This article will cover:
- What are Cookie Tracking Domains?
- How to Add Cookie Tracking Domains to Your System
- How to View Available Cookie Tracking Domains
- How to Make a Cookie Tracking Domain the Default for All Offers
- How to Limit Cookie Tracking Domains for Postback URLs Only
- How to Enable Same Site On a Domain for Google Chrome 80
- How to Test the DNS Settings on a Cookie Tracking Domain
- FAQ
What are Cookie Tracking Domains?
A tracking domain also referred to as a cookie domain, is a key component in the URL used within affiliate tracking links, conversion pixels, and lead posting URLs.
With CAKE, you can utilize multiple tracking domains to segment traffic across offers and affiliate campaigns.
How to Add Cookie Tracking Domains to Your System
To add cookie tracking domains to your CAKE system, contact your Client Success Manager or the CAKE Technical Support Team. To submit a ticket from your CAKE system, follow these steps:
Click on your Contact icon
Navigate to the Support section
Click Submit a Help Ticket
All cookie tracking domains will be pointed to CAKE via the Domain Name System (DNS) which will be provided to you by a CAKE team member. Once configured with the CAKE Technical Team, cookie tracking domains can be added to offers, and campaigns. There is a monthly fee for each domain added to your system. (If you want to remove a domain, please submit a ticket to your Client Success Manager or Technical Support team to have it removed and fees for that domain will also be removed on your invoice.)
How to View Available Cookie Tracking Domains
To view a list of available cookie tracking domains within your instance, follow these steps:
Click on the Setup tab
Click on the Other Lists sub-tab
Navigate to the Cookie Domains section
Note:
Use the Notes column within the Cookie Domains section to keep internal notes regarding the use of your Cookie Domains, e.g. when you last updated the domain with a new setting.
How to Make a Cookie Tracking Domain the Default for All Offers
To update a cookie tracking domain to be the default tracking domain for your system and automatically applied to new Offers, navigate to the Cookie Domains section and follow these steps:
Double-click on the Domain Name line item
Tick the Default box
Type a comment in the Note field for internal record
Click Update
How to Limit Cookie Tracking Domains for Postback URLs Only
To minimize the risk of a cookie tracking domain being blacklisted by affiliate use, you can specify certain cookie tracking domains to be used only within a Postback URL, not an affiliate’s tracking link. To require a cookie tracking domain to only be used in a Postback URL, follow these steps:
Double-click on the Domain Name line item
Tick the Postbacks Only box
Type a comment in the Note field for internal record
Click Update
Note:
The Default Cookie Tracking Domain cannot be configured as a Postback Only domain.
How to Enable Same Site On a Domain for Google Chrome 80
Google Chrome 80 blocks tracking cookies from unsecure domains (HTTP) as well as cookies from domains that are different from the webpage domain, which is common for cookie tracking domains. CAKE provides a Same Site setting for cookie tracking domains which will force secure cookies (HTTPS) and flags the domain as “SameSite=None Secure” so that Chrome will allow for the cookie to be stored.
To enable Same Site on your cookie tracking domain, follow these steps:
Doubleclick the Domain Name line item
Tick the Same Site box
Type a comment in the Note field for internal record
Click Update
Note:
If you enable Same Site on a cookie tracking domain, you need to notify your affiliates to update any non-secure links or pixels that are currently in use for the campaign using that domain.
How to Test the DNS Settings on a Cookie Tracking Domain
To ensure you have the proper CAKE DNS settings configured on your cookie tracking domain, follow these steps:
Navigate to the Domain Name line item
Click the Test hyperlink to access MXtoolbox.com
Verify the Name Servers on your domain match those provided to you by CAKE
FAQ
Why don’t I see the cookie domains section in my system?
If the cookie domains section is not visible, your system either does not currently have additional cookie tracking domains configured or your user permissions restricted you from viewing these settings.