Overview
Passthrough functions to pass additional variables from the affiliate link, through the redirector, to the site. Usually, Passthrough is used to pre-populate items on the advertiser's landing page form to prevent a potential customer from having to type the same info twice, thus keeping a customer engaged in the additional steps needed to convert on the offer. Passthrough is enabled on a per-campaign basis where a Passthrough template can be assigned. Variables being passed in the redirection link do not need to be included by you, the system will add them if they're present in the affiliates links. Setting up Passthrough requires setting up Fields and Templates.
Passthrough Setup
Fields are used to map the data passed from the affiliate. Because affiliates may name their field differently, creating passthrough fields works best when as many possible incoming field names that an affiliate might use are included. You will need to add all names that affiliates will be using, or ask affiliates to only use the field names that you add. Essentially, the affiliate passes the data through any of the names set up in the Passthrough Field, add the Field corrals the affiliate data into a standardized field name you set up for your system.
e.g. First Name
f first fn fname f_n f_name firstname
e.g. Email Address
e em email
Templates dictate which incoming fields will be passed to the advertiser site to pre-populate their form and maps them to name the advertiser is using. The template is a group of Passthrough fields, with each field mapped to the advertisers name. So the field collects the affiliate-passed data to a standard name for your system, then the template directs the needed fields to the name of the field used by the advertiser. Based on the mapping in the template, the system can then account for the field names your publishers may use and deliver the information to the advertiser in a useable format. Your advertiser should be able to provide you with a document to show what their form fields names should be passed as. If not, you can sample the HTML on the page to gather this information or contact HitPath Support for help.
For example, a simple advertiser form is likely to include at least the respondent's first name, last name and e-mail address.
e.g. Landing Page Form & Advertiser Field Names
First Name: fname Last Name: lname Email: email
The data flow begins with the affiliate appending collected entries to their affiliate link. Two easy ways to communicate this to affiliates is by placing information in the campaign description or including a text file in Creatives>Files for Packages.
e.g. Affiliate Link with Appended Data
http://affiliate.yourdomain.com/rd/r.php?sid=2&pub=123456&c1=adm&c2=test&c3=link&f=Jane&l=Doe&em=janedoe@gmail.com&zip=70130
Based on the template HitPath will pass the field names as follows to the redirect link:
&fname=Jane&lname=Doe&email=janedoe@gmail.com
Note that zip wasn't defined in the template so it will not be included in the appended information delivered to the advertiser site.
Adding Passthrough Fields & Templates
Navigate to Campaigns>Maintenance>Manage Groups (click the gear icon in the tool bar)>Passthrough. Use "+ New Field" to a create new field, then name the field and enter as many possible incoming field names an affiliate might use, just click on the plus sign for each additional name. Once the Fields are created, you will need to navigate back to the Passthrough main screen and click on "+ New Template". Name the template. Then add each Field Name and use "Maps To:" to enter the name the advertiser uses. Keep in mind that the advertiser is the one that mandates what the Field Name will map to, so it is important that the "Maps To:" name matches what the advertiser has.
Assigning Passthrough Templates to a Campaign
After the Template and Field names have been assigned, you will be able to assign a Passthrough Template from Campaigns>Maintenance Step 3. Links & Redirection by switching the radio button for Passthrough from 'No' to 'Yes' and selecting the Passthrough Template.
Testing Passthroughs
To test Passthroughs, append every field name to the test link that is available in the campaign (you do not need to add them to the redirect link, doing so can actually break the pre-popping of information).
http://affiliate.yourdomain/rd/r.php?sid=2&pub=123456&c1=adm&c2=test&c3=link&fname=Jane&lname=Doe&em=janedoe@email.com
If all parties have the right elements in place, the information that is appended to the redirect to link will be pre-populated on the landing page.
Whenever you are testing Passthrough, you can use HttpFox or any other snippet tool that allows you to watch the redirect process to see that the information is being passed.
