package. 
   • Channel name: Unique identifier (store name) to differentiate between dashboards having the same package name. Ensure that you use the same value in the APK prepared for the store.
   • App URL: contains the default URL download address that populates the af_r macro in attribution links. You should add the URL for where the APK is hosted / landing page URL here. You don't have to set this now. You can add it when you create attribution links. 
4. Click Save.
   The app is created. 

Non-organic installs

To test non-organic installs:

1. Use an Android device that does not have your app installed or whitelist the device.
2. Generate a test attribution link using Custom Media Source Configuration. Use test as the Media source name ("&pid=test").
3. Add an advertising ID being GAID, OAID, or Android ID to the click URL.

   http://app.appsflyer.com/com.greatapp?pid=test
   &af_r=http://www.destinationurl.com&advertising_id=b5a3-78d9b5-0f12345-xxxx

   Send the attribution link to yourself via email and click on it. Once redirected, do not install from the store. Instead, install the updated beta version app with AppsFlyer's attribution SDK embedded and launch it.

Organic installs

To test organic installs:

1. Use an Android device that does not have your app installed or that is whitelisted.
2. Install the updated beta version app with AppsFlyer's attribution SDK embedded and launch it.
3. Check the results:

Prepare new APKs for the stores by using the single dashboard method instructions contained in this article.

1. Configure a URL link to the app in your Facebook app settings, under the Android section.
2. Log in to Facebook as the app admin, go to https://developers.facebook.com/apps/ and choose the app.
3. Go to settings and find your Android settings, or if you have not already configured Android, add the platform.
4. Fill out the required details, including the Amazon app store URL specific to your app.
   
   
5. In the AppsFlyer dashboard, under Integrated Partners, select Facebook, and enter the same Facebook App ID you use when recording Facebook In-Store Mobile App Install Ads with AppsFlyer.
6. When setting up Advert Sets on Facebook, choose “Amazon Appstore”.
   
   

Note: This screenshot is taken from the Facebook Power Editor, and may be presented differently in FMP platforms.

You can use the following reporting methods in AppsFlyer.

• Cohorts:
  • Combine multiple dashboards (apps) in a single report
  • View the performance of each dashboard by breaking down by install_app_store
• Pull API (for single app method): Pull API installs raw data does not contain the Install App Store by default. To include the column add the following to the Pull API call: &additional_fields=install_app_store
• Custom dashboard (for multiple apps method): If you use the multi-dashboard approach, use the custom dashboard to combine performance data from several apps in one place. 

• As of July 2020 Google Play and Huawei app store, an alternate Android store, support referrer attribution.
• To enable alternative Android store referrer attribution the app must use Android SDK V5.4 or later. No other setting or configuration is required.
• Attribution by an alternative store referrer is reflected in raw data reports as follows:
  • Match type: the name of the alternative store attributed. Example, huawei_referrer.
  • In some cases, Google Play may assist in the install but not be credited with it. This is reflected in the contributor fields. Similarly, an alternate app store may assist Google Play.
  • Alternate app store referrers are not available in raw data.