Learn how to integrate AppsFlyer with Taboola for direct-to-app conversion tracking. This guide covers setting up the Taboola partner integration, configuring attribution links, and tracking both install and in-app events.

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This flow is simpler than Web to App.
For more information, see: S2S Conversion Tracking With AppsFlyer.

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Your version of AppsFlyer might differ from the one described here.
For AppsFlyer support, visit the AppsFlyer Help Center.

Integrate AppsFlyer with Taboola

Configure the Taboola Partner Integration

Log into your AppsFlyer dashboard.
Under My Apps, start typing the relevant App ID and click on the thumbnail to open the App.
Under Collaborate (bottom, left), select Active integration.
Start typing "Taboola" and click on the thumbnail to open the Taboola Partner.
Under Taboola Integration, toggle Activate Partner to ON.
Under In-app event settings:
- Leave the Taboola Ecomm Campaign ID field blank.
- Fill in your Taboola Advertiser ID.
  
  To track account-level conversions, fill in the relevant Account ID.
  To track network-level conversions, fill in the Network ID.
Click Save Integration (bottom, right).
Switch to the Attribution Link tab.
Under Choose your attribution link type, choose Use single platform link or Use Onelink, depending on your use case.

For more detail, refer to the AppsFlyer documentation.
Under Attribution link parameters, map each AppsFlyer Parameter name to its corresponding value (Taboola param).

For more detail about AppsFlyer params, refer to the AppsFlyer documentation:
For more detail about Taboola params, see: Creating and Adding URL Parameters for Tracking
Skip the Retargeting settings section.
Under Click-through attribution, set the Click-through lookback window to the desired duration - e.g. 30 days (Taboola default).
Under View-through attribution, set the View-through lookback window to the desired duration - e.g. 24 hours (Taboola default).
Click Save Integration (bottom, right).

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Best Practice
Configure AppsFlyer and Taboola with the same lookback window.
If AppsFlyer has a shorter lookback window, then any conversions outside that window will not be passed to Taboola for attribution.
The Taboola lookback window will be configured below under Set up corresponding events in Taboola. By default, the Taboola lookback window is 30 days.

(Optional) Track in-app events

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In-App Event Tracking
In-App Event Tracking allows for more granular campaign optimization.

If you followed the previous section, you already have the necessary screen open. Else:
1. Log into your AppsFlyer dashboard.
2. Select the relevant App.
3. Select Collaborate > Active Integration and click on Manage integration in the Taboola card.
Toggle In-app event postbacks to ON to track in-app conversions.
Define the desired duration for the postback window (e.g. 30 days).
Click on Add Event and configure the event details:
1. Select the relevant AppsFlyer event and map it to the corresponding partner event (Taboola event).
  
  Refer to the Tracking section in Realize for the exact event name.
2. Under for user from, select the appropriate option:
  1. This Partner Only - for exclusive Taboola events
  2. All Media Sources Including Organic - to include all sources
3. Under including, select the appropriate option:
  1. No Values & No Revenue - for non-revenue events
  2. Values & Revenue - for transactions like purchases
  3. Values & No Revenue - for specific non-revenue-related values.
Click Save Integration (bottom, right).

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Best Practice
Configure AppsFlyer and Taboola with the same lookback window.
If AppsFlyer has a shorter lookback window, then any conversions outside that window will not be passed to Taboola for attribution.
The Taboola lookback window will be configured below under Set up corresponding events in Taboola. By default, the Taboola lookback window is 30 days.

Set up a URL for your ad

Obtain the AppsFlyer Click Attribution Link

If you followed the previous sections, you already have the necessary screen open. Else:
1. Log into your AppsFlyer dashboard.
2. Select the relevant App.
3. Select Collaborate > Active Integration and click on Manage integration in the Taboola card.
Select the Attribution link tab, and locate the Click-through attribution section.
Copy the Click Attribution Link created for Taboola.

Sample AppsFlyer Link:

https://app.appsflyer.com/com.appsflyer.adNetworkTest?pid=taboola_int&af_siteid={site_id}&c={campaign_name}&af_ad_id={campaign_item_id}&af_click_lookback=7d&af_installpostback=false&clickid={click_id}

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Do not edit the Click ID portion (in red) - it should look exactly as shown.

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The PID portion (in orange) tells AppsFlyer to attribute the conversion to Taboola.

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How it works
Clicking on the above link takes the user to the App Store/Play Store. At the same time, AppsFlyer stores the Click ID. In the event of a conversion, AppsFlyer passes the event details and Click ID back to Taboola.

