How attribution works

Understanding Linkkit Attribution & Conversion Tracking

Learn how Linkkit tracks your visitors from the moment they click a link until they complete a conversion. Linkkit's attribution system helps you understand which campaigns, channels, QR codes, and referral sources drive the most valuable traffic.

Attribution Workflow

Linkkit follows a multi-stage attribution process that connects every step of the customer journey.

• Stage 1: Click Tracking
• Stage 2: Lead Tracking
• Stage 3: Conversion Tracking

This workflow provides a complete picture of how users interact with your marketing campaigns.

Stage 1: Click Tracking

Whenever someone clicks a Linkkit short link, QR code, or branded URL, the click is securely recorded before the visitor is redirected to the destination page.

Each click generates a unique tracking identifier that enables Linkkit to associate future events with the original visit.

Information Captured

Every click can include data such as:

• Unique click ID
• Timestamp
• Country, city, and region
• Device type
• Browser and operating system
• Referrer URL
• UTM campaign parameters
• Link or QR Code source
• Custom metadata (if configured)

The visitor is redirected with a unique tracking parameter, for example:

Example URL

Code

Text

https://yourwebsite.com?lk_id=abc123xyz

The Linkkit Analytics SDK automatically detects this parameter and stores it as a secure first-party cookie.

Cookie Example

lk_id=abc123xyz

Why First-Party Cookies?

Using first-party cookies allows Linkkit to:

• Maintain attribution across pages and sessions
• Improve reliability across modern browsers
• Reduce the impact of ad blockers
• Support privacy-friendly tracking
• Provide consistent conversion reporting

By default, attribution remains active for 90 days, although this duration can be customized.

Stage 2: Lead Tracking

When a visitor performs an important action—such as creating an account, submitting a form, requesting a demo, or booking a meeting—you can record a Lead event.

This connects the visitor with the original tracked click.

Example:

Lead Tracking

JavaScript

To prevent duplicate records, Linkkit automatically deduplicates lead events using the combination of:

• Customer ID
• Event Name

Only the first matching event is stored.

Stage 3: Conversion Tracking

Once the customer completes a purchase or another valuable action, record a conversion event.

Example:

Conversion Tracking

JavaScript

Linkkit automatically associates the conversion with the customer's original click and lead event, allowing you to measure campaign performance and conversion value accurately.

Attribution Models

Linkkit supports multiple attribution strategies depending on your marketing goals.

Last-Click Attribution (Default)

The most recent tracked click before the conversion receives full credit.

This is the most commonly used model for digital marketing because it rewards the campaign that directly influenced the conversion.

First-Click Attribution

The first tracked click receives credit, even if the visitor later returns through different marketing channels.

This model is useful for measuring awareness campaigns and top-of-funnel marketing efforts.

Attribution Behavior

All clicks continue to appear in analytics, even if only one receives attribution.

Attribution Window

The attribution window defines how long Linkkit remembers a visitor after they click a tracked link.

Default configuration:

You can customize this period to match your business requirements.

If the attribution window expires before a conversion occurs, the conversion will not be linked to the original click.

Cross-Domain Tracking

Many customer journeys span multiple websites or subdomains.

Linkkit supports attribution across domains such as:

• website.com → app.website.com
• app.website.com → checkout.website.com
• website.com → landingpage.com

Cross-domain tracking helps preserve attribution throughout the entire customer journey.

Conversion Workflow

When a conversion is recorded, Linkkit performs the following steps automatically:

• Receives the conversion event.
• Matches the customer with a previous lead.
• Identifies the original tracked click.
• Connects the conversion with the corresponding campaign, link, QR code, or traffic source.
• Updates analytics and reporting dashboards.

This process gives you complete visibility into marketing performance.

Direct Conversion Tracking

If your application does not have a signup or lead stage, you can associate a conversion directly with a tracked click.

Example:

Direct Conversion Tracking

JavaScript

This is useful for one-time purchases and simplified checkout flows.

Deferred Lead Tracking

Some businesses only qualify leads after a trial period or approval process.

Linkkit supports deferred lead attribution, allowing you to:

• Record the initial signup
• Delay qualification until the customer reaches a defined milestone
• Preserve the original attribution throughout the process

This ensures marketing reports accurately reflect qualified conversions rather than every signup.

Troubleshooting Attribution

Common Issues

Verifying Attribution

To confirm everything is working correctly:

• Inspect browser cookies to verify the lk_id cookie exists.
• Click a tracked Linkkit link and complete a test conversion.
• Check the Analytics dashboard to confirm the click, lead, and conversion appear.
• Review campaign reports to ensure attribution has been recorded correctly.

With Linkkit's attribution system, you can confidently measure the effectiveness of every marketing campaign, understand the complete customer journey, and make data-driven decisions to improve conversion performance.