Widgets and affiliate tracking links

Showpass allows you to use affiliate tracking links to monitor sales performance across different marketing channels or partners. When customers arrive through special tracking links, the Showpass WordPress plugin automatically associates purchases made through [showpass_widget] with that tracking campaign.

How affiliate tracking works

There are two ways to set tracking IDs for Showpass widgets:

  1. URL-based tracking (using ?aff= parameter) - Cookie-based, persists across page views
  2. Direct tracking (using tracking_id parameter) - Set directly in the shortcode

Method 1: URL-based tracking with aff parameter

Step 1: Create an affiliate tracking link in Showpass

  1. Log in to your Showpass dashboard
  2. Navigate to your event settings
  3. Generate an affiliate tracking link for your event or campaign
  4. Showpass will provide a unique token (e.g., 8ee54af5)

Need help? Visit the Showpass Help Center for assistance with tracking link setup.

Step 2: Customer clicks the tracking link

Share your full tracking link in campaigns or with affiliates:

https://www.showpass.com/your-event/?tracking-id=8ee54af5

When customers click this link, they're taken to Showpass and the tracking token is recorded.

Step 3: Use the aff parameter on your website

To integrate tracking with your WordPress site where [showpass_widget] is used:

Parameter: aff=your_tracking_token

Add this query parameter to your WordPress page URL where the Showpass widget button is located:

https://yourwebsite.com/event-page/?aff=8ee54af5

What happens:

  • When users visit this URL, the plugin creates a browser cookie storing the aff token
  • The cookie persists across page views during the user's session

Step 4: Automatic tracking ID injection

The [showpass_widget] shortcode (specifically type="event") automatically:

  1. Looks for the aff cookie
  2. If found, injects the tracking-id into the Showpass purchase widget
  3. Attributes the sale to the correct affiliate/campaign in Showpass reports

Method 2: Direct tracking with tracking_id parameter

Parameter: tracking_id="your-tracking-token"

You can also set tracking directly in the shortcode without using URL parameters:

[showpass_widget slug="my-event" tracking_id="8ee54af5"]

Advantages:

  • No cookie dependency
  • Works immediately without URL parameters
  • Can be different for each widget on the same page

When to use:

  • When you want tracking set directly in the shortcode
  • When you don't want to rely on cookies
  • When different widgets on the same page need different tracking IDs

Example:

[showpass_widget slug="event-a" tracking_id="campaign-a"]
[showpass_widget slug="event-b" tracking_id="campaign-b"]

Example URLs

Basic event page

https://yourwebsite.com/upcoming-events/?aff=your_tracking_token

Combined with event slug parameter

https://yourwebsite.com/event-detail/?slug=my-cool-event&aff=your_tracking_token

Multiple tracking campaigns

Campaign A: https://yourwebsite.com/events/?aff=facebook_campaign
Campaign B: https://yourwebsite.com/events/?aff=email_newsletter
Campaign C: https://yourwebsite.com/events/?aff=partner_xyz

Common use cases

Email marketing campaigns

Include tracking URLs in newsletters:

https://yourwebsite.com/featured-event/?aff=newsletter_march2024

Track performance of different email campaigns by using unique tokens per campaign.

Social media advertising

Use different tracking tokens for each platform:

Facebook: ?aff=fb_campaign_spring
Instagram: ?aff=ig_story_march
Twitter: ?aff=twitter_promo_q1

Affiliate partnerships

Provide partners with unique tracking URLs:

Partner 1: ?aff=partner_cityguide
Partner 2: ?aff=partner_eventblog
Partner 3: ?aff=partner_radiopromo

QR codes

Generate QR codes pointing to tracking URLs:

Print materials: ?aff=qr_poster_downtown
Event flyers: ?aff=qr_flyer_march
Business cards: ?aff=qr_businesscard

Important considerations

Current support scope

Note: Affiliate tracking via URL aff parameter is currently supported for [showpass_widget type="event"]. The tracking_id shortcode parameter works for events, products, and memberships. Check with Showpass support or test if you need tracking for products or memberships via URL parameters.

Cookie-based system

This method relies on browser cookies:

  • Cookie duration: Typically 7 days (check Showpass documentation for current settings)
  • If cookies are disabled: Tracking may not work
  • If cookies are cleared: Attribution is lost
  • Cross-device: Not supported (user must complete purchase on the same device/browser)

Widget interaction required

The tracking ID is applied when:

  1. User visits your site with ?aff=token
  2. Cookie is set
  3. User clicks a [showpass_widget] button to open the purchase widget

Direct links to Showpass.com with tracking-id parameter work independently of this WordPress plugin feature.

Testing your tracking setup

Step 1: Verify cookie is set

  1. Visit your page with ?aff=test_token
  2. Open browser DevTools → Application/Storage → Cookies
  3. Look for a cookie containing your tracking token

Step 2: Test widget opening

  1. Click your [showpass_widget] button
  2. Open browser DevTools → Network tab
  3. Look for requests to Showpass with your tracking-id included

Step 3: Check Showpass reports

  1. Complete a test purchase (or use test mode if available)
  2. Log in to your Showpass dashboard
  3. Check affiliate reporting to confirm attribution

Troubleshooting

Tracking not appearing in reports

  • Verify the token matches your Showpass tracking link
  • Check cookie expiration – test shortly after clicking the tracking URL
  • Ensure the widget is for events (products/memberships may not be supported)
  • Confirm the plugin is active and up to date

Cookie not being set

  • Check for HTTPS – cookies may have restrictions on HTTP sites
  • Verify URL format – use ?aff=token not ?tracking-id=token
  • Test in incognito mode to rule out browser extensions blocking cookies

Multiple tracking sources

If a user visits multiple tracking URLs:

  • Latest wins: The most recent aff parameter overwrites previous values
  • Cookie is replaced: Each new tracking URL updates the cookie

Measuring ROI

Track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts by:

  1. Creating unique tokens for each channel/campaign
  2. Using consistent naming conventions (e.g., platform_campaign_date)
  3. Reviewing Showpass analytics regularly to compare performance
  4. Calculating cost per acquisition for paid campaigns
  5. Optimizing spend based on which channels drive the most sales