4. Automated CPL Optimisation (Tiered Payouts)

Dynamic CPL - Tiered Payouts and Realtime Tier Changes

Tiered CPL (also called Dynamic CPL) lets buyers incentivize sellers with higher payouts as performance improves. When performance thresholds are met, Dripcel moves the seller (or campaign) to the next tier and applies the new payout to future conversions based on how the sale is submitted.

This page explains exactly when tier changes apply, and what does (and does not) get recalculated.

How tier changes are applied

1) Realtime events - clicks, replies, and API-driven sales

If performance data arrives in realtime (for example click, reply, or sales posted via API), tier changes apply in realtime.

  • Tier changes happen immediately once thresholds are met.

  • Any new sales recorded after the tier change will use the updated payout.

  • There is no delay and no need for manual recalculation.

Example

  • Tier 1 payout: R50 per lead

  • Tier 2 payout: R80 per lead after 100 approved leads

  • Lead #100 is approved at 10:05

  • Any leads approved after 10:05 pay out at R80

2) Manual sales updates - CSV uploads

CSV uploads are supported, but they are not ideal for tiered payout structures.

Key rules:

  • Tier adjustments apply only to sales uploaded after the tier has changed.

  • There is no backfilling and no retroactive adjustment of historical payouts.

  • If you upload older sales later via CSV, they will be processed as submitted, using the tier that applies at the time they are uploaded (not the tier that might have applied historically).

Example

  • Tier changes from Tier 1 to Tier 2 on Monday

  • You upload a CSV on Wednesday that contains sales from last week

  • Those sales will not trigger a historical recalculation of payouts

  • They are processed as submitted, and do not rewrite previously calculated tiers or payouts

Backdating and recalculation policy

Dripcel does not automatically recalculate historical tiers or payouts.

  • No automatic backdating

  • No retroactive tier recalculation

  • No payout “top ups” on past conversions when performance data arrives later

This is a deliberate design choice to keep payouts deterministic, auditable, and consistent.

API integration - strongly recommended for Tiered CPL

If you are using Tiered CPL, realtime API integration is strongly preferred because it preserves the intended incentive model.

With realtime API sales posting:

  • performance thresholds trigger tier changes immediately

  • subsequent sales reflect the new payout structure right away

  • reporting and incentives remain accurate and timely

With CSV uploads:

  • tier timing can lag behind real performance

  • uploads can arrive out of order

  • there is no retroactive correction

Key takeaway
CSV works, but Tiered CPL works best when sales are pushed via realtime API.

FAQ

Does Dripcel recalculate payouts if I upload missing sales later?
No. Uploading sales later does not trigger recalculation of historical tiers or payouts.

If I upload a CSV with older dates, will Dripcel “backfill” tiers?
No. There is no automatic backdating or tier backfill based on late data.

What happens exactly at the moment a tier changes?
For realtime events and API-driven sales, the tier changes immediately once thresholds are met, and any sales after that point use the new payout.

Can I use Tiered CPL without API integration?
Yes, but it is not recommended. CSV uploads can weaken the accuracy and timing of tier incentives.

Note: Tiered CPL works best with realtime API sales posting. CSV uploads do not backdate or retroactively recalculate payouts.