The ROIads ad network team has added a new format to its toolkit — direct click. This ad format works with domain traffic and sends users straight to the target page.
Direct Click complements existing ad formats and is used in scenarios where speed of transition and direct interaction with the click matter, without creatives or any pre-engagement.
In this article, we’ll break down how the direct click format works, what tasks it’s best suited for, and how to use it in practice.
Direct Click Ads Format: How it Works
Direct click (sometimes it named domain redirect) is an ad format where the user lands on the target page immediately after the click. There are no intermediate steps in the flow and no separate ad impression — the transition happens directly.
Mechanically, this format is close to pop traffic, but it differs in the quality of the incoming flow. In direct click advertising, the advertiser is not working with impressions or ad clicks, but with an already formed user action. Because of this, the traffic is usually more targeted and more predictable in terms of post-redirect behavior.
A distinct feature of the format is access to sources that have historically shown stable conversion rates. Instead of long testing across a large pool of placements, the campaign immediately receives traffic from zones with proven effectiveness. This doesn’t eliminate optimization entirely, but it significantly shortens the initial testing phase.
In practice, this leads to two outcomes: time savings at launch and a faster path to working metrics without prolonged source selection.
Within the direct click mechanics, the key factors are:
- domain traffic quality
- correct redirect logic
- alignment between the offer and user expectations
Next, it makes sense to separately break down where domain traffic comes from and why its behavior differs from classic ad formats.
Direct click Advertising: Pros & Cons
Direct click should not be viewed as an “improved popunder or popup” or a universal replacement for other formats. It has clear strengths and limitations that need to be considered before launching a campaign.
Pros of the direct click format
The main advantage of the format is working with an action the user has already taken. The transition happens without an ad impression, meaning the traffic is not distracted by creatives and doesn’t require additional engagement.
The format provides:
- a more direct entry into the funnel without intermediate steps
- access to sources with historically stable conversion rates
- a fast start without long placement testing
- time savings on launch and initial optimization
Because of this, it’s often used as a format for quickly reaching working performance metrics.
Cons and limitations
Direct click does not generate demand and does not explain the value of the offer. The user is not warmed up by an ad message and makes a decision almost immediately after the redirect.
This creates several constraints:
- the format is sensitive to funnel quality
- complex offers tend to show unstable results
- mistakes in redirect logic quickly lead to conversion drops
- the format is less suitable for educational and branding tasks
For this reason, direct click requires careful offer selection and an understanding of user behavior, rather than attempts to compensate results with creatives.
Direct Click vs Pop: Key Differences
Below is a basic comparison of direct click and pop traffic in the context of affiliate marketing.
| Parameter | Direct Click | Pop |
|---|---|---|
| Entry point | Already completed click | Forced impression |
| Ad contact | None | Present |
| Creative work | Not required | Not required |
| Demand generation | No | Partial |
| Traffic type | Domain | Content |
| Launch speed | High | High |
| Funnel sensitivity | High | Medium |
| Suitable for complex offers | Most likely no | Sometimes yes |
| Control at launch | Via sources and redirect | Via sources and frequency |
Domain Redirect Traffic: Basic Understanding
Domain traffic refers to visits that occur when a user directly accesses a domain name. The user initiates the transition themselves: by typing the address, using autocomplete, or clicking a saved link. There is no ad impression in this scenario.
In the direct click model, this traffic is used as an entry point for redirecting to an offer. The user is not reacting to an ad — the action has already been taken, and the task of the advertising system is to correctly route this transition.
The key characteristic of domain traffic is the absence of pre-formed demand. Because of this, the format is sensitive to funnel logic and offer simplicity. The fewer steps between the click and the target action, the higher the chance of conversion.
When working with domain redirect ads traffic, it’s important to consider:
- geo and language alignment
- offer type and funnel length
- user behavior immediately after the redirect
Which Offers are Suitable for Direct Click Traffic
The direct click format works best with offers that don’t require long user engagement. The transition happens quickly, and the decision is made within the first seconds after the redirect. If the funnel is complex or requires explanation, the traffic is lost.
