How to Set Up Affiliate Links the Right Way

Setting up affiliate links correctly is essential if you want to earn commissions, stay compliant, and track performance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through affiliate link setup best practices and show you how Linkly can help you get the most out of every click.

What Is Affiliate Link Setup?

Affiliate link setup refers to the process of generating, formatting, managing, and tracking affiliate links so they’re functional, optimized, and user-friendly. Proper setup ensures that your links are:

• Clickable and not broken
• Tracked with UTM parameters or analytics
• Compliant with affiliate program terms
• Cloaked or shortened for branding and trust

Why Proper Affiliate Link Setup Matters

Improperly set up links can result in lost revenue, broken tracking, or even getting banned from affiliate programs. Here’s what you risk without proper setup:

• Lost commissions due to tracking issues
• Poor user trust with suspicious-looking URLs
• Compliance violations with affiliate platforms or ad networks
• Limited insights into which links perform best

Step-by-Step Guide to Affiliate Link Setup

1. Get Your Raw Affiliate URL

Start by grabbing the affiliate link provided by your affiliate network (like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or CJ).

Example:

https://www.example.com/product?ref=123456&utm_source=affiliate

2. Shorten and Cloak Your Affiliate Link

Affiliate links are often long and messy. Using a link shortener like Linkly allows you to:

• Create branded, custom domains with vanity URLs
• Cloak the affiliate destination to improve trust
• Avoid spam filters and ad blocks

Relevant guide: How to cloak affiliate links using Linkly

3. Add Tracking Parameters

Use UTM tags to understand where clicks are coming from. Linkly makes this easy with its Google Analytics UTM Tag Builder, or you can build them manually.

Example: https://yourbrand.link/product1?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=summer_sale

4. Use Custom Domains

Using your own branded domain increases trust and improves click-through rates. Linkly supports custom domains with guides for GoDaddy, Namecheap, and others.

5. Track Clicks and Performance

It’s essential to monitor which links are working. Linkly provides click tracking, geolocation data, referrers, device types, and even sharing analytics.

Key features include:

• Real-time analytics
• Exportable reports (CSV export guide)
• Integration with Zapier

6. Ensure Compliance

Most affiliate programs (like Amazon) prohibit cloaking or require disclosures. Make sure to:

• Read the terms of your affiliate platform
• Use a disclosure near your links (e.g. "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.")
• Avoid redirecting links that violate policies

For Amazon-specific guidance, see: Create Amazon Affiliate Links with Linkly

Linkly: Your Partner in Affiliate Link Setup

Linkly helps you do affiliate link setup the right way by providing:

• Branded custom domains and vanity URLs
• Robust tracking and analytics
• QR code support and retargeting pixels
• A free plan with 1,000 clicks per month (Learn more)

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned affiliate marketer, Linkly simplifies every step of affiliate link management.

Conclusion

Proper affiliate link setup can mean the difference between mediocre performance and thriving commissions. By shortening, tracking, and managing your links with tools like Linkly, you set yourself up for scalable success.

Ready to optimize your affiliate links? Get started with Linkly today and unlock powerful features for free.