Configure tracking and postbacks
Integration Summary
As a Meta Mobile Measurement Partner, Singular allows app publishers to track ad download referrals from Facebook and Instagram. Once a download has been verified by Singular, you can also track subsequent user engagement of these users in your mobile app.
Singular reports on attribution data from Meta in various ways:
- Meta's self-attributing API: Singular reports user-level app activity to a dedicated Meta API for MMPs, which is self-attributed by Meta and attributable in Singular. Attributions through this API are subject to Meta's data restrictions for advertisers.
- Meta's "Meta Referrer" (Android only): See "Meta Referrer"
- Meta's "Aggregated Event Measurement" (iOS only): See "Aggregated Event Measurement"
- Meta's SKAdNetwork Reporting (iOS only): See "Meta SKAdNetwork Integration Guide"
(See Partner Integrations Glossary)
Partner | Facebook (Meta) |
Partner Type |
Self-attributing ad network |
Creatives | Supported |
Publisher | Supported |
View-Through |
Supported User-Level reporting available via Android Meta Referrer, for Advantage+ App Campaigns and Manual App Promotion Campaigns with Broad Targeting |
Deep Linking | Singular's integration with Meta does not use Singular tracking links (including Singular deep links). See Meta's documentation for setting up Meta deep links. |
Re-engagement |
Supported |
Click Tag | No (Self-attributing) |
Receiving All Installs |
Recommended (Self-attributing) |
Receiving All Events |
Recommended (Self-attributing) |
Setup Instructions
Configuring the Facebook (Meta) Ads attribution integration is required to leverage all of the measurement methods with Meta.
Prerequisites
- Make sure your app is integrated with Singular via an SDK or S2S integration (see Getting Started with the Singular SDK/S2S)
- For iOS apps only: Deep link support must be implemented to support Aggregated Events Measurement (AEM) measurement for Meta app engagement campaigns. See AEM requirements
1 |
Set up Facebook (Meta) AdsRegister the application on Meta: To run Meta Mobile App Ads, the application must be registered with Meta. Visit the Meta App Dashboard to set up your application. |
2 |
Configure Facebook (Meta) as a Partner in Singular
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3 |
Specify Attribution Settings
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4 |
Send Event Postbacks to MetaSingular supports sending event notifications to Meta with all of Meta's requirements.
See also: Using the Meta SDK and Singular SDK/S2S in the Same App. |
5 |
Tracking Facebook (Meta) Installs in SingularAfter completing the steps above, you can see the results of your Meta mobile app campaigns in your Singular reporting.
Each install attributed to a Meta Mobile App Install Ad is reported based on the Campaign Name, Ad Set, and Ad Group Name created in Meta. |
Data Mapping
Meta campaign values are mapped to Singular reporting dimensions as follows:
Singular Value | Metan Value | Example |
Tracker Campaign Name | Campaign Name | “MyCampaign” |
Tracker Campaign ID | Campaign ID | 12345678 |
Tracker AdGroup Name | AdSet Name | “MyAdGroup” |
Tracker AdGroup ID | AdSet ID | 98123747 |
Tracker Creative ID | Ad ID | 123192873 |
When running a Meta report, Singular will also match the SDK data with the marketing data provided by Meta Ads API, including:
- Spend by Campaign
- Spend by Creative, including the image or video
- Account ID
General FAQ
As a Meta Mobile Measurement Partner, Singular allows app publishers to track ad download referrals from Facebook and Instagram. Once a download has been verified by Singular, you can also track subsequent user engagement of these users in your mobile app.
Singular gets attribution data from Meta in two ways:
- Meta's self-attributing API: Due to Meta's data-sharing limitation, data about installs received from this API is only available in Singular aggregate reports (not in user-level data logs).
- Meta's Meta Install Referrer Solution: This new measurement solution for Android app installs allows for data to be displayed both in Singular's aggregate reports and in user-level data logs. See Meta Referrer FAQ.
Singular uses all the necessary security measures required by MEta to ensure communications between Singular and Meta are secure. We also comply with all of the privacy policies set forth by Meta to protect your data.