In practice, this format is most often used with offers that have a clear target action and a minimal number of steps to reach it. The user either continues the interaction or leaves immediately — there are almost no intermediate scenarios.
For domain traffic, the following types of offers work best:
- offers with simple logic and a fast target action
- performance-based models (CPA), where the quality of the visit matters more than click volume
- offers that don’t require long warm-up or complex registration
When choosing an offer, it’s important to consider not only the vertical but also how well it matches user intent. Even a strong offer may fail to convert if it doesn’t logically align with why the user entered the domain in the first place.
In the next section, we’ll look at how direct click campaigns are usually set up and which parameters are worth paying attention to first.
Top Geos & Verticals for Direct Click Ads
This block is based on internal statistics from direct click launches on ROIads. Below are the verticals where the format shows stable performance specifically with domain traffic. This is not a “universal list,” but a reference point for starting and scaling.
Gambling
For casino promotion, the direct click format performs well in geos with high mobile activity and a habit of making direct transitions without long offer exploration.
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia
A simple funnel and a fast path to the target action are critical here. Aggressive scenarios perform worse than straightforward and clear ones.
E-commerce
In e-commerce, domain traffic is more often used for impulse or simple offers, without complex value explanations.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Offers with a clear value proposition on the first screen and a minimal number of steps to purchase or lead perform best.
Betting
When promoting betting, not only the funnel matters, but also how familiar the product mechanics are. The user should quickly understand where they landed and what is expected from them.
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
Loading speed and correct redirect logic are especially critical here.
Media & Blogs
In this segment, direct click is used to monetize navigational traffic and informational visits.
- 🇺🇸 United States
The format works well for simple content pages and projects where the key metric is retention and further engagement.
Brief Overview of ROIads
ROIads is an advertising platform for performance marketing. It’s built for media buyers and teams who need traffic control, stability, and scalability without complex setups.
Key platform features
- Supported formats: push, pop, in-page push, and direct click
- Traffic volume: 1 billion impressions per day
- Pricing: minimum CPC from $0.003, CPM from $0.5
Core technologies and tools
- AI Bidding Technology: An algorithm that automatically manages traffic sources based on their performance data.
- CPA Goal: A campaign launch mode for automatic optimization toward a target conversion cost.
- Micro Bidding: Flexible bid adjustments for individual traffic sources with the ability to exclude underperforming ones.
- Premium Traffic: Access to sources with historically stable quality and conversion metrics.
- Optimization Rules: Automation of routine actions — pausing weak creatives and disabling inefficient sources without manual work.
How to Launch a Direct Click Campaign on ROIads: a Step-by-step Guide
In this section, we’ll walk step by step through how to launch a direct click campaign via the ROIads ad dashboard.
1. After registering in the ROIads ad dashboard, select the pop format at the campaign creation stage.
2. In our ad network, direct click is configured within a classic pop campaign. If needed, after setup you can disable pop traffic and leave only direct click. We’ll cover this in the next steps. A detailed walkthrough on how to set up a pop campaign is available in our full popunder launch guide.
3. Once you’ve added the offer link, selected geo and technical targeting, set the CPM, and configured the postback in a standard popunder campaign, it’s time to enable direct click. To do this, scroll to the bottom of the setup page and find the Create extra campaign for direct click format field. Check the box.
- After saving, two rows appear in the campaign list:
- the original pop campaign
- an automatically created direct click copy
If you want to run only direct click traffic without a classic pop campaign, this is the exact stage where you can enable and keep only the required campaign. You can also contact your personal manager at ROIads — they’ll help you launch only the format you need.
The direct click campaign runs exclusively in AI bidding bechnology mode — the strategy automatically allocates the budget and optimizes traffic sources based on performance.
The copy inherits all targeting settings from the original campaign: geo, devices, browsers, schedule, limits, and so on.
Bidding and Optimization in Direct Click
Direct click doesn’t require manual bid selection for each source at launch. It’s recommended to start with baseline values and allow the algorithm to collect initial data.
