Traffic control helps you automatically ignore unwanted traffic and conversions by applying simple, readable rules. You can set rules globally or override them for specific advertisers and offers. When a rule matches, the related click or conversion is blocked.
This feature is designed to keep your reporting and payouts clean by excluding traffic you don’t want to process.
You can also view this feature hands-on in our interactive demo.
⚠️ Pay extra caution when setting up the blocking rules to prevent any accidental traffic loss.
Where it applies
Clicks: Rules can block clicks based on affiliate parameters.
Conversions: Rules can block conversions based on advertiser parameters, customer/external identifiers, and (when available) the original click’s affiliate parameters.
If a click was blocked, any conversion tied to that click is automatically blocked.
How rules work
Each rule is a set of conditions that must all be true to block an event (logical AND within one rule).
You can create multiple rules; if any rule matches, the event is blocked (logical OR across rules).
Example:
Rule 1: Block if `aff_s1` is empty AND `aff_s3` contains “bot”
Rule 2: Block if `aff_s2` equals any of [“test”, “internal”]
Outcome: A click is blocked if it matches Rule 1 OR Rule 2.
Available fields and conditions
For clicks: `aff_s1`, `aff_s2`, `aff_s3`, `aff_s4`, `aff_s5`
For conversions: `adv_s1`, `adv_s2`, `adv_s3`, `adv_s4`, `adv_s5`, `external_id`, `customer_id`, plus `aff_s1`–`aff_s5` from the original click (when the conversion is linked to a click)
Condition types:
Is empty: blocks when the field has no value
Equals one of: blocks when the field exactly matches any value you enter
Contains: blocks when the field contains a text snippet you enter
Tip: Use “Equals one of” for exact lists (e.g., test IDs) and “Contains” for pattern-like matching (e.g., strings that share a prefix).
Scope and precedence
You can set rules at three levels, with the following precedence:
Offer-level rules (highest)
Advertiser-level rules
Global rules (fallback)
If a more specific level is enabled, it overrides the less specific one. For example, if an offer override is on, it takes precedence over both advertiser and global rules.
Where to manage:
- Global: Settings → Tracking → Traffic control
- Advertiser: Advertiser detail → Traffic control
- Offer: Offer detail → Settings → Traffic control
You can toggle an override on/off for advertisers and offers. Turning it off restores inheritance from the next broader level.
What happens when an event is blocked
Blocked click: The click is marked as blocked and does not progress to attribution.
Blocked conversion: The conversion is marked as blocked. Conversions from blocked clicks are also blocked automatically.
Downstream effects: Blocked events are prevented from normal processing and are intended to be excluded from optimization/payout workflows.
Noteworthy limits and behaviors
Maximum rules: Up to 10 click rules and 10 conversion rules per scope.
At least one condition: Each rule must contain at least one condition. Empty rules are not allowed.
Affiliate parameters on conversions: `aff_s1`–`aff_s5` in conversion rules are checked only when the conversion is linked to a tracked click. If there’s no click link, these affiliate conditions are ignored for that conversion.
Availability and access: Feature availability may depend on your plan; only users with the right permissions can edit tracking blocking settings.
Effective time: Changes apply to new events after you save them; past events are not re-evaluated.
Practical examples
Block test clicks: Clicks where `aff_s1` equals any of [“test”, “qa”].
Block empty subids: Clicks where `aff_s1` is empty.
Block sandbox conversions: Conversions where `external_id` contains “sandbox”.
Block internal traffic: Conversions where `adv_s1` equals any of [“internal”, “dev”].
Block based on click context: Conversions linked to clicks where `aff_s3` contains “bot”.
FAQs
Can I use multiple conditions in one rule?
Yes. All conditions in a single rule must be met to block the event.
What if I need different rules for a specific offer?
Turn on the offer override. Those rules will take precedence over advertiser/global.
Do affiliate conditions work for direct (no-click) conversions?
They only apply when the conversion is linked to a tracked click.