Affiliate Code

What is an Affiliate Code?

An affiliate code is a unique tracking code assigned to an affiliate and used to identify their referrals.

An affiliate code helps the tracking system know which affiliate sent a visitor, lead, or customer to a business. It is often included inside the affiliate’s referral link, and in some programs, it can also be used as a discount or coupon code.

When an affiliate joins a affiliate program, their affiliate code becomes part of their unique tracking setup. It helps the affiliate software recognize that a visitor came from that particular affiliate so eligible conversions can be attributed to the correct partner.

This allows the business to see which affiliates are generating traffic and sales and calculate commissions accordingly.

In LeadDyno, the affiliate code is the affiliate-specific value used in the affiliate URL. For example:

yourstore.com/?afmc=sarah10In this example, ?afmc= is the LeadDyno tracking parameter, and sarah10 is the affiliate code. When someone clicks that link, LeadDyno can associate the visit with Sarah’s affiliate record.

How affiliate codes work

When an affiliate joins a program, they may be given a default affiliate code. Depending on the program settings, the merchant or affiliate may also be able to customize that code.

For example:

• Default affiliate link: yourstore.com/?afmc=399
• Custom affiliate link: yourstore.com/?afmc=sarah10

If a customer clicks Sarah’s link, the affiliate code tells the tracking system that Sarah referred the visitor. If that visitor later signs up, becomes a lead, or makes a purchase within the program’s tracking rules, Sarah can receive credit.

Affiliate codes may also be used as coupon codes on some ecommerce platforms and integrations. In that case, a customer might enter the affiliate’s code at checkout, and the system can use that code to connect the purchase back to the affiliate.

Affiliate code vs. affiliate link

An affiliate code and an affiliate link are closely connected, but they aren't exactly the same thing.

The affiliate code identifies the affiliate, while the affiliate link is the URL the affiliate shares with potential customers.

• Affiliate code: sarah10
• Affiliate link: yourstore.com/?afmc=sarah10

In simple terms, the affiliate code is one part of the affiliate link. The affiliate link is what the affiliate shares, while the affiliate code is the identifier inside the link that tells the tracking system which affiliate should get credit.

Affiliate codes may also be used as coupon or discount codes in some integrations. Affiliate links, on the other hand, are mainly used to send visitors to a website and track the click.