How can I identify the source of traffic to a web application?

[#1]

Hi there,

As is the norm for email deliveries, we always include an unsubscription link in the footer of each delivery. This unsubscription links takes the recipient to a Campaign web application where they can manage their preferences, opt-in/out etc.

What I want to be able to do is whenever a recipient opts-out, identify the source from which they came. Specifically I want to identify the delivery that contained the unsubscription link they clicked on.

I've read the documentation related to tracking in web applications here:

Tracking a web application

I'm still not sure how to configure the delivery or web application so that I can identify the source nor do I know how I can then report on it.

Can anyone recommend an approach here?

Thanks,

Cg

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Yep what you have is correct:

1. Add <%= message.id %> to the unsub link's url, no further effort if in personalization block
2. Record opt-ins/outs on completion page of web app, inserting into a new table rows with broadlog-id/message-id, subscription-id, opt-in/out, time
3. Optionally change cubes, reports, delivery aggregates to compute opt-outs using new table instead of _type="optout" in unsub link

Thanks,

-Jon

[#3]

Thanks Jon. Will look into what you have suggested.

Cg

[#4]

Thanks Jon.

We have marked the opt-out links in our deliveries however a click on these links doesn't necessarily mean the user has followed through with an unsubscribe.

The link in our case takes the user to a landing page (Preference centre) where the user can then opt in/out of one or more subscriptions.

What we'd like to track (probably from the Preference centre) is:

1) The traffic source (name of the delivery) that the user came from in order to land on the preference centre.

2) The opt-ins/outs from each subscription type that followed once the user landed on the preference centre.

I was considering appending an identifier to the unsubscription link (delivery name maybe) that I could then pass back to Campaign whenever the user opts in/out of a given subscription but thought there might be some OOB tracking functionality that could achieve what is needed with less effort.

Thanks,

Cg

[#5]

Hi,

> As is the norm for email deliveries, we always include an unsubscription link in the footer of each delivery

Not just the norm, it's the law: CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business | Federal Trade Commission

To mark unsub links for tracking and reporting, add  _type="optout" to the <a> element of the link.

Thanks,

-Jon