Further optimization is built around source management and traffic quality.
For each campaign, you can separately use:
- source whitelists and blacklists
- Optimization rules to automatically disable underperforming combinations
- Micro bidding for fine-tuned bid adjustments across sources and placements
This approach makes it possible to test the format without losing control and gradually strengthen proven setups.
Who This Launch Approach is Suitable For
The format is convenient for those who already work with pop traffic on ROIads and want to expand reach using domain traffic without rebuilding campaigns. Direct click is also suitable for testing new offers and geos when launch speed and minimal manual setup matter.
In practice, the launch takes just a few steps: select the pop format, review the settings, activate direct click, and start the campaign. From there, the AI optimization algorithm handles the core workload.
Common Mistakes When Launching Direct Click Campaigns
The direct click format is often perceived as a simplified version of pop traffic. Because of this, the same mistakes are made at launch, quickly eating up the budget and creating the impression that the format doesn’t work.
- Expecting instant conversions without funnel adaptation
Domain traffic doesn’t respond to standard landing pages the same way push or pop traffic does. If the offer is overloaded, requires explanations, or has a long path to the target action, the traffic doesn’t stay.
- Launching complex offers with long logic
Direct click works better with simple scenarios. Registrations with multi-step forms, complex quizzes, and long warm-up flows most often fail to deliver stable results.
- Ignoring geo and local context
Even a working offer may fail to convert if it doesn’t match the user’s language, currency, or habits in a specific geo. For domain traffic, such mismatches are critical.
- Drawing conclusions too early
The format needs time to collect data. Stopping a campaign after the first hours or a few hundred visits often doesn’t give an objective picture and prevents the algorithm from reaching effective traffic sources.
- Trying to optimize manually from day one
A common mistake is interfering with bids and sources before the campaign accumulates enough data. In direct click, this leads to chaotic results and prevents AI bidding technology from working properly.
- Lack of tracking and behavior analysis
Without understanding where exactly users drop off after the redirect, it’s impossible to distinguish a traffic issue from a funnel issue. This is especially important for domain traffic. That’s why it’s critical to connect postback tracking at the setup stage.
Most of these mistakes are not related to the format itself. They come from applying push or pop logic without accounting for the specifics of direct click traffic. When this is taken into account from the start, the format shows stable and predictable results already at the testing stage.
FAQ: Direct Click and Domain Redirect Traffic
❓What are direct click ads?
Direct click ads are an ad format where the user is sent straight to the target page after a click. There are no ad impressions, creatives, or intermediate steps — the transition happens immediately.
❓How does the direct click ad format work?
The format works with domain traffic. A user initiates a visit by interacting with a domain (typing it, using autocomplete, or clicking a saved link), and the ad system redirects that visit to the advertiser’s offer. The user doesn’t react to an ad — the action has already happened.
❓What is the difference between direct click and popunder ads?
Popunder ads rely on forced impressions and user exposure to an ad. Direct click has no ad display at all and works with an already completed user action. As a result, direct click traffic is more sensitive to funnel quality, while popunder traffic allows more flexibility with creatives and messaging.
❓Which verticals perform best with direct click traffic?
Direct click performs best with offers that have simple logic and a fast target action. Commonly strong verticals include gambling, betting, e-commerce with impulse offers, and media or content projects. Complex or educational offers usually perform worse.
❓Do direct click ads require landing pages?
Landing pages are optional. Some offers work well with a direct link, while others benefit from a very simple landing page. The key is minimizing steps and avoiding long explanations — the shorter the path to the target action, the better the results.
Conclusion
Direct сlick is a must-have format for those who value fast launches and a clear, straightforward traffic flow. It complements popunder and popup campaigns well and allows you to tap into domain traffic without rebuilding existing setups.
On the ROIads ad network, the format is available within a familiar ecosystem with automated optimization and source control, making testing and scaling easier. If you need a format without creatives and unnecessary steps, direct click is the right choice.