If you've followed the setup steps but still aren't seeing Meta attributed installs after performing your test, contact Singular's Support Team for additional help. Provide your account name, the applicable application, and your Facebook App ID in your initial email to help ensure a quick resolution.
You will need to have a developer account. Go to the Meta App Dashboard. Find your app from your list of apps and copy the App ID.
As part of the updates related to iOS 14, Meta announced new guidelines for using the Advertiser Tracking Enabled flag with MMPs, including how they use the ATE flag. Your integration with Singular automatically implements this flag, and it is set for users that opt-in to tracking via iOS App Tracking Transparency. No additional action is required in your Singular SDK implementation.
If you have implemented Singular ad revenue attribution, ad revenue data can be reported to Meta via Meta's AdImpression event. Ad revenue reported to Meta can be used for optimization provided the ad revenue data meets Meta's eligibility requirements.
- Integrate Singular ad revenue attribution
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Pass ad revenue data to Meta via the Facebook partner configuration. Select the "__ADMON_USER_LEVEL_REVENUE__" SDK event and map it to "AdImpression" with "Include Revenue Value" checked.
- Review Meta's eligibility requirements for maximizing values of conversions
If you encounter this error from Meta, it indicates that the event is expected to be a revenue-type event. To resolve this, ensure that when sending the event from your application using the Singular SDK, you include the required currency and value parameters. Additionally, in your Partner Configuration settings, make sure to enable 'Include Revenue Value' for this event.
No, any changes to the event mapping will only apply from the point of configuration going forward. Historical data will not be retroactively changed.
Make sure all of the permissions on Meta are set up to allow you to run campaigns for the Advertiser. Please include your company name in the Meta campaign name so we can identify your campaign versus other agency campaigns or in-house advertiser campaigns that exist.
(iOS) Aggregated Event Measurement FAQ
App AEM is a solution that helps advertisers reach more people and measure ad performance on their platform.
App AEM utilizes conversion data that Singular sends to Meta through the MMP integration. This includes events associated with users that haven’t provided iOS's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) permission, in which case Meta will limit processing of those events to Aggregated Event Measurement (AEM) only. App AEM supports app promotion (installs) and app engagement (re-engagement) campaigns for iOS 14 and above.
Starting October 9th, 2024, Meta and Singular will additionally support an enhancement to AEM called "Advanced AEM". Advanced AEM further improves install AEM measurement by enabling AEM attributions to be reported in Singular tracker data, for AEM eligible apps. See AEM attribution and reporting
For more information about App AEM, see Meta’s help center article.
Starting October 9th, Advanced AEM will be available for all existing and new Facebook configurations and is enabled by default, provided your app is AEM eligible in your Meta Events Manager.
To enable Meta Advanced AEM reporting (i.e. tracker installs)
- (Singular) Ensure the Facebook partner configuration is configured for your iOS app, and the "Include Advanced AEM Attributions" option is checked. Your default Singular partner configuration in Meta sends app events for users that haven't provided iOS's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) permission, in which Meta will limit processing of those events to AEM.
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(Meta) Verify your app is eligible for Aggregated Events Measurement in your Meta Events Manager. If your app is AEM eligible, Advanced AEM data will be available through your Singular integration.
Note: Singular reporting for Advanced AEM does not require the "Aggregated Events Measurement" option to be selected as the "Attribution" when configuring your Meta app promotion campaign
To enable Meta AEM reporting “App Promotion” campaigns (i.e. network installs):
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(Singular) An active Singular iOS Facebook partner configuration
- Reporting in-app event postbacks to Meta are optional but recommended to enable VO and AEO optimization. Note that AEM requires reporting both ATT opt-in and opt-out data to Meta, which is the default behavior with a Facebook partner configuration
- (Singular) A configured Singular Facebook data connector
- (Meta) Ensure that "MMP" is selected as the "Preferred Connection Method" in the Meta Events Manager.
