Why GA4 and Your Cam Affiliate Dashboard Count Different Clicks

GA4 shows 120 clicks from your cam comparison page. The affiliate dashboard shows 84. Before you call those 36 clicks missing, find out what the two reports counted and whether both are looking at the same link.

Line up the reports

Pick one page, one offer and one placement. Give the placement a stable sub ID using the program’s link builder. Match the dates and reporting time zones and allow for processing delays. Check whether the network shows total clicks or unique clicks. A repeat click can add another website event without adding another unique network click under the program’s rules.

Check the point where each count happens

Google documents GA4’s enhanced measurement for outbound links. An internal redirect such as /go/cams may not qualify as outbound on the original click. Google also excludes configured cross-domain destinations from automatic outbound click events. On the other end, the affiliate network records what reaches its tracking system. A broken redirect, a stripped parameter, or a consent setting on your site can change what one side sees.

Run one controlled check

If the program permits a link test, click the published button once and check the expected website event, the final destination, and the sub ID in network reporting after its normal delay. Record the time and label so you can distinguish the test from traffic. Repeat the comparison for a full day before editing every link. If a discrepancy persists, send support the placement, report window, expected destination and a redacted example. Ask which metric their report is actually counting.

Official references

• support.google.com — reference 1
• support.crakrevenue.com — reference 2