How Handle verifies campaign results
Influencer marketing has a trust problem: screenshots are editable, follower counts are inflatable, and most campaign recaps are self-reported. Handle measures results at the source — and labels anything it can’t.
One rule: every number wears a label
Every metric in a Handle campaign report is tagged with where it came from. There are exactly two labels, and they are never blended:
Observed directly by Handle: metrics pulled from platform APIs, clicks counted on Handle tracking links, promo-code redemptions recorded at checkout.
Entered by a person, with supporting evidence attached (like a screenshot). Useful context — but always labeled as reported, never passed off as verified.
How the numbers are collected
- Tracking links measure clicks
Each deliverable gets a Handle short link. Clicks are counted server-side with bot traffic filtered out and device class recorded — so “10,000 clicks” means ten thousand humans, not a refresh loop.
- Platform APIs verify the content
For YouTube and Twitch deliverables, Handle fetches views and engagement directly from the platform’s own API on a schedule — during the campaign window, then again at 7 and 30 days after — building a timestamped trend, not a single cherry-picked snapshot.
- Promo codes tie results to revenue
Campaign promo codes record redemptions as they happen, connecting creator content to actual conversions instead of vanity impressions.
- Everything lands in a versioned report
Deliverables, click trends, platform metrics, and redemptions are assembled into a shareable campaign report with a plain-English summary. Share links are revocable, report versions are kept, and every page prints cleanly to PDF for the deck.
Why this matters
Roughly one in five influencer followers is estimated to be fake, and most sponsorship reporting is still a screenshot in an email. Verified measurement changes the conversation on both sides: businesses renew based on receipts instead of vibes, and creators who genuinely convert can prove it — deal after deal.
Common questions
What counts as a verified metric?
A number Handle observed directly: view and engagement counts pulled from platform APIs (YouTube, Twitch), clicks measured on Handle tracking links with bot traffic filtered, and promo-code redemptions recorded at checkout. Anything a person typed in by hand is labeled creator-reported or advertiser-reported instead.
Which platforms can be verified today?
YouTube and Twitch deliverables are verified against the platform APIs. Instagram and TikTok metrics can be attached as creator-reported with evidence, and tracking links and promo codes work on every platform.
Can a creator edit verified numbers?
No. Verified metrics are fetched by Handle on a schedule and stored with their timestamps. Creator-reported entries are accepted with evidence attached, and they always carry the creator-reported label — the two are never blended.
What’s in a campaign report?
A shareable, versioned report per campaign: deliverables with their verification status, click and view trends over the campaign window, promo-code redemptions, and a plain-English summary. Reports have revocable share links and print cleanly to PDF.