> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://clickflare.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Campaign Types Explained

> Understand the different campaign types in ClickFlare and when to use each

## TL;DR

ClickFlare supports multiple campaign types to accommodate different tracking needs and traffic sources.
The two most important ones are **Redirect campaigns** and **Direct (Google-compliant) campaigns**.

Choosing the right campaign type is essential for accurate tracking and platform compliance.

***

## Why Campaign Types Matter

Not all traffic sources work the same way.

Some platforms:

* Allow redirect tracking
* Allow external tracking URLs
* Allow passing custom parameters freely

Others:

* Require traffic to go **directly to the destination**
* Restrict redirects or third-party URLs
* Enforce strict compliance rules

ClickFlare campaign types exist to handle these differences **without breaking attribution**.

***

## Redirect Campaigns

### What Is a Redirect Campaign?

A **Redirect campaign** sends traffic through ClickFlare **before** reaching the destination.

Flow:

```
Traffic Source → ClickFlare → Landing Page (optional) → Offer
```

This is the **default and most commonly used** campaign type.

***

### When to Use Redirect Campaigns

Use a Redirect campaign when:

* Your traffic source allows external tracking URLs
* You want maximum flexibility
* You are using affiliate offers, lead gen funnels, or RSOC setups
* You want ClickFlare to control the full redirect flow

***

### What Redirect Campaigns Support

Redirect campaigns allow:

* Full Visit and Click tracking
* Landing page rotation and testing
* Offer rotation
* Parameter capture and storage
* All conversion tracking methods (postback, script, API)
* Advanced routing and filtering

📌 If you’re unsure which campaign type to use, **start with Redirect**.

***

## Direct (Google-Compliant) Campaigns

### What Is a Direct Campaign?

A **Direct campaign** is designed for platforms that **do not allow redirect tracking**, most notably **Google Ads**.

Flow:

```
Traffic Source → Landing Page / Offer
        ↓
    ClickFlare tracking runs directly on the page
```

In this setup:

* Traffic does not pass through a ClickFlare redirect
* ClickFlare tracks users using scripts and first-party cookies
* Attribution happens without breaking platform rules

***

### When to Use Direct Campaigns

Use a Direct campaign when:

* Running Google Ads or other strict platforms
* Redirect tracking is not allowed
* You must send traffic directly to the final URL
* Compliance is required

***

### What Direct Campaigns Support

Direct campaigns support:

* Visit and conversion tracking
* First-party cookie attribution
* Script-based event tracking
* Conversion APIs for sending data back to ad platforms

📌 Direct campaigns trade some flexibility for **compliance and stability**.

***

## Key Differences at a Glance

| Feature                           | Redirect Campaign | Direct Campaign           |
| --------------------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------- |
| Traffic passes through ClickFlare | ✅ Yes             | ❌ No                      |
| Redirect tracking                 | ✅ Yes             | ❌ No                      |
| Landing page rotation             | ✅ Yes             | ⚠️ Limited                |
| Google Ads compliant              | ⚠️ Depends        | ✅ Yes                     |
| Script required                   | Optional          | Required                  |
| Best for                          | Most use cases    | Google & strict platforms |

***

## Other Campaign Types (Advanced)

Depending on your setup, you may also encounter:

* Advanced Flow campaigns
* Multi-step funnel campaigns
* Custom routing campaigns

These are covered in **Advanced Tracking & Automation** and are not required for getting started.

***

## How to Choose the Right Campaign Type

Ask yourself:

1. Does my traffic source allow redirect URLs?
2. Do I need full routing and rotation control?
3. Am I required to send traffic directly to the page?

If the answer to #1 is **yes** → use **Redirect**
If the answer to #3 is **yes** → use **Direct**

***

## Common Mistakes

* Using Redirect campaigns with Google Ads when not allowed
* Assuming Direct campaigns behave the same as Redirect campaigns
* Skipping the required script in Direct setups

## Summary

* **Redirect campaigns** are the most flexible and recommended starting point
* **Direct campaigns** exist for compliance-driven platforms
* The campaign type determines **how tracking is implemented**, not how reports work

Once the campaign type is chosen correctly, reporting and attribution behave consistently across ClickFlare.

## Related Resources

* Create Your First Redirect Campaign
* How Click Tracking Works
* How Conversion Tracking Works
* Direct Campaign Setup (Google-Compliant)