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(Meta) When creating a Meta App Promotion campaign:
- In "Campaign" configuration, enable the "iOS 14+ campaign" option
- In "Ad Set" configuration, select the AEM option as the attribution method:
- In "Campaign" configuration, enable the "iOS 14+ campaign" option
To enable Meta AEM for "App Engagement" campaigns (i.e. re-engagements):
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- (Singular) An iOS app that supports deep links
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(Singular) A Singular integrated app with deep link support
- Singular SDK integration, or
- iOS SDK 12.0.3+, or
- iOS SDK 11.0.7+ with supportedDomains implemented for any Universal Links used in App AEM campaigns
- Singular Server-to-Server (S2S) integration
- Deep link support is implemented and openuri= is passed in all reported sessions
- Singular SDK integration, or
- (Singular) An active Singular iOS Facebook partner configuration with re-engagement enabled
- (Meta) Ensure that "MMP" is selected as the "Preferred Connection Method" in the Meta Events Manager.
Singular supports reporting both installs and re-engagements (from deep links) served by App AEM campaigns.
- AEM installs are reported in aggregate only, as “Network Installs” via the Facebook Data Connector integration
- Advanced AEM installs are reported in Singular's aggregated "Tracker Installs". User-level attributions for Advanced AEM are not available due to Meta's data sharing policies.
- AEM re-engagements are reported in both user-level and in aggregate, from deep links served by app engagement campaigns. Supported campaign granularity include:
- Campaign ID
- Sub Campaign ID
- Creative ID
Ensure that "MMP" is selected as the "Preferred Connection Method" in the Meta Events Manager.
- App AEM utilizes app conversion data reported through Singular’s MMP attribution integration with Meta (this article)
- SKAdNetwork utilizes Apple’s attribution framework to attribute. For more information on Singular’s integration with Meta for SKAdNetwork, read our help center article on the topic.
(Android) Meta Referrer FAQ
"Meta Referrer" is an Android-specific measurement solution introduced by Meta to allow advertisers access to granular user-level attribution data for Android app installs (see Meta's data policies) from ads served on Facebook, Instagram, and Audience Network ad campaigns where the objective is app installs. It is comprised of the "Google Play Install Referrer" and "Meta Install Referrer" technologies for app install measurement.
Google Play Install Referrer | Meta Install Referrer |
(Available as of October 2021) |
(Available as of November 2023)
"Non-same session" referes to when a user clicks on an ad and gets redirected to the app store, but doesn't immediately click "Download/Install". User returns to app store page later to click "Download/Install". |
As of November 2023, Singular's integration with Meta supports both the "Google Install Referrer" and "Meta Install Referrer", under what Singular refers to as "Meta Referrer" measurement.
Singular prioritizes the Meta Referrer data to measure attributions to prioritize the availability of user-level data for advertiser. For a given Android app install, Singular will prioritize the following attribution methods as follows:
- (Meta Referrer) Meta Install Referrer
- (Meta Referrer) Google Install Referrer
- Meta self-attributing API
Singular uses the self-attributing claim if any Meta Referrer data is not available or loses due to last-touch methodology to a Meta self-attributed conversion. Doing so maximizes both the user-level attribution data while ensuring accurate aggregate measurement of Meta campaigns.
Attributions via Meta Install Referrer or Google Install Referrer are available in user level reports as source "Facebook" and can be distinguished by via attribution method ("Method") "meta_referral_id" and "referral_id", respectively.
Singular's "Meta Referrer" measurement consists of two install referrer technologies used by Meta when serving Android app install ads through Facebook, Instagram, or Audience Network.
Google Play Install Referrer | Meta Install Referrer |
When a user clicks on an advertiser's app app install ad on Meta's app (e.g. Facebook or Instagram) or Audience Network, Meta encrypts and logs the relevant ad campaign metadata (Meta referrer) and appends it to the referrer parameter in the Play Store URL. The Play Store URL redirects the user to the Play Store app product page, and the appended Meta referrer is saved by the store. Once the resulting install completes and the user first opens the app, Singular's SDK reads the Google Play install referrer from the Play Install Referrer API to retrieve the Meta referrer from the Google Play install referrer data. The Meta referrer is then decrypted by Singular's servers for install attribution. |
When a user views or clicks on an advertiser's app install ad on Meta's app (e.g., Facebook or Instagram) or Audience Network, Facebook's app encrypts and logs the relevant ad campaign metadata (Meta referrer) in the Facebook app's local storage layer on-device. Once the resulting install completes and the user first opens the app, Singular's SDK reads the Meta referrer from the Meta install referrer data retrieved from the local storage layer on device. The Meta referrer is then decrypted by Singular's servers for install attribution. |
Both technologies are used concurrently and alongside Singular's self-attributing integration with Meta, to arrive at a single attribution decision. See "How does Singular attribute installs between the self-attributed data and "Meta Referrer?"
