This article will cover the following:
Welcome to CAKE
This guide walks new affiliates through getting started on a CAKE-powered network — from completing your profile and setting up payment details to finding your first offer, understanding your tracking link, and reading your performance reports.
Note:
This guide is for new affiliate partners. If you are a network operator or advertiser, see the dedicated onboarding guides for your role.
This guide is for new affiliate partners. If you are a network operator or advertiser, see the dedicated onboarding guides for your role.
1
Account Setup and First Login
⏰ Est. 10 min
Note:
Before you can start promoting offers, complete your affiliate profile. A complete profile builds trust with advertisers and helps your account manager match you with the right opportunities.
Before you can start promoting offers, complete your affiliate profile. A complete profile builds trust with advertisers and helps your account manager match you with the right opportunities.
Log in for the first time
Use the credentials emailed to you during approval. If you didn't receive them, check your spam folder or contact your account manager. You'll be prompted to set a new password on first login.
Login Page → Enter Email & Temporary Password → Set New PasswordComplete your affiliate profile
Fill in your contact details, website URL, primary traffic sources, and a brief description of your promotional methods. Advertisers often review this before approving your applications, so be thorough and accurate.
My Account → Profile → Edit ProfileAdd your payment details
Enter your preferred payment method — options typically include ACH, wire transfer, PayPal, or check depending on your network's configuration. Tax documentation (W-9 or W-8) may also be required.
My Account → Payment Settings → Add Payment MethodEnable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Protect your account and your earnings by enabling 2FA. CAKE supports authenticator apps such as Google Authenticator or Authy. This may be required before accessing certain offer categories.
My Account → Security → Two-Factor Authentication → EnableReview and accept network terms
Read the network's Terms & Conditions carefully — they outline your obligations, prohibited traffic practices, payment schedules, and dispute procedures. You must formally accept these before running any campaigns.
My Account → Terms & Conditions → Review → Accept✓ Once your profile is complete and terms are accepted, your account manager will be notified and you'll gain full access to the offer marketplace.
2
Platform Navigation
⏰ Est. 15 min
Note:
Take a few minutes to explore each section before launching your first campaign — familiarity now saves troubleshooting time later.
Take a few minutes to explore each section before launching your first campaign — familiarity now saves troubleshooting time later.
Explore the Dashboard
Your Dashboard displays today's clicks, conversions, revenue, and approval rate at a glance. Widgets are date-adjustable so you can quickly check performance over the last 7 or 30 days.
Dashboard (Home icon in top navigation)Locate the Offer Marketplace
This is where you'll browse and apply for all available campaigns. Filter offers by vertical, payout type (CPA, CPL, CPS, CPC), geo, and approval type. Bookmark this section — you'll return here often.
Offers → MarketplaceFind your Tracking Links section
Once approved for an offer, your unique tracking links live here. Each link is pre-parameterized with your affiliate ID. You can also access creative assets and append sub-IDs from this section.
Offers → My Offers → Select Offer → Get LinksReview the Reports section
CAKE's reporting suite lets you drill into performance by offer, date range, sub-ID, geo, device type, and more. Spend a few minutes clicking through report types so you know where to look when you need to optimize.
Reports → Summary Report / Conversion Report / Click ReportLocate Account Settings and Support
Your account settings, notification preferences, and API credentials (if enabled) are accessible from the top-right user menu. The Help or Support link connects you with your network's knowledge base.
Top-right User Menu → My Account / Settings / Help3
Setting Up Tracking (Postbacks)
⏰ Est. 20–30 min
Note:
Accurate conversion tracking is the foundation of every successful affiliate campaign. CAKE uses server-to-server (S2S) postback URLs to fire conversion data to your tracking platform in real time — no third-party cookies required.
Accurate conversion tracking is the foundation of every successful affiliate campaign. CAKE uses server-to-server (S2S) postback URLs to fire conversion data to your tracking platform in real time — no third-party cookies required.
Understand how CAKE tracking works
When a user clicks your tracking link, CAKE assigns a unique click ID. That ID travels with the user to the advertiser's confirmation page, where it is sent back to CAKE to record the conversion. Every click, conversion, and payout traces back to this click ID.
See: Tracking & Conversions in CAKEGet your postback URL from the offer
Each approved offer has a unique postback URL in the Tracking tab. Copy this URL and configure it in your tracking platform or traffic source to receive real-time conversion fire notifications.
Offers → My Offers → Select Offer → Tracking TabPass sub-IDs for granular tracking
Append sub-ID parameters to your tracking links (e.g. ?s1=placement_name) to track performance at the placement, creative, or traffic source level. CAKE supports S1–S5 sub-ID slots. Consistent naming from day one makes reporting much more useful.
Append ?s1=value to your tracking linkUnderstand conversion statuses
Conversions in CAKE can be Approved, Pending, Rejected, or Scrubbed. Understanding what each status means helps you know whether a conversion will be paid out and what to do if something looks wrong.
