Tracking Link

What is a tracking link?

A tracking link, also called an affiliate link, is a unique URL used to identify traffic, leads, or sales generated by a particular affiliate.

When someone joins an affiliate program, they typically receive a unique link—or the ability to generate links—to the merchant's website. That URL contains tracking information that tells the affiliate platform where the visitor came from.

For example, a regular link might look something like:

example.com/product

An affiliate tracking link could include additional information, such as:

example.com/product?affiliate=123

If a shopper clicks that link and later makes an eligible purchase, the affiliate tracking system can attribute the sale to affiliate 123. The affiliate can then receive the appropriate commission.

The exact format varies depending on the affiliate software or network being used, and tracking links can contain IDs, parameters, campaign information, or other tracking data.

How do tracking links work?

When a potential customer clicks an affiliate's tracking link, the affiliate platform records information about the referral. Depending on the tracking technology being used, a cookie or another tracking method may then help connect a later conversion to that original click.

For example, imagine a creator publishes a blog post reviewing your coffee maker and includes their tracking link. A reader clicks the link but doesn't buy immediately. They return to your store three days later and purchase the coffee maker.

If the purchase falls within your program's attribution or cookie window and meets the program's other attribution rules, the system may credit that creator with the sale.

Tracking links can also provide useful performance data. Affiliate managers may be able to see metrics such as clicks, conversions, sales, conversion rates, and revenue associated with individual affiliates or campaigns.