This article will cover the following:
Welcome to CAKE
This guide walks new network operators through every step of getting your CAKE platform up and running — from securing your admin account and configuring your white-label environment to onboarding your first partners and setting up billing. Work through each step in order; later steps depend on earlier ones.
Note:
This guide is for network operators and administrators setting up and managing a CAKE-powered affiliate network. If you are an affiliate or advertiser, see the dedicated onboarding guides for your role.
This guide is for network operators and administrators setting up and managing a CAKE-powered affiliate network. If you are an affiliate or advertiser, see the dedicated onboarding guides for your role.
1
Admin Account Setup
⏰ Est. 20–30 min
Note:
Before your team can start building offers and managing partners, your admin account needs to be properly configured. Complete these foundational tasks first — everything else builds on them.
Before your team can start building offers and managing partners, your admin account needs to be properly configured. Complete these foundational tasks first — everything else builds on them.
Log in and secure your admin credentials
Use the credentials provided by your CAKE implementation manager. Immediately update your password and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your account.
Admin → My Profile → Security SettingsCreate and configure admin user roles
Set up role-based access for your internal team. Assign roles such as Account Manager, Finance, or Traffic Manager with appropriate permission levels. Limit access to sensitive areas to authorized personnel only.
Admin → Manage Users → Add UserConfigure your network's brand identity
Upload your network logo, set brand colors, and customize the portal name so affiliates and advertisers see your brand — not generic CAKE defaults — when they log in.
Admin → Network Settings → BrandingSet your network's default time zone and currency
Choose the time zone your network will operate in and the primary currency for billing and reporting. These settings affect how conversion data is timestamped and how payouts are calculated.
Admin → Network Settings → LocalizationReview and accept your platform terms of service
Carefully review CAKE's platform terms and confirm acceptance within the admin portal so your account is fully activated.
Admin → Account → Terms & ComplianceCaution:
Your time zone and currency settings impact all historical and future reporting. Make sure these match your operational standards before creating any offers or onboarding partners.
Your time zone and currency settings impact all historical and future reporting. Make sure these match your operational standards before creating any offers or onboarding partners.
2
Platform Configuration
⏰ Est. 45–60 min
Note:
With your admin account secured, configure the core platform settings that govern how your network operates.
With your admin account secured, configure the core platform settings that govern how your network operates.
Configure your white-label domain
Set up a custom domain (e.g. network.yourdomain.com) to white-label CAKE as your own. This domain will appear in affiliate and advertiser portal URLs, tracking links, and email communications.
Admin → Network Settings → Domain ConfigurationSet up email notifications and SMTP settings
Configure outbound email settings so notifications, approval emails, and billing alerts are sent from your branded domain. Test the SMTP connection and send a sample notification to confirm delivery.
Admin → Network Settings → Email ConfigurationDefine global offer and conversion settings
Establish default conversion types (CPA, CPL, CPS), session durations, and duplicate conversion windows. These defaults apply to new offers unless overridden at the offer level.
Admin → Network Settings → Offer DefaultsConfigure affiliate and advertiser portal permissions
Decide which data and features your affiliates and advertisers can access in their respective portals. Thoughtful portal access settings build trust while protecting sensitive business data.
Admin → Portals → Affiliate Portal Settings / Advertiser Portal SettingsCreate custom terms and conditions for partners
Draft and upload your network's T&Cs for both affiliates and advertisers. CAKE allows you to require agreement acceptance before partners can access the platform.
Admin → Compliance → Terms & Conditions✓ Once your domain, email, and portal settings are in place, your platform will look and feel like a fully branded, professional network — ready to impress your first partners.
3
Tracking Infrastructure
⏰ Est. 1–2 hours
Note:
Accurate tracking is the backbone of your network. This step covers setting up the pixel, postback, and offer infrastructure that powers conversion attribution across your campaigns.
Accurate tracking is the backbone of your network. This step covers setting up the pixel, postback, and offer infrastructure that powers conversion attribution across your campaigns.
Create your first offer
Build an offer that defines a campaign's name, payout structure, destination URL, and allowed traffic types. Offers are the central unit of CAKE — everything from affiliate links to conversion tracking flows through them.
Offers → Add OfferConfigure postback URL tracking
Set up server-to-server (S2S) postback URLs for conversion tracking. This is the recommended tracking method — reliable, not blocked by browsers or ad blockers, and essential for high-volume campaigns.
Offers → [Select Offer] → Tracking TabAdd conversion pixels as a fallback
For advertisers without server-side capabilities, configure pixel-based tracking. Paste the pixel snippet on the advertiser's confirmation page and test to confirm conversions are firing.
Offers → [Select Offer] → Tracking Tab → PixelConfigure geo and device targeting on offers
Set country, device type, OS, and browser restrictions on each offer. Configure a fallback offer so non-matching traffic is redirected rather than dropped.
Offers → [Select Offer] → Targeting TabSet offer caps and cap alerts
Configure daily, monthly, and overall conversion caps to protect advertiser budgets. Set up cap alerts at 80% and 100% so you're notified before traffic stops.
