Keywords & SEO Tracking

Available in:

Post Affiliate Pro , Post Affiliate Pro Ultimate , Post Affiliate Network

Keywords & SEO Tracking in Post Affiliate Pro enables you to analyze traffic, sales, and commissions segmented by the search keywords that brought visitors to your affiliate program. This powerful feature helps you optimize Google Ads, Bing Ads, and other PPC campaigns based on actual keyword performance in generating affiliate sales.

How Keyword Performance Tracking Works

Post Affiliate Pro automatically captures keywords from referrer URLs when visitors click on affiliate links. The system extracts search terms from URL parameters and associates them with the resulting clicks, conversions, and commissions.

The tracking works through two primary methods:

1. Referrer URL Analysis: When a visitor arrives from a search engine, Post Affiliate Pro parses the referrer URL to extract the search query parameter
2. Direct Parameter Capture: Keywords can also be passed directly through URL parameters in your affiliate links

By default, the system looks for the standard q parameter used by most search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo). For Google Ads campaigns, it also recognizes the keyword parameter within the adurl format, ensuring comprehensive tracking of paid search campaigns.

Search Term Capture

The keyword extraction process handles various URL formats commonly used by search engines and advertising platforms:

Standard search engine format:

https://www.google.com/search?q=affiliate+software

Google Ads format with adurl:

https://www.google.com/url?adurl=https://yoursite.com/?keyword=affiliate%20software

Post Affiliate Pro processes both query string parameters and URL fragment parameters, ensuring no search data is lost regardless of how the search engine structures the referrer URL.

Configuring the Keyword Parameter

While the default parameter name is q, you can customize this to match your specific tracking needs. This is particularly useful when:

• Running campaigns on advertising platforms that use different parameter names
• Implementing custom tracking URLs with specific keyword variables
• Integrating with third-party marketing tools

To configure the keyword parameter, navigate to the Keywords Performance feature settings in your Post Affiliate Pro merchant panel and specify the URL parameter name that contains your keywords.

Keyword-Based Analytics

The Keywords Performance report provides detailed analytics for each tracked keyword, allowing you to evaluate which search terms drive the most value for your affiliate program.

Available Metrics

These metrics help you identify high-performing keywords that deserve increased advertising spend and underperforming terms that may need optimization or removal from your campaigns.

Optimizing PPC Campaigns

The Keywords Performance feature is designed to help you maximize ROI from paid search campaigns. By understanding which keywords actually generate sales and commissions in your affiliate program, you can:

• Allocate budget effectively: Increase spending on keywords with high conversion rates and click values
• Identify negative keywords: Discover search terms that generate clicks but no conversions
• Refine match types: Understand which exact phrases convert best
• Improve quality scores: Focus on keywords that drive engaged traffic
• Calculate true ROI: Compare keyword advertising costs against actual commission payouts

Integration with Google Ads

For Google Ads campaigns, Post Affiliate Pro captures keyword data from multiple sources within the referrer URL. This includes:

• The standard q parameter for organic-style tracking
• The keyword parameter embedded in Google’s adurl format
• Custom parameters you define in your campaign URLs

This comprehensive approach ensures accurate tracking regardless of how Google structures the click-through URL.

SEO Target URL Variables

Post Affiliate Pro includes the SEO Target URL Variable plugin, which enables advanced URL customization for SEO-friendly affiliate links. This plugin adds the {$seo_targeturl} variable for use in banner formats.

When activated, this variable generates a mod_rewrite-compatible SEO URL based on the banner’s destination domain. This allows affiliates to use clean, search-engine-friendly URLs while maintaining full tracking capabilities.

To use this feature effectively:

1. Enable the SEO Target URL Variable plugin in your Post Affiliate Pro installation
2. Implement SEO tracking code on all banner destination URLs
3. Use the {$seo_targeturl} variable in your banner format templates

This approach combines the benefits of Direct Link tracking with keyword capture, providing both SEO value and detailed analytics.

Reports and Analysis

Accessing Keyword Reports

The Keywords Performance report is available in the merchant panel under Reports > Keywords Performance. This report displays all captured keywords along with their associated metrics.

You can filter the report by:

• Date range
• Transaction type
• Commission type
• Specific affiliates

Exporting Data

The Keywords Performance grid supports CSV export, allowing you to:

• Import data into spreadsheet applications for custom analysis
• Share performance reports with stakeholders
• Combine keyword data with external advertising platform data
• Create custom visualizations and dashboards

Best Practices for Keyword Tracking

Campaign Structure

When setting up PPC campaigns for affiliate tracking:

1. Use consistent naming: Ensure keyword parameters follow a standardized format across all campaigns
2. Enable auto-tagging: For Google Ads, auto-tagging helps ensure referrer data is properly captured
3. Test tracking: Verify keyword capture by performing test clicks before scaling campaigns

Affiliate Communication

Help your affiliates maximize keyword tracking benefits:

• Provide guidance on structuring PPC campaigns for optimal tracking
• Share keyword performance insights to help affiliates optimize their campaigns
• Encourage use of the SubID/Ad Channels feature alongside keyword tracking for granular campaign analysis

Performance Optimization

Regularly review keyword performance data to:

• Identify seasonal keyword trends
• Discover new high-converting search terms
• Eliminate underperforming keywords from campaigns
• Adjust commission structures based on keyword value

Related Features

Keywords & SEO Tracking works seamlessly with other Post Affiliate Pro features:

• Direct Link Tracking : Combine SEO-friendly links with keyword capture
• SubID/Ad Channels Tracking : Add additional tracking dimensions to keyword data
• Top URLs Report : Analyze which landing pages perform best for specific keywords
• Trends Report : Track keyword performance over time