In shortMost ad accounts think their tracking is top tier. Most sit at a C or D. This video ranks conversion tracking in seven tiers, from an ad account that only sees clicks (E) to server-side tracking from your own domain with catalog-matched remarketing (SS), and shows why consent sits under every tier.
Chapters
The seven tiers
- E: the ad platform only sees clicks, impressions and cost. No pixel on the site.
- D: a pixel is on the site, but it only sees page views.
- C: conversion events are tracked (leads, purchases).
- B: you also send the customer's email with those events.
- A: server-side tracking on a subdomain.
- S: server-side tracking from the same hostname as your site.
- SS: all of the above, plus remarketing matched to your product catalogs, with funnel stage.
Every step up gives the ad platforms better information, which means better targeting and more accurate numbers. Under every tier sits consent: a setup that ignores it is at risk no matter how advanced it is. Server-side tracking still has to follow each visitor's consent choice, and an ad blocker is not a consent choice.
Common questions
Does server-side tracking skip consent?
No. Server-side tracking still has to respect each visitor's consent choice. It improves how data is sent, not whether you're allowed to send it.
Resources
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