Reports → Conversion Report → Status columnTest your tracking before running live traffic
Complete a test conversion using a test link and verify it appears in Reports → Conversions before sending live traffic. A few minutes of testing saves hours of troubleshooting later.
Reports → Conversions → Verify test conversionCaution:
Never modify the structure of your tracking link by hand. Changing parameters can break attribution and result in conversions that cannot be credited to your account.
Never modify the structure of your tracking link by hand. Changing parameters can break attribution and result in conversions that cannot be credited to your account.
4
Finding and Applying for Offers
⏰ Est. 15–20 min
Note:
Your offer marketplace is where your earning potential lives. Use filters effectively to find offers that match your traffic type and audience.
Your offer marketplace is where your earning potential lives. Use filters effectively to find offers that match your traffic type and audience.
Browse and filter the Offer Marketplace
Filter offers by vertical, payout type, geo, and approval type. Read each offer's full description carefully — including allowed traffic types, restricted methods, and any special requirements — before applying.
Offers → Marketplace → Use filtersApply for an offer
Click Apply on offers you want to promote. Some offers auto-approve instantly; others require manual review by the advertiser or network. You'll receive a notification when your application is approved or declined.
Offers → Marketplace → Select Offer → ApplyGet your unique tracking link
Once approved, navigate to My Offers and select the offer. Your unique tracking link is displayed in the Get Links section — already parameterized with your affiliate ID. Copy it exactly as shown.
Offers → My Offers → Select Offer → Get LinksSelect and use creative assets
Browse available banners, text links, HTML creatives, and landing pages for each offer. Click Get Code or Get Link next to any creative — your tracking is already embedded. Only use creatives listed as active.
Offers → My Offers → Select Offer → Creatives SectionUnderstand offer caps
Offers have daily, monthly, or overall conversion caps. When a cap is hit, traffic stops converting. Monitor cap utilization in your reports so you're not caught off guard when an offer stops accepting traffic.
See: Understanding and Setting Offer Caps in CAKECaution:
Only promote an offer using the traffic types and methods listed in its terms. Violating offer terms — including using prohibited traffic sources or misrepresenting the offer — can result in conversions being reversed or your account being suspended.
Only promote an offer using the traffic types and methods listed in its terms. Violating offer terms — including using prohibited traffic sources or misrepresenting the offer — can result in conversions being reversed or your account being suspended.
5
Reading Your Reports
⏰ Est. 15 min
Note:
Your reports are the primary tool for understanding your campaign performance and getting paid accurately. Learn to read them confidently before scaling any campaign.
Your reports are the primary tool for understanding your campaign performance and getting paid accurately. Learn to read them confidently before scaling any campaign.
Run a Summary Report
The Summary Report gives you a high-level view of clicks, conversions, revenue, and EPC across all your offers for a chosen date range. Use it for quick daily pulse checks and trend spotting.
Reports → Summary Report → Set date range → Run ReportRun a Conversion Report
The Conversion Report shows individual conversion records with their status (Approved, Pending, Rejected, Scrubbed), payout amount, and click ID. Use this to verify specific conversions and investigate discrepancies.
Reports → Conversion Report → Filter by offer or date → Run ReportUnderstand key report columns
Clicks = link clicks. Conversions = completed actions. EPC = earnings per click (total payout ÷ clicks). Revenue = gross advertiser billing. Payout = what you'll be paid. A dash (—) means the metric doesn't apply to that row.
Any report viewExport your data
Click the Export or Download button after running any report to save your results as a CSV file. Use this for external reconciliation, sharing with your team, or loading into a spreadsheet or BI tool.
Reports → [Any Report] → Export / DownloadSet up scheduled reports
Configure weekly or monthly reports to be delivered automatically to your inbox. Match the date range to your billing period so the data is ready for payment reconciliation without any manual work.
Reports → [Run Report] → Schedule → Create Schedule6
Best Practices
⏰ Reference
Tracking Best Practices
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Always test your postback before running live traffic | Launch a campaign without verifying at least one test conversion |
| Use sub-IDs consistently from campaign launch to track placements | Start sub-IDs inconsistently — you can't retroactively fix the data |
| Monitor your conversion report daily during new campaigns | Check in weekly for campaigns you haven't optimized yet |
| Contact your account manager if scrub rate exceeds 10% | Assume high scrub rates will resolve on their own |
Offer and Compliance Best Practices
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Read the full offer terms before applying | Apply for offers without reading the allowed traffic types |
| Use only creatives listed as Active on the offer | Download and save creatives locally — they may be updated or removed |
| Notify your account manager if you see unusual conversion patterns | Delay reporting anomalies — early detection prevents payment disputes |
| Keep your payment details accurate and up to date | Wait until after a billing cycle closes to fix a payment error |
If you have any questions, please reach out to your dedicated CAKE Client Success Manager/Account Manager or contact the CAKE Support Team at support@getCAKE.com.