Introduction
ironSource, one of AppsFlyer's integrated partners, builds monetization, engagement, analytics and discovery tools for app developers, device manufacturers, mobile carriers and advertisers.
In addition to click-based mobile attribution, ironSource also offers cost, ad revenue, retargeting and view-through attribution, which you can record with AppsFlyer.
To configure your campaigns with ironSource, follow the steps below.
Setting up ironSource
Go to the dashboard of your app and click on Integrated Partners on the left bar.
Enter "ironSource" in the search field and click on its logo to open ironSource's configuration window.
ironSource's configuration window includes 5 tabs: Integration, Attribution link, Cost, Ad Revenue, and Permissions. Click on the items below to read about the tabs setup.
For a detailed description of the Partner Configuration Window Header, click here.
Tip
- The General Settings step in the Integration tab is mandatory for all partners
- All the rest of the steps are either descriptive or optional
Integration tab
Activate partners
On the first visit here, you will need to toggle ON the Activate Partner button to enable setup of the integration tab's parameters. The toggle MUST be ON for as long as you work with the partner.
For more details about partner activation please click here.
Note
As an ALL-Installs network, ironSource prefers to receive postbacks for all new installs of your app from ANY source, including organic. It is recommended to select Events attributed to any partner to send all install postbacks to ironSource.
General settings
Partner ID
ironSource connects with AppsFlyer via a unique advertiser ID (6-digit number) and a password. If you don't already have the advertiser ID and password, you must obtain it from ironSource to continue with the integration.
Enable View-Through attribution
Toggle this to ON if you want to attribute view-through installs from ironSource. The view-through lookback slider is available on the attribution link tab (described below).
Default postbacks
AppsFlyer can send automatic postbacks to ironSource following user installs and re-engagements. Use this section to define the source of the users that allow sending these postbacks.
Select Only events attributed to this partner for events coming only from users attributed to ironSource.
Select Events attributed to any partner or organic to have your entire user base available to be reported to ironSource.
In-app events settings
In this section you can map your AppsFlyer events with ironSource via postbacks.
- Enter the advertiserid and password again.
- Toggle In-App Event Postbacks to ON.
- Select the Sending Option for all SDK defined events.
- Only events attributed to this partner for events coming only from users attributed to this partner
- Events attributed to any partner or organic to have your entire user base available to be reported to the partner - Click Add Event to add an SDK Event to the list.
- Complete the following parameters:
| Parameter Name | Description |
|---|---|
| SDK Event Name | The name of the event, as received by AppsFlyer either from the SDK integrated in your app, or from server to server events. Tip - If you don't see the event you want in the list, make sure to activate the event on a device with a non-organic installation and recheck. |
| Partner Event Identifier | The unique name or ID of each event as defined on ironSource's side. Obtain the corresponding Event ID from ironSource and set in the text field. |
| Send Revenue | When unchecked - AppsFlyer sends all the parameters of the rich in-app event to the partner, except for the revenue parameter, which is contained in the af_revenue parameter. When checked - AppsFlyer sends all the parameters including the revenue value (if it exists in the event). |
Attribution link tab
This tab is divided into different sections:
Attribution link parameters
In this section, select which parameters you want to add to the attribution link.
Adding parameters to the attribution link here enables you to later perform thorough drill-down analyses. Parameters that are already defined on the attribution link can be edited by adding them and their new values here.
- Campaign - add it to compare different campaigns running with ironSource.
Attribution link parameter: c - Adset - set ad set names to compare different ad sets within specific ironSource campaigns.
Attribution link parameter: af_adset - Ad Name - set ad set names to compare different creatives within specific ad sets within specific campaigns ironSource.
Attribution link parameter: af_ad - Site ID and Sub Site ID - set Site ID parameter to attribute installs to specific publishers. If many publishers exist, we advise on limiting the number of used site IDs and using the sub site ID parameter, to avoid exceeding the site ID limitations.
Attribution link parameters: af_siteid and af_sub_siteid - Subscriber Parameters - use any of the 5 subscriber parameters to insert useful values. Note that these parameters get parsed and appear in the raw data report, which makes them very handy for performing data aggregation or filtering.