Edit your ad

Link your ad to the App Store/Play Store (via AppsFlyer):

Log into Realize.
Add or edit your ad. Fill in the AppsFlyer Link obtained above as the ad URL, and save.

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Useful links

Disabling Install Postbacks

Track in-app events only

To ignore install events, insert the following param: af_installpostback=false.

Sample link:

Set up corresponding events in Taboola

You will need to set up Realize with the same events as AppsFlyer. That way, when AppsFlyer notifies Taboola of a conversion, Taboola can record the conversion to the matching event and reflect it in reporting.

Create the app install event in Taboola

Open Realize, and select the account (top, left) that you will use to track conversions.

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Make sure to select the Taboola account that matches the Account ID or Network ID you filled in under the AppsFlyer setup.
In the sidebar (left), select Tracking.
Click on + New Conversion (far right).

Select Create conversions using code and click Continue.
Type in a Conversion Name of your choice - e.g. App Install.

This is a descriptive name for your convenience.
For Conversion Type, select EVENT:
(Optional) Fill in a Fixed Value.

For additional guidelines, see the Help Center.
Under Category, select App Install.
Edit the Event Name to read install:

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Make sure to enter the event name in lowercase, exactly as shown.
Make sure that the values for Click Through Conversion Window and View Through Conversion Window match those in AppsFlyer (see previous section).
Adjust the values of the remaining fields, as desired.

For additional guidelines, see the Help Center.
Review your chosen settings, and click on Create (bottom, right):

Create in-app events in Taboola (Optional)

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First create in-app events in AppsFlyer - see above: (Optional) Track in-app events.

Open Realize, and select the account (top, left) that you will use to track conversions.

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Make sure to select the Taboola account that matches the Account ID or Network ID you filled in under the AppsFlyer setup.
In the sidebar (left), select Tracking.
Click on + New Conversion (far right).

Select Create conversions using code and click Continue.
Type in a Conversion Name of your choice.

This is a descriptive name for your convenience. It is not used for the server-to-server communication.
For Conversion Type, select EVENT:
(Optional) If relevant, fill in a Fixed Value.

Tip: If the event returns a dynamic value, leave this field blank. For additional guidelines, see the Help Center.
Select the relevant Category for your in-app event.
Edit the Event Name to match the name you provided in AppsFlyer, exactly as it appears there.

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Use the identical event name, as it appears in AppsFlyer.
Event names are case-sensitive.
Make sure that the values for Click Through Conversion Window and View Through Conversion Window match those in AppsFlyer (see previous section).
Adjust the values of the remaining fields, as desired.

For additional guidelines, see the Help Center.
Skip the Event Code section.

(You will post the event values to Taboola via the postback URL.)
Review your chosen settings, and click on Create (bottom, right):

S2S - What's Next?

Start Tracking Conversions

Well done! Your setup is complete, and you are now ready to track conversions.

Test your configuration

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We recommend testing your configuration.
Note that you can test your configuration before your campaign goes live.
For more information, see: Verify your S2S conversion tracking

Understanding the end-to-end flow

The following steps illustrate the end-to-end flow:

John clicks on your ad. Taboola appends the Click ID value (abc123) and directs John to the target URL:
https://app.appsflyer.com/com.appsflyer.adNetworkTest?pid=taboola_int&c={campaign_name}&af_siteid={site_id}&af_ad_id={campaign_item_id}&af_click_lookback=7d&clickid=abc123
AppsFlyer stores the Click ID (abc123) and directs John to the App Store/Play Store.
A bit later, John installs and opens the App - which you defined as a conversion in the AppsFlyer dashboard and Realize.
AppsFlyer invokes the Taboola postback URL, inserting John's Click ID, and the event name:
https://trc.taboola.com/actions-handler/log/3/s2s-action?click-id=abc123&name=install
Realize reflects the conversion in the relevant reporting.

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What is a Taboola Click ID?
When a user clicks on your ad, Taboola's {click_id} macro passes a unique identifier to the destination URL.
Ad link: https://app.appsflyer.com/...&clickid={click_id}
Upon clicking, the user is directed to: https://app.appsflyer.com/...&clickid=abc123
The abc123 identifier is a Click ID. It stores information about the click event - e.g., which campaign was clicked and which user, etc. When AppsFlyer passes back the Click ID, Taboola uses it for attribution and tracking.
A real Click ID is an alphanumeric, case-sensitive string. E.g.
{user.click_id_example}

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Useful links

AppsFlyer Help Center

Server-to-Server Events

Tracking in-app events only