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How to Test a Tracking Link

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Jivitha Masilamani
Updated

You have just created a tracking link through the Manage Links page. Before you start using it in a campaign, you can test the link and see what information it sends to Singular.

You will be basically simulating an ad click and looking at Singular's attribution logs to check how the click was handled.

  Guide for UA Managers
  Prerequisites 1. Singular's attribution service has been set up for your organization.
2. The Singular SDK has been integrated into your app.
3. You have generated a new Singular Link using the Manage Links page.
  Tools A mobile device for testing
1

If your mobile device has been used to test Singular attribution before, you have to clear the data.

  1. Uninstall your app from the device.
  2. Reset the device using the instructions in Resetting a Device and Clearing the Install Attribution. 
2

Get your mobile device's advertising identifier:
3

Copy the tracking link you generated. It should look like the following, where the values in curly braces are macros - placeholders meant to be replaced with actual values by the advertising network.

https://singularassist.sng.link/D59c0/tpa9&aifa={google_advertising_id}
&idfa={idfa}&cl={click_id}&pcid={campaign_id}&pcn={campaign_name}
&pshid={publisher_id}&psn={publisher_site_name}&psid={publisher_site_id}
&pcrid={creative_id}&pcrn={publisher_creative_name}
4

If you are testing an Apple device, replace {IDFA} with the IDFA of your device. If you are testing an Android device, replace {AIFA} with the AIFA of your device.

Delete all the other placeholders ("{campaign_name}", "{publisher_ud}", etc.). Your tracking link should now look as follows:

https://singularassist.sng.link/D59c0/tpa9&aifa=0f9f9e46-df3b-
4012-8b1e-639ebc39a20f&idfa=&cl=&pcid=&pcn=&pshid=&psn=&psid=
&pcrid=&pcrn=

Note: All the parameters in the link have to be given a valid value (such as the AIFA in this case) or left blank. If you click on a link that still has placeholders in curly braces {}, it may not result in successful attribution.
5 Send the tracking link to your testing device and click on it from the device. You are redirected to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
6 Download the app, install it, and open it (Singular can only attribute the install after the app is opened).
7

To view Singular's attribution logs:

  • Wait 15 minutes to make sure the install event has been recorded in the logs.
  • In the Singular web app, go to Attribution > Export Logs. 
  • Select today's date and check the View real-time data checkbox.
  • Select the log type Conversions, and download the log.
8

If your test install was attributed correctly, you will find a conversion event in the log with the Device ID of your device. The Partner should be the partner you created the tracking link for.

Other Ways to Test a Link

Testing Fingerprint-Based Attribution

To test what happens when the tracking link is clicked from devices that don't supply the IDFA or AIFA, do the following:

  • Reset your device's attribution (see Resetting a Device and Clearing the Install Attribution).

  • Copy the tracking link again, but this time erase all the macro values, including the device ID. All the macros should be blank, as in the following example:

    https://singularassist.sng.link/D59c0/tpa9&aifa=
 &idfa=&cl=&pcid=&pcn=&pshid=&psn=&psid=&pcrid=&pcrn=
  • Send the link to your testing device and click it from the device. Then follow the same steps as in the previous test.

Testing Deep Linking

If you've generated a tracking link with deep linking functionality, you can test it using the following steps:

  • Install the app on your test device.
  • Copy the link from the Manage Links page and send it to your test device.
  • From the device, click the link. The app should open and display the intended screen or content.

More Resources

Singular Links FAQ
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