Introduction

Welcome to the FilesCrew Tracking Guide. This document provides insights on building compliant and transparent click tracking services while ensuring efficiency and user safety.

Key Tracking Guidelines

• Use Visible Query Parameters: Your tracking URLs must have a visible query parameter that indicates the next immediate hop in the redirection chain. This ensures transparency in tracking.
  
  Example: https://filescrew.com/?redirection_url=https://example.com/
• Ensure Transparency in URL Paths: All tracking URLs should use paths where transparency parameters function as required. Avoid using non-transparent redirection paths.
  
  ✅ https://filescrew.com/click?redirection_url=https://example.com
❌ https://filescrew.com/non_transparent?redirection_url=https://example.com
• Validate Redirection URLs: Perform additional server-side validation to block malicious or unexpected redirection targets.
• Avoid Unspecified Intermediate Hops: Redirection should not pass through any unauthorized intermediate domains. Use only domains you own or control.

Certification Timelines

FilesCrew adheres to Google’s transparent click-tracking certification program. Here are the key timelines:

• 2023: Certification applications are open until December 1, 2023.
• 2024 and Beyond: Applications open annually from September 1 to November 30.

Additional Rules

• You may add non-foreign parameters (such as click_id or campaign_id) to the redirection target as long as they are specific to your service and do not alter the nature of the redirect.
• Subdomains with CNAME records pointing to certified domains do not require individual certification. However, ensure all subdomains adhere to transparency requirements.
• Avoid altering the redirection target provided by your advertisers or customers. Each step in the redirection chain must remain consistent with the original intent.

Contact and Support

For additional assistance or to apply for certification, contact the FilesCrew support team at [email protected].