Ad-tracking vendors don’t serve ads like ad networks do—but rather aggregate and synchronize attribution metrics from a wide variety of ad networks. Like Localytics, an ad-tracking vendor will require you to install their SDK so that they can monitor when the app is first opened by a user.

When this happens, the vendor is able to identify the originating source and campaign for the device. They can then communicate this information to Localytics to give you a better picture of your user lifecycle.

In this topic:

• How the integration works
• Setting up an ad-tracking vendor

How the integration works

Localytics and your ad-tracking vendor will have a server-to-server integration. Ad-tracking vendors "relay" per-device attribution information from ad networks to Localytics.

Here’s how that usually works:

1. Ad-tracking vendors monitor devices that click URLs and compare against installs (app launches) to identify each device’s originating source and campaign.
2. When the ad-tracking vendor observes a device first launching the app, they’ll then communicate the device ID to Localytics. They’ll also send along the originating source and campaign.
3. Localytics can then attribute the device ID to the acquisition source and campaign sent over by the ad-tracking vendor.

Setting up an ad-tracking vendor

Most of the ad-tracking vendor integrations with Localytics have been built as simple server-to-server integrations and are quick and easy to set up. This means you just need to enter valid identifiers within the Localytics dashboard (and your ad-tracking vendor’s dashboard) to ensure the data can pass back and forth.

1. Go to Marketing in the left pane and select Attribution.

2. Check the app selection in the upper-left corner. If it does not match the app you're looking to integrate, select the app name and select the correct app from the drop-down list.
3. Select Attribution Settings.

4. In the Ad Tracking Setup section, select the Third-party Attribution check box. This will reveal your Localytics Attribution ID.

   

5. Select the Copy to Clipboard icon on the right.

6. Next, navigate to your ad-tracking vendor's configuration dashboard.

7. Set up the partner to postback app installs to Localytics. This will vary from vendor to vendor. Here is a list of some popular partners:

   • Adjust - For more information, see "Integrating Localytics" on the adjust docs website.
   • Appsflyer - For more information, see "Integrated partners setup guide" on the AppsFlyer website.
   • Kochava - For more information, see "Create a Kochava-Certified Postback" in the Campaign and Postback Configurations section of the Kochava Support website.
   • Tapstream - For more information, see "Integrating with Localytics" in the Third-party integrations section of the Tapstream documentation website.

8. Once configured, you can execute your acquisition campaigns through your ad-tracking partner's system. That vendor will communicate to Localytics whenever users are acquired.

For more information, see Attribution report.