Attribution link parameters: af_sub1, af_sub2, af_sub3, af_sub4, af_sub5
Add any other parameter to the attribution link simply by typing it in a new parameter box. For more information about AppsFlyer's Attribution Link Structure and Parameters.
Retargeting settings
When enabled, AppsFlyer recognizes a link as a retargeting attribution link, rather than a user acquisition link, by adding the &is_retargeting=true to the click recording link. Note that retargeting is currently only supported for click-through and not view-through attribution.
Attribution link parameter: is_retargeting.
The following setup below is displayed when retargeting is enabled.
1. Standard Link vs. OneLink
Select standard attribution link option if:
- You don't need to deep link with the URL or
- Plan to use only URI schemes for deep linking
select Use OneLink for:
- Using a single link for both Android and iOS apps or
- Deep linking using Universal or app links
Note that selecting OneLink changes the click recording link from app specific to a OneLink URL.
2. Deep Link URL
Use this field if the link is meant to deep link users to any specific activity within your app.
Attribution link parameter: af_dp
You can find more information about AppsFlyer's deep linking solution in this guide.
3. Re-engagement Window
Set the time period following the re-engagement, where the user's in-app events are attributed to the retargeting media source. You can set the value in days (1-90), hours (up to 23), or even lifetime.
Attribution link parameter: af_reengagement_window
Click-through attribution
This slider allows you to set the maximum time from click to install. Only installs (first launches) that take place within the lookback window may be attributed to ironSource.
Attribution link parameter: af_click_lookback
More details about the click lookback window here.
Click attribution link
This is the attribution link that contains all the setup information you have set for it. Send it to ironSource to be activated when leads click on a corresponding ad.
View-through attribution lookback window
This slider allows you to set the maximum time from impression to install. Only installs (first launches) that take place within this lookback window, following an ad impression, are attributed to ironSource, providing there was no other relevant ad click.
You can customize this value to 1-23 hours or 1-7 days.
Attribution link parameter: af_viewthrough_lookback
More details about the view-through attribution here.
Impressions attribution link
The impression attribution link contains similar attribution data to the click recording link (besides the different lookback window). Send it to ironSource to be activated when a corresponding ad is watched, usually for 1 second or more.
Cost tab
ironSource automatically sends CPI cost data on the attribution link for all installs.
For the full list of partners supporting cost data go here.
Ad revenue tab
This section is relevant only if you are acting as a publisher, displaying ads of the partner to your users. As such, you would certainly like to measure the engagement of your users acquired from different sources, to find the most profitable sources for you.
Set the Get Ad Revenue Data toggle to display the partner's required setup for revenue data. Follow the specific instructions on the partner's ad revenue section. For example, in the capture below the partner requires a simple login to its system.
To learn more about ad revenue (AKA Ad monetization) tracking go here.
Permissions tab
In this tab, you can select the permissions to grant ironSource, whether the partner acts as an ad network, agency or even both. Note that even if attribution is disabled for ironSource, the permissions tab is active and you can grant control to ironSource.
Use these toggles to give the ad network permissions to handle its own configuration for your app:
Ad network permissions
- Allow to configure integration - permit the partner to setup the integration tab (except in-app event postbacks)
- Allow to configure in-app event postbacks - permit the partner to setup in-app event postbacks mapping to itself on the integration tab
- Allow access to your retention report - only to the partner's own retention data
- Allow access to your aggregate loyal user data - only to the partner's own loyal user data
- Allow access to your aggregate in-app events data - only to the partner's own in-app events data
- Allow access to your aggregate revenue data - only to the revenue data attributed to the partner
- Allow access to your Protect360 dashboard - only to the partner's own Protect360 data, and providing the feature is enabled for the advertiser
Learn more about granting ad network permissions.
Agency permissions
Use these toggles to give the agency permissions to handle its own configuration for your app:
- Main toggle - Set to On to reveal the agency permissions options
- Allow access to your retention report - only to the agency's own retention data
- Allow access to aggregate organic data
- Allow to configure in-app event postbacks - permit the agency to setup in-app event postbacks mapping to itself on the integration tab
Learn more about granting agency permissions.