Set up affiliate tracking links
Affiliate links connect partner traffic to the correct product, offer, and commission reporting. They are different from owner checkout links, support links, and upgrade links.
Use this guide after the affiliate program is enabled and the product is ready for partner traffic.
What affiliate links control
| Area | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Partner attribution | Identifies which affiliate influenced the sale. |
| Product and offer path | Sends traffic to the intended purchase experience. |
| Commission reporting | Feeds Sales and Financial Overview with affiliate context. |
| Dispute evidence | Helps resolve attribution disputes. |
| Partner workflow | Gives affiliates a link they can promote confidently. |
Link types sellers should keep separate
| Link type | Who should use it |
|---|---|
| Owner campaign link | Seller launch and paid traffic with owner UTMs |
| Affiliate tracking link | Approved affiliates only |
| Support-agent link | Support workflows |
| Upgrade link | Existing buyers only. See upgrades. |
Mixing these links is a common cause of campaign attribution gaps and affiliate disputes.
Seller setup workflow
[Screenshot: Product Active — delivery path verified before affiliate launch.]
- Open the product affiliate or links area.
[Screenshot: Product affiliate section — links and program settings visible.]
- Confirm affiliate participation is enabled in the affiliate program.
[Screenshot: Affiliate program enabled — participation on for the product.]
- Review approved affiliate requests when approval is required.
[Screenshot: Approved affiliates list — partners cleared to promote.]
- Confirm each affiliate has a tracking link for the product.
[Screenshot: Affiliate links table — each partner has a tracking URL.]
- Verify commission rules and default commission expectations.
[Screenshot: Commission settings — default and custom rates visible.]
- Ask affiliates to use only their own links, not owner campaign UTMs.
[Screenshot: Partner guidelines — affiliate link vs owner campaign link explained.]
- Test one affiliate link as a buyer.
[Screenshot: Test checkout from affiliate link — purchase path works.]
- Review Sales with affiliate filters after the first attributed purchase.
[Screenshot: Sales detail — affiliate attribution on test purchase.]
- Monitor Financial Overview for commission impact on net revenue.
[Screenshot: Financial Overview — net revenue after affiliate commission.]
Affiliate workflow
- Confirm you are approved for the product.
[Screenshot: Affiliate dashboard — approved status for the product.]
- Open your affiliate links area.
[Screenshot: Affiliate links page — your products and links listed.]
- Create or copy your affiliate link for the product.
[Screenshot: Affiliate link copied — tracking URL ready to share.]
- Share only that link in campaigns, emails, or ads.
[Screenshot: Partner promotion — affiliate link used in ad or email.]
- Avoid editing the link in ways that remove tracking.
[Screenshot: Link warning — do not strip tracking parameters.]
- Check attributed sales if the program gives you visibility.
[Screenshot: Affiliate sales view — attributed purchases for your link.]
- Contact the seller with link and date evidence if attribution looks wrong.
[Screenshot: Dispute message — link URL and purchase date sent to seller.]
What to verify before partner traffic
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Product checkout works | Partners should not promote unstable offers. |
| Commission rate is documented | Especially for custom commission. |
| Affiliate link opens the right offer | Wrong offer creates disputes and refunds. |
| Owner and affiliate links are separated | Protects both campaign and partner reporting. |
| Support knows dispute process | See attribution disputes. |
Best practices
- Approve partners deliberately with approve or reject affiliate requests.
- Document custom rates before launch.
- Test affiliate links before giving partners paid traffic assets.
- Review affiliate performance in Campaigns and Financial Overview.
- Keep margins healthy before expanding commission exceptions.
Common mistakes
- Letting affiliates use the owner launch link.
- Creating affiliate links before checkout is tested.
- Changing pricing without telling partners.
- Ignoring net revenue after commissions.
- Resolving disputes without checking Sales origin and link evidence.
FAQ
Can an affiliate use the owner checkout link?
No for attribution purposes. Affiliates should use links that contain their affiliate tracking so sales report correctly.
What if an affiliate has no link yet?
Create or confirm the default affiliate link for the product after the affiliate is approved.
Where do I investigate a missing affiliate sale?
Start in Sales, then use attribution disputes and campaign attribution gaps.