How to fix the data gap when you send traffic to Retailers
If you run a Shopify brand that sells through retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, or Best Buy, chances are you're sending ad traffic straight to those retailers.
And chances are, you're flying blind.
Retail-first strategies make total sense. They boost volume, unlock bigger POs, and tap into trust that big platforms already have with your customers. But there’s a hidden cost most brands overlook: You lose the data.
When someone clicks your Meta ad and lands on Amazon, that’s the end of your visibility. You don’t know if they bought. Meta doesn’t know if they bought. And without that feedback, your ad campaigns stop improving.
The invisible hole in your funnel
This isn’t just an attribution issue. It’s a signal problem.
Advertising platforms optimize based on what happens after the click. When there's no purchase event, no add to cart, not even a button click… their algorithm has nothing to work with.
You’re left with rising CPAs and no way to prove your RoAQ. Even if your ads are actually driving sales.
What most brands try (and why it falls short)
To plug this gap, many brands try things like:
Attribution links or UTMs
QR codes in creative
Post-purchase surveys
Amazon Associates or other affiliate tracking
These might give you directional insights, but they don’t feed signal back into your ad platform.
Why that matters
Meta still doesn’t know what’s working. So your campaigns don’t get smarter over time. You’re stuck in a cycle of guesswork, spending more to get less.
So what’s the fix?
The best brands aren’t trying to track every sale.
They’re working to restore the feedback loop.
That starts by owning the landing page experience even if you don’t own the checkout.
Here’s what that looks like:
Drive ad traffic to your own Shopify page
Add “Buy on Retailer” buttons
Track every click on those buttons as a high-intent signal
Send that signal back Ad platforms (Facebook ads)
Why it works
You’re not chasing perfect attribution. But at least you’re telling the algorithm:
“This person was ready to buy. Find more like them.”
A quick note
If you’re sending traffic to retailers and losing visibility after the click, Pixamp helps you close that loop. Brands use it to add smart buttons to their landing pages and send purchase intent signals back to Meta, improving campaign performance without owning the checkout.
FAQ
Why doesn’t Meta track purchases on Amazon or Walmart?
Because they don’t control the checkout and those retailers don’t send data back to Meta. Without a pixel or API event, Meta can’t see the sale.
Can’t I just use attribution tools?
Attribution tools are great for reporting, but they don’t restore signal. Meta needs real-time events to optimize performance. Post-campaign insights don’t help the algorithm while it’s running.
What if I only sell through Amazon?
You can still run Shopify landing pages as a bridge. Many Amazon-first brands do this to regain visibility and improve their ad optimization without trying to convert on their own site.
Is this only for Meta ads?
No — TikTok, Snapchat, and even Pinterest rely on downstream signals to improve campaign performance. This approach works across platforms. However, Pixamp currently only supports Meta Ads integration.