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Using reference and source IDs

Updated

Reference and source IDs can be added to the URL of your online test to track which participant took the test and where they accessed the test.

In this article:

How to read a SHOEBOX Online URL

Before diving into reference and source IDs, it’s important to know how to read and understand a SHOEBOX Online URL.

An example SHOEBOX Online test URL with annotations separating the URL into numbered sections.
  1. Base URL: The basic domain for all SHOEBOX Online tests.
  2. Custom Company URL: The URL extension set by you in theSHOEBOX Data Management Portal that makes your test URL unique.
  3. Source ID (refSource): A unique identification number that indicates the source from which the participant accessed the test. For example, refSource=homepage indicates that the participant clicked on a link to your test from your organization’s homepage.
  4. Reference ID (refid): A unique identification number added to the end of test URLs in order to track and record an individual participant’s test results.

What is a reference ID?

Reference IDs are unique identification numbers added to the end of test URLs in order to track and record an individual participant's test results. These are used when sending a test URL directly to a specific participant.

Applying reference IDs

Reference IDs are applied by adding /?refid= and an ID number to the end of your test URL.

In other words, to give your participant a reference ID number of 123 you would add /?refid=123 to the end of your test URL.

Example

Base URL: https://shoeboxonline.com/yourcompany

URL with Reference ID applied: https://shoeboxonline.com/yourcompany/?refid=123

When exporting your participants' results into a spreadsheet, you will be able to search and review results for specific reference IDs that you have given out.

Using the previous example of refid=123, you can search for this within the spreadsheet to isolate the results of the participant who was given this reference ID.

A screenshot of a spreadsheet displaying examples of participation export with the referrer ID highlighted.
Note: When creating reference IDs, it’s good practice to test the link yourself to make sure the reference number matches the link you have sent to the participant.

What Is a source ID?

Source IDs are used to track tests taken by participants who accessed the test via a specific source, such as your organization’s homepage, one of your organization's email or social media marketing campaigns, or advertisements on social media platforms.

Applying source IDs

Source IDs function similarly to reference IDs. They are added to your test's base URL to indicate which source your participants linked from to access the test.

Social media source IDs

If posting an advertisement with a link to your online test on Facebook, you would add /?refSource=facebook to your base URL before embedding the link in your Facebook advertisement.

When you export your participants' results to a spreadsheet, you will be able to search for refSource=facebook and view the results of all the participants that accessed your online test via Facebook.

Example: https://shoeboxonline.com/yourcompany/?refSource=facebook
Email campaign source IDs

If you add a link to your test in an email campaign, you can add a unique source ID to easily identify which email campaign link was clicked by a participant. For example, if you were running an email campaign throughout the month of March 2024, you could add /?refSource=march2024 to identify all the participants who accessed the test from that email campaign.

Example: https://shoeboxonline.com/yourcompany/?refSource=march2024
Combined source and reference IDs

You can combine source IDs with reference IDs to track the results of specific participants that were contacted as part of email campaigns or any other organized testing campaign.

Example: https://shoeboxonline.com/yourcompany/?refSource=march2020&refid=123

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