Smart Image Tracking

Smart Image is the easiest way to track banners in newsletters. With a single URL, you can:

• Host your banner image — No need for separate image hosting
• Track impressions — Counted when the image loads
• Track clicks — Counted when the image is clicked

One URL does everything.

How It Works

1. Upload your sponsor's banner image in BannerTrackr
2. Use the Smart Image URL for both the <img src> AND the <a href>
3. BannerTrackr detects whether it's an image request or a click
4. Impressions and clicks are tracked automatically

Setting Up Smart Image

Step 1: Upload Your Banner

1. Go to Placements in your dashboard
2. Create or edit a placement
3. Upload the sponsor's banner image
4. Set the destination URL (where clicks should go)
5. Save the placement

Step 2: Copy the Smart Image URL

Your Smart Image URL will look like:

https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/YOUR_PIXEL_ID

Step 3: Use It in Your Newsletter

Use the same URL for both the image source and the link:

<a href="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/YOUR_PIXEL_ID">
  <img
    src="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/YOUR_PIXEL_ID"
    alt="Sponsor Name"
    width="600"
    style="max-width: 100%;"
  />
</a>

That's it! One URL handles everything.

Why Use Smart Image?

Simpler Integration

Instead of managing three separate things (image hosting, impression pixel, click link), you have just one URL.

Before (Traditional Method):

<!-- Host image somewhere -->
<a href="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/click/xxx">
  <img src="https://your-cdn.com/banner.png" alt="Sponsor" />
</a>
<!-- Add tracking pixel -->
<img src="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/px/xxx" width="1" height="1" />

After (Smart Image):

<a href="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/xxx">
  <img src="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/xxx" alt="Sponsor" />
</a>

Free Image Hosting

BannerTrackr hosts your banner images on a fast CDN. No need for a separate image hosting service.

Accurate Tracking

Since the image request and click tracking use the same URL, there's no chance of mismatched tracking IDs.

How We Detect Image vs Click

BannerTrackr uses browser headers to determine the request type:

This detection works automatically in all modern browsers and email clients.

Supported Image Formats

You can upload:

• PNG
• JPG / JPEG
• GIF (including animated)
• WebP

Images are served from a fast CDN (Bunny.net) for quick loading.

Newsletter Platform Examples

Substack

In Substack's editor, use an HTML block:

<a href="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/YOUR_PIXEL_ID">
  <img
    src="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/YOUR_PIXEL_ID"
    alt="Sponsor Name"
    width="600"
    style="max-width: 100%;"
  />
</a>

Beehiiv

In Beehiiv's HTML block:

<a href="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/YOUR_PIXEL_ID">
  <img
    src="https://bannertrackr.com/api/track/img/YOUR_PIXEL_ID"
    alt="Sponsor Name"
    width="100%"
  />
</a>

ConvertKit

Use ConvertKit's HTML block to add the Smart Image code.

Troubleshooting

Image not loading?

1. No image uploaded — Make sure you've uploaded a banner image in placement settings
2. Unsupported format — Use PNG, JPG, GIF, or WebP

Clicks not tracking?

1. No destination URL — Set a destination URL in placement settings
2. Same-origin click — Some email clients handle clicks differently; the tracking still works

Image looks different?

Images are served as-is without modification. If colors look off, check your original image file.

Next Steps

• Substack Guide — Step-by-step Substack integration
• Beehiiv Guide — Step-by-step Beehiiv integration
• UTM Tracking — Add UTM parameters to click destinations