DTRPG SRC Codes FAQ

What is an SRC Code?

DriveThru uses "source codes" to track the origin site of customers who make purchases from our marketplaces. Source codes can be any series of less than 32 letters and numbers and can be added to URLs (web addresses) that direct customers to DriveThru. When a customer clicks a DriveThru URL with a source code appended to it, our system remembers the source code and, if the customer makes a purchase, logs that source code with the purchase.

You may create any source codes you like, and the most useful codes will have meaning to you. You don't need to enter them anywhere on our site; just think of a series of letters and numbers and start using them on your URLs elsewhere, linking to DriveThru. If a customer comes to the site with a source code our database doesn't already know, it just adds the new source code.

How can I use SRC Codes?

You might announce your new product release in a community site forum. Naturally, you would like to see if anyone uses the link you post in the forum to come to DriveThru and purchase one of your titles. You might decide to create a source code like "CommunityForum1."

Then, you would locate the product page with your new release. In your browser’s address line, you simply append your code to the end of the URL, started off with a question mark (?):

?src=CommunityForum1

Let’s assume your product page has a URL like this:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/451131/The-Roseville-Beach-Zine-Bundle-BUNDLE

You would then add the ?src=CommunityForum1 code to the end of that URL so that it looks like this:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/451131/The-Roseville-Beach-Zine-Bundle-BUNDLE?src=CommunityForum1

You would then highlight that entire URL, copy it, and paste it into your post on the community forum (or use it as a hyperlink on a graphic or banner).

How else can I use them?

You can use source codes for banner ads or search engine ads to determine if they are worth your marketing investment. Use them in your links to DriveThru on your website or even your signature line in forums or emails - wherever you create links to your products. When you link to DriveThru Marketplaces, it is almost always best to link people to your publisher page, product line page, or a specific product page rather than to the homepage of the store. That way, prospective customers will have an easier time finding your titles.

Source codes are stored for each unique customer for up to 7 days (or until overwritten by another source code variable). In this way, the customer’s return visits are also counted to the original source code for a full week.

Finally, you may use the reporting options here to see what sales you have received from various source codes.

Definitions of Common SRC Codes