How to Track Affiliate Link Clicks Like a Pro
If you're in affiliate marketing and not tracking your link clicks, you're flying blind. Knowing how many users click your affiliate links, when, and from where, is key to improving performance and boosting conversions.
Let’s break down how you can start tracking affiliate link clicks like a pro — step by step.
Step 1: Understand Why Link Tracking Matters
Before diving into tools, it’s important to understand what tracking helps with:
Identify top-performing content
Know which channels drive the most traffic
Improve your conversion rate
Detect broken or underperforming links
Affiliate link tracking provides the data you need to scale your earnings.
Step 2: Choose the Right Tracking Method
Here are the most common ways to track affiliate links:
a) Use an Affiliate Dashboard
Most affiliate programs (like Amazon, ClickBank, etc.) offer built-in link tracking tools. They show impressions, clicks, and earnings.
b) Use a URL Shortener with Analytics
Tools like URLShortly.com help you shorten your links and provide basic click analytics such as:
Number of clicks
Devices used
Traffic source
Geographic data
c) Add UTM Parameters
If you're using Google Analytics, UTM tags help you track traffic source, medium, and campaign. Example:
d) Install a WordPress Plugin
If you run a WordPress site, plugins like Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates let you:
Track each click
Group links into categories
Create reports inside your dashboard
Step 3: Set Up a Link Tracking Plan
If you’re promoting multiple products across different platforms, use a naming convention to stay organized.
Example:
facebook_ad_productX_marchblog_banner_productY_april
This allows you to quickly analyze what works and what doesn't.
Step 4: Monitor and Analyze Your Click Data
Once your links are tracked, consistently monitor the data:
Which links have the highest CTR (Click-Through Rate)?
Are clicks coming from desktop or mobile?
Which time of day performs best?
These small insights help you make data-driven decisions.
Step 5: A/B Test Your Links
Try different placements, colors, or text for your affiliate links. Run A/B tests to find out:
Does a button perform better than a text link?
Does link position (top vs bottom) affect clicks?
Which call-to-action drives more interest?
Tracking allows you to test, tweak, and win.
Bonus: Avoid Common Tracking Mistakes
Don’t use raw affiliate URLs everywhere – cloak or shorten them.
Check for broken or expired links weekly.
Keep your dashboard clean and organized.
Avoid duplicate UTMs or inconsistent naming.
Final Thoughts
Tracking affiliate links isn't just for advanced marketers — it's a basic necessity. The earlier you start, the faster you'll grow. Tools like URLShortly make it easy, even for beginners.
Remember: If you can track it, you can improve it.