Click or Conversion Numbers Don't Match Your Partner's Data
Discrepancies between TrackOG and partner data are one of the most common questions in affiliate marketing. Most cases have a technical explanation.
Most common reasons
1. Time zone differences
TrackOG records in the panel's timezone. Partner may report in a different timezone. A click at 11:30 PM IST may appear on the next calendar day in UTC. Fix: Always compare using the same date range and agree on a timezone with partners.
2. Unique vs Gross clicks
TrackOG counts both Gross (every click) and Unique (one per user per day per offer). Partner tracker may count differently. Example: One user clicks 5 times → TrackOG: 5 gross, 1 unique. Partner may show 1. Fix: Agree on which metric to use for reconciliation. Most networks use Unique Clicks.
3. Rejected clicks not counted by affiliate
TrackOG rejects clicks outside targeting rules (wrong geo, device, OS). Affiliate tracker counts all outbound clicks including rejected ones. Fix: Share offer targeting with affiliates. Rejected clicks = non-qualifying traffic.
4. Conversion delay
TrackOG records when postback fires. Advertiser records at a different point (e.g. after manual approval). 3-day approval cycle = conversions appear 3 days later. Fix: Agree on comparison window accounting for the approval cycle.
5. Currency rounding
Revenue amounts in different currencies show minor differences due to exchange rate rounding.
6. Deduplication
If same click_id fires twice, TrackOG may record only one conversion. Advertiser counts both.
How to investigate
- Export both datasets to same date range and timezone
- Match click IDs where possible
- Check Reports > Clicks for rejected clicks and reasons
- Ask advertiser to share their postback logs to verify what they sent
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Affiliate says 1,000 clicks but TrackOG shows 700. Why? A: 300 may have been rejected (geo, device, OS mismatch or offer paused). Check Reports > Clicks for rejected records.
Q: Advertiser says 50 postbacks but only 45 in TrackOG. Why? A: 5 may have returned 404 (click_id not found) or were duplicates. Check Postback Logs.
Q: Small differences are normal? A: Yes — 1-5% discrepancy is typical due to timing, rounding and deduplication. Larger discrepancies need investigation.
Related articles
- Postback Logs: Status Codes and Fixes
- Report Metrics Explained: Clicks, CR, EPC, Payout, Revenue and Profit