Offers → [Select Offer] → Caps TabCaution:
Always test your tracking setup with a test conversion before sending live traffic to any offer. Undetected tracking errors lead to missed conversions and billing disputes that are difficult to resolve retroactively.
Always test your tracking setup with a test conversion before sending live traffic to any offer. Undetected tracking errors lead to missed conversions and billing disputes that are difficult to resolve retroactively.
4
Affiliates and Advertisers
⏰ Est. 30–60 min
Note:
With your platform configured and tracking live, you're ready to onboard your first partners.
With your platform configured and tracking live, you're ready to onboard your first partners.
Add and configure advertiser accounts
Create an advertiser profile for each client. Assign their billing cycle, link their offers, and set their portal access level. Use the Notes field to record internal context such as contract terms or assigned account manager.
Advertisers → Add AdvertiserOnboard advertisers with correct billing cycles
Confirm each advertiser's billing schedule before creating their profile. Changing a billing cycle mid-period creates partial invoices and confusion. Align changes with the start of a new billing period.
Advertisers → [Select Advertiser] → Edit → Billing CycleAdd and approve affiliate accounts
Review incoming affiliate applications or add partners manually. Set their initial status and grant them access to appropriate offers. Document your approval criteria to ensure consistent evaluation.
Affiliates → Add Affiliate / Pending ApplicationsConfigure affiliate tiers
Group affiliates into performance tiers (e.g. Gold, Silver, New) to apply consistent offer access and payout rates across groups. Tier-level settings save significant time as your network scales.
Settings → Affiliate TiersSet up affiliate offer access and payout rates
Grant each affiliate access to the offers they'll promote and configure their individual payout rates. Affiliate-level rates override offer defaults — use this for negotiated rates with premium partners.
Affiliates → [Select Affiliate] → Offers TabConfigure suppression lists
Upload your email, phone, and IP suppression lists before any live traffic runs. Suppression compliance is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions and protects your network from fines and chargebacks.
Compliance → Suppression Lists5
Reporting and Billing
⏰ Est. 20–30 min
Note:
Set up the reporting and billing workflows that will keep your network running smoothly on an ongoing basis.
Set up the reporting and billing workflows that will keep your network running smoothly on an ongoing basis.
Run your first performance reports
Pull offer, affiliate, and advertiser reports to confirm data is flowing correctly from your tracking setup. Use the Conversion Report to spot-check individual conversion records against your test data.
Reports → Summary / Conversion / OfferSet up scheduled reports
Configure automated weekly or monthly reports to be delivered to your team and key stakeholders by email. This eliminates manual report-pulling and ensures consistent visibility across your network.
Reports → [Run Report] → ScheduleConfigure billing and payment settings
Ensure each affiliate and advertiser has the correct billing cycle and payment method on file. Verify that your invoicing setup will generate accurate statements at the end of each billing period.
Billing → Invoices / Billing SettingsSet up smart links for traffic optimization
Create smart links to distribute traffic across multiple offers using round-robin, weighted, or performance-based rotation. Smart links are especially valuable for high-volume affiliates who need a single link that adapts automatically.
Campaigns → Smart Links → Add Smart LinkConfigure notifications and cap alerts
Set up email alerts for offer cap thresholds, conversion spikes, and account status changes. Proactive alerting reduces the time between a problem occurring and your team responding.
Admin → Notifications → Add Notification6
Terminology and Best Practices
⏰ Reference
Use this quick-reference table to align your team on the core terminology used throughout CAKE and this documentation.
| Term | Definition | Where in CAKE |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | A campaign created by an advertiser that affiliates can promote. Contains payout, destination URL, caps, and targeting rules. | Offers menu |
| Campaign | The connection between a specific affiliate and a specific offer. Generates a unique tracking link. | Campaigns menu |
| Click ID | A unique identifier assigned to each click. Used to match a conversion back to the affiliate and campaign that drove it. | Appears in tracking links and conversion records |
| Postback URL | A server-to-server URL called by the advertiser when a conversion occurs. Preferred tracking method. | Offers → Tracking Tab |
| Conversion Pixel | A browser-based image or JS tag placed on a confirmation page to fire conversion data to CAKE. | Offers → Tracking Tab |
| Scrub Rate | The percentage of conversions that are rejected or reversed. A high scrub rate indicates traffic quality issues. | Reports → Conversion Report |
| Suppression List | A list of emails, phone numbers, or IPs that must not receive marketing or be counted as valid conversions. | Compliance → Suppression Lists |
| Smart Link | A single tracking URL that routes traffic to multiple offers using rotation rules. | Campaigns → Smart Links |
| Affiliate Tier | A group classification for affiliates that applies consistent offer access and payout settings. | Settings → Affiliate Tiers |
Top 5 Best Practices for New Operators
- Always test tracking before going live. A single missed test conversion is easier to fix than a week of lost data.
- Set suppression lists before your first campaign. Legal compliance failures are costly and hard to reverse.
- Start with a small number of well-configured offers. Quality setup scales better than quantity.
- Document every advertiser and affiliate agreement in the Notes fields. Your future self will thank you.
- Schedule weekly summary reports from day one. Consistent data visibility catches problems early.
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.