Singular SDK and S2S Integration Requirements
Google Play Install Referrer | Meta Install Referrer | |
Singular SDK |
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Singular S2S API |
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Partner Configuration Requirements
- Configure the Facebook partner configuration and provide the Meta "Install Referrer Decryption Key" according to step 2.4.
Some possible reasons for discrepancies between the two measurement methods provided by Meta are:
- Meta Referrer is supported for limit-ad-tracked users on Android 12+, where the Google Advertising ID is not available. Meta self-attribution is only available when the Google advertising ID is available.
- Meta Referrer is supported for app installs only.
- Meta Referrer is only available clicks and view that occurred on that device. Meta self-attribution supports cross-device claims for Meta users with multiple devices.
- Meta Referrer is not supported for campaigns redirecting to landing pages
- Meta Referrer supports view-through attributions, but only for broad targeting or Advantage+ App campaigns
- If only Google Install Referrer is used, if Meta Install Referrer is not enabled:
- Google Install Referrer only measures app installs, specifically for campaigns leading to the Play Store. Google Install referrer is not supported for user interaction with relevant ads that did not lead directly to the Play Store
- The Google Install Referrer supports only click-through attributions, while Meta self-attribution supports both click-through and view-through
- The Google Install Referrer uses the referrer value immediately preceding an app download. Repeat clicks on the same ad, after download, but before first app open, will not result in an updated referrer value. Meta's self-attribution logic may return with the more recent touchpoint after download, but before first app open
- Google Install Referrer only supports Google Play Store, it is not supported for third party app stores.
Broad targeting is required to receive view-through install data via the Meta Referrer. You can find the supported campaign configuration below:
- Age: The default setting, "18-65+" is applied
- Gender: The default setting, "All genders", is applied.
- Location: Regions, country groups (e.g. Asia) or specific countries are applied as the location.
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Detailed Targeting: If detailed targeting such as demographics, interests or behaviors are applied, opting into Advantage detailed targeting is required.
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Custom Audiences: If Custom Audiences are applied, opting into Advantage custom audience is required
Meta Referrer attribution is only available on Android devices.
To find your decryption key, follow these below steps:
- In the Meta Developers Portal, go to My Apps and select the relevant app.
- Go to Basic settings and scroll down to the Android App Store section.
- Under Package Names, find the key labeled Install Referrer Decryption Key.
Partner Data Policies
As a Meta Mobile Measurement Partner integrated with Meta's self-attributing API, Singular adheres to the following data handling requirements.
Note that these policies only apply to Meta's self-attributed conversions and do not apply to Meta Referrer conversions on Android.
Data Retention
Meta user-level data is removed after 6 months of original attribution. After 6 months, users attributed to Meta are treated/marked as "Organic" and reflected as such in both aggregate and user-level reporting in Singular.
Data Access
To protect end-users' privacy, Meta does not allow advertiser access to any user-level data that is based on self-attributed conversions. Any field normally identifying a self-attributed Meta conversion is marked as "Unattributed".
Limited Data Use
Meta allows advertisers to notify Meta if end-users choose to limit or allow data processing for users in the following states in the United States, using a "limited data use" (LDU) flag:
- California (as of July 2020)
- Colorado (as of June 2023)
- Connecticut (as of June 2023)
Singular uses the limitDataSharing value passed to Singular SDK and S2S in integrations with privacy-compliant partners such as Meta. When Singular.limitDataSharing(true), Meta will "limit data use" for this user in Meta targeting if they are a California, Colorado, or Connecticut resident. If a limitDataSharing value is not explicitly provided, Singular defaults to notifying Meta that "limit data use" should be applied for California, Colorado, and Connecticut residents.
For implementation details and examples, see our iOS SDK, Android SDK, and S2S API guides. For more information about the "LDU" feature, see Meta's developer documentation.