Data
Server-Side Tracking
Sending conversion data directly from your server to ad platforms, bypassing browser-level limitations like ad blockers, cookie restrictions, and iOS privacy features. More reliable than pixel-based tracking because it's not affected by client-side interference. Required for accurate data in the post-iOS 14.5 era. Implementations include Meta's Conversions API, Google's Enhanced Conversions, and TikTok's Events API. Should run alongside client-side pixels for maximum data coverage.
Why it matters
It recovers conversion signal that browser-level blocking removes, which improves both reporting and the platform's optimisation, since the model learns from the events it receives.
In practice
Deduplicate against the browser pixel with a shared event ID. Without it you get inflated conversions, which is worse than the loss you were fixing.
Related terms