E-commerce Attribution

Track Which Podcasts Actually Drive Orders

Download numbers tell you nothing about revenue. Castlytics shows you which shows drive actual orders — using tracking links, vanity URLs, and promo codes.

ROAS, AOV, and repeat purchase rate per show — automatically.

Why e-commerce needs proper podcast attribution

Running multiple shows simultaneously without attribution is like running Facebook ads without the pixel.

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Multiple shows at once

Running 5 podcast shows simultaneously means 5 different audience profiles, 5 different conversion rates, and 5 different ROAS numbers — all mixed together if you don't track them separately.

Delayed purchase decisions

Podcast listeners often take 3–14 days to act on an ad they heard. Standard 7-day attribution windows miss a significant portion of podcast-driven conversions, especially for higher-priced products.

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Promo code sharing distorts data

Popular promo codes get shared on Reddit, TikTok, and coupon sites. Castlytics lets you see traffic source alongside promo code usage so you can identify leakage vs. genuine podcast-driven sales.

The four-signal approach for e-commerce

Use all four signals together for the highest capture rate. Each one catches conversions the others miss.

01

Tracking link in show notes

castlytics.app/r/abc123 — unique per show, per placement

Every show gets its own tracking link for the show notes, description, and any digital placement. Listeners who click are attributed immediately. Use a custom tracking domain (links.yourbrand.com) for a branded experience.

Captures: direct clicks from show notes, podcast apps, and embedded players

02

Vanity URL spoken by the host

yourbrand.com/show — detected without a redirect

The host says 'go to yourbrand.com/show' on air. Listeners who type that URL directly land on your site and are attributed to the campaign by the Castlytics script — no redirect, no third-party domain. This captures the majority of podcast-driven traffic.

Captures: listeners who typed the URL directly, the majority of podcast conversions

03

Promo code at checkout

SHOW20 used at checkout — matched to the campaign

A promo code at checkout catches conversions that happened days later, via a Google search, or from a shared link. Pair it with visibility into traffic source to identify when codes are being used by non-listeners.

Captures: delayed buyers, shared-code users, listeners who bookmarked your site

04

Post-purchase survey

"How did you hear about us?" — matched to campaigns automatically

The final safety net. An optional widget on your order confirmation page captures buyers who used none of the above. Responses are auto-matched to campaigns by creator name, show name, or promo code.

Captures: buyers who never clicked, visited a vanity URL, or used a promo code

E-commerce metrics in Castlytics

The numbers that actually tell you whether a podcast placement is worth renewing.

Orders per campaign

Total orders attributed to each podcast placement. The raw volume number that tells you which shows drive meaningful transaction counts, not just traffic.

Average order value by creator

Does one show attract buyers who spend more? AOV per creator helps you understand audience quality beyond conversion rate.

ROAS per show

Revenue generated divided by estimated ad spend per placement. The core metric for deciding whether to renew, increase spend, or cut.

Repeat purchase rate by creator cohort

Customers acquired from which show come back most? The creator with the best LTV often has lower ROAS in month one but is far more valuable long-term.

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Running on Shopify?

Connect your Shopify store to Castlytics and orders with campaign promo codes are attributed automatically via webhook. No checkout page code needed.

See the Shopify integration →

Set up e-commerce podcast attribution

Three steps to start tracking podcast-driven orders with all four signals.

1

Add the tracker script and record purchases

Add the Castlytics tracker to your site's <head>. On your order confirmation page, fire a purchase event with the order value.

<script src="https://castlytics.app/tracker.js" data-key="YOUR_KEY" async></script>

// On order confirmation page
fetch("https://castlytics.app/api/conversions", {
  method: "POST",
  body: JSON.stringify({
    publicKey: "YOUR_KEY",
    visitorId: window._cly_vid,
    type: "purchase",
    revenue: 79.00
  })
})
2

Create a campaign per show

Each show gets its own campaign with a unique tracking link, vanity path, and promo code. Set your attribution window (14–30 days recommended for e-commerce).

3

Brief the podcast with all three assets

Give each show: the tracking link for their show notes, the vanity URL for the host to say on air, and the promo code for the listener CTA. All four signals start working the moment the episode goes live.

E-commerce podcast attribution questions

How do e-commerce brands track podcast ad conversions?

Four signals work together: a tracking link in show notes (for listeners who click), a vanity URL the host mentions on air (for listeners who type the URL directly), a promo code at checkout (for delayed conversions), and a post-purchase survey (for buyers who used none of the above). Together they capture the vast majority of podcast-driven orders.

Why do promo codes sometimes distort attribution data?

Popular promo codes get shared on Reddit, TikTok, and coupon aggregator sites. Castlytics shows you traffic source alongside promo code usage so you can identify when codes are being used by people who never heard the podcast — and distinguish genuine podcast attribution from coupon leakage.

What e-commerce metrics does Castlytics track?

Orders per campaign, average order value by creator, ROAS, CAC, and repeat purchase rate. If your Shopify or WooCommerce store is connected, these populate automatically from order data — no spreadsheets.

How do I compare multiple podcast shows in one dashboard?

Each show gets its own campaign with a unique tracking link, vanity path, and promo code. Your dashboard shows all campaigns side by side with clicks, orders, revenue, and ROAS per show. Sort by any metric to find your top performers.

Does the Shopify integration work automatically for podcast attribution?

Yes. Connect your Shopify store in Castlytics. Once connected, Shopify order webhooks automatically sync to Castlytics. Orders with campaign promo codes are attributed to the campaign with no checkout page code required.

Start tracking podcast-driven orders today

Free plan includes 3 campaigns, unlimited clicks, and 30-day attribution. No credit card required.

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