Advanced Adsterra Targeting: Using UTM, SubIDs & Analytics to Improve ROI

In the competitive world of digital advertising, success doesn’t just depend on generating traffic — it depends on optimizing that traffic for maximum ROI (Return on Investment). For affiliates, publishers, and media buyers, one of the most effective ways to achieve this is through advanced targeting and tracking.

Adsterra, a leading global ad network, provides powerful tools such as UTM parameters, SubIDs, and in-depth analytics that can help you measure, refine, and scale campaigns with precision. By leveraging these features, you can turn raw traffic into profitable conversions while minimizing wasted ad spend.

This guide explains exactly how to use UTM tracking, SubIDs, and analytics with Adsterra to achieve better targeting, improved optimization, and higher ROI.

---

Why Tracking Matters in Adsterra Campaigns

Without accurate tracking, you are essentially running blind campaigns. You might know how much traffic you’re sending, but not:

• Where it’s coming from (geo, device, placement).

• Which ad formats are converting?

• Which sources are wasting your budget?

By setting up UTM tags and SubIDs, you get granular data about your traffic. This allows you to cut unprofitable sources and double down on winners, improving your eCPM and overall ROI.

---

Understanding UTM Parameters in Adsterra

UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) parameters are tags added to URLs that send detailed tracking information to analytics tools like Google Analytics.

Example of a UTM-tagged Adsterra link:

https://example.com/?utm_source=adsterra&utm_medium=native&utm_campaign=crypto&utm_term={placement_id}&utm_content={ad_id}

Key UTM Parameters:

• utm_source – Identifies traffic source (e.g., Adsterra).

• utm_medium – Type of traffic (native, popunder, social bar, etc.).

• utm_campaign – Your specific campaign name (e.g., crypto_offer_1).

• utm_term – Dynamic variable (can be keyword, placement ID).

• utm_content – Distinguishes between creatives or ad variations.

When this traffic hits your site, Google Analytics records every detail, helping you track performance beyond Adsterra’s dashboard.

---

Using SubIDs in Adsterra

SubIDs are dynamic tokens that pass detailed placement or click information to your tracking system. Adsterra allows multiple macros that can be attached to your tracking URLs.

Common SubID Examples:

• {PLACEMENT_ID} – Tracks the exact site/app placement.

• {ZONE_ID} – Identifies the publisher’s zone.

• {AD_ID} – Tells you which creative generated the click.

• {COUNTRY} – Passes visitor geo information.

• {DEVICE} – Tracks whether the user came from mobile or desktop.

Example Tracking URL with SubIDs:

https://offerpage.com/?subid1={placement_id}&subid2={zone_id}&subid3={ad_id}

With SubIDs, you can run reports showing which placements, countries, or devices are converting — and blacklist underperforming ones.

---

Combining UTM and SubIDs for Maximum Insights

While UTMs integrate with analytics tools (Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, etc.), SubIDs integrate with affiliate trackers (Voluum, Binom, RedTrack, Bemob).

By combining both, you can see:

• High-level traffic insights (via UTMs in Google Analytics).

• Deep conversion data (via SubIDs in your tracker).

This dual approach ensures no data gaps, giving you full visibility into campaign performance.

---

Leveraging Analytics to Improve ROI

Once UTM and SubIDs are in place, the next step is analysis.

1. Geo-Targeting Optimization

• Check which countries provide the highest EPC (Earnings Per Click).

• Exclude geos with high clicks but low conversions.

2. Device and OS Targeting

• Mobile vs. desktop can have drastically different ROI.

• Some offers (like VPNs or apps) perform better on Android or iOS.

3. Placement and Zone Analysis

• SubIDs let you track which publisher zones are profitable.

• Pause underperforming placements to improve campaign efficiency.

4. Creative Testing

• Use utm_content to track ad creatives.

• Identify the highest CTR banners, headlines, or videos.

5. Funnel Tracking

• Follow user paths (landing page > offer page > conversion).

• Eliminate weak landing pages that kill conversions.

---

Advanced Tips for Scaling with Adsterra Tracking

1. Set Frequency Caps – Prevent ad fatigue by limiting impressions per user.

2. Dayparting – Use analytics to identify the best time zones/hours to run ads.

3. Smart Rotations – Rotate multiple creatives, track performance, and cut losers quickly.

4. Retargeting Segments – Use tracking data to build retargeting lists and bring back engaged users.

5. Traffic Source Segmentation – Separate Facebook, TikTok, SEO, and direct traffic for clearer ROI measurement.

---

Example Case Study: Boosting ROI with Tracking

A publisher running Adsterra popunder campaigns was generating 50,000 clicks/day. Initial ROI was negative because most traffic came from low-quality placements.

By implementing SubIDs and analyzing placement data:

• They blacklisted 30% of underperforming zones.

• Increased ROI by 45% within 2 weeks.

• Scaled profitable geos and creatives, turning a losing campaign into a $3,000/month profit stream.

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not Using SubIDs – Without them, you can’t pinpoint bad placements.

• Overlooking Mobile vs Desktop – Treating all devices the same wastes budget.

• Ignoring Landing Page Performance – Sometimes the offer isn’t the issue; the funnel is.

• Tracking Too Late – Always set up UTM/SubIDs before running traffic, not after.

---

Final Thoughts

Adsterra provides publishers and affiliates with a wide range of monetization and traffic solutions. But the real power lies in using advanced tracking techniques.

By combining UTM parameters, SubIDs, and analytics tools, you gain full visibility into your campaigns, allowing you to eliminate waste, optimize targeting, and significantly improve ROI.

If you want to scale your Adsterra campaigns profitably, mastering tracking is not optional — it’s the difference between breaking even and running highly profitable campaigns. Read More