An affiliate link is a trackable URL that credits a partner’s clicks and sales, and how to get affiliate links depends on your role. Creators join an affiliate program to get their own links, and brands generate links for each partner. The challenge starts once those links spread across posts, videos, emails, and bios.
Scattered touchpoints make it hard to see what’s working. When you shorten, brand, and track each link with Bitly, you know which placements drive sales. Here’s how to get there, step by step.
Key Takeaways
- Join an affiliate program to get your own link, then build it in the program dashboard, like the Amazon Associates text link tool.
- Brands create affiliate links using affiliate network tools, then add a custom domain and back-half in Bitly to keep every link on-brand.
- Bitly tracks clicks on each short link, and your affiliate network tracks conversions, so you can compare both to see which partners drive sales.
- Add UTM parameters to each placement to see which post, video, or email earns the most clicks and conversions.
- Disclose every affiliate link clearly and close to the link, as the FTC advises, and mark affiliate links with rel=”sponsored” for Google.
What are affiliate links?
An affiliate link is a URL that contains a unique tracking ID tied to one affiliate. The ID indicates which affiliate sent each visitor, so the correct source earns the commission. Every click and purchase traces back to that single ID.
Here’s how a typical affiliate link breaks down, using yourstore.com/product?ref=creator123 as the example:
- yourstore.com/product is the destination page where the visitor lands.
- ?ref= is the parameter that tells the store a tracking ID follows.
- creator123 is the tracking ID that identifies the affiliate.
Long affiliate URLs look messy in captions, bios, and emails. A branded short link like yourbrand.co/name can point to the same full URL, with the ID included, but reads cleanly. Visitors see a name and brand they recognize rather than a confusing URL full of tracking codes, and the affiliate still gets credit.
How to get affiliate links as a creator or publisher
To get an affiliate link, join an affiliate program, get approved, and generate your link in the program dashboard. The process looks the same whether you publish on a blog, a YouTube channel, a newsletter, or a social profile.
- Pick your niche and products. Choose products you already use and that your audience already buys.
- Find the program. Search “brand + affiliate program,” or check the site footer for an “Affiliates” or “Partners” link.
- Or join a network or Amazon Associates. Networks list many merchants in one place, and Amazon Associates covers products sold on Amazon.
- Apply and get approved. Provide your site or social profiles, audience information, and promotion plan.
- Generate your link in the dashboard. Amazon creates your Associate ID when you apply, then you build a text link for each item.
- Shorten and brand the link. Wrap your long tracking URL in a Bitly Link, and learn more about the tools we provide in our guide to trackable short links for content creators.
Knowing how to get affiliate links means knowing where to look, and that depends on the brand. Many brands run their own programs, while others list them on networks like Rakuten, ShareASale, or ClickBank, where one network account gives you access to links from many merchants.
To get affiliate links for Amazon products, sign up for Amazon Associates with your website or social accounts. After approval, use the text link tool in your Associates account to build a link for each product. Each link carries your Associate ID, so Amazon knows to credit you for qualifying purchases.
To add affiliate links on your website, paste each link into a post, button, or product roundup like any other hyperlink. On social platforms, place your short link in captions or on your link-in-bio page. Then add a disclosure and the right link attribute, which the best practices below cover.
Before you join, check each program’s commission rate and cookie duration. Both vary by program and determine how much each click can earn.
How to create affiliate links for your partners
Brands create affiliate links for partners in an affiliate network, then brand those links in Bitly. These six steps cover network setup, link creation, and branding.
- Choose an affiliate network. Options include Rakuten, ShareASale, and ClickBank. Pick one with the features your program needs.
- Create your affiliate program. Set your custom rules, promotions, and the commissions affiliates earn.
- Add your affiliates. Browse affiliates on the network and add your favorites to your program.
- Create affiliate links in the network dashboard. Generate a unique affiliate link for each partner.
- Add a custom domain in Bitly. Swap “bit.ly” for your own domain. Branded links and a complimentary custom domain are available on our Growth tier plans and above.
- Customize back-halves. Use a descriptive custom back-half like yourbrand.co/partner-jordan instead of a random string.
Once your program is live, creating and customizing each link takes only a few minutes. You can skip custom domains and custom back-halves, but they give your links more credibility. People click more readily when a link shows where it leads.
How affiliate link tracking works
Affiliate link tracking works by attaching a unique ID to each link, then recording the clicks and purchases tied to that ID. Two systems usually share the job: Your link tool counts clicks, and the affiliate network counts sales.
Unique IDs, cookies, and attribution windows
The unique ID indicates which affiliate referred the visitor. When someone clicks, the merchant’s site stores that ID in a cookie for a set window. If the visitor buys days later, the purchase still credits the affiliate.
Last-click attribution means the last affiliate link a shopper clicks before making a purchase receives the credit. Each program sets its own window and rules, so check the terms before you compare partners.
Why short links track clicks and networks track conversions
Bitly measures clicks on your short links, and the affiliate network measures purchases and commissions. The short link redirects visitors to your full affiliate URL, so the network’s tracking ID stays intact.
Bitly Analytics shows click data by referrer, location, device, and date. Compare that report side by side with your network’s conversion report. Partners with high clicks but low conversions often need a better-matched offer or landing page.
UTM parameters and custom parameters per placement
Create one link per placement so each placement reports its own results. For example, you should use one Bitly Link in a YouTube description and another in your newsletter. This setup lets you track traffic from each source independently.
Add UTM parameters to each Bitly Link to label the source, medium, and campaign for deeper insight from tools like Google Analytics. Our UTM Builder adds them as you create the link. See our guide to UTM parameters for more guidance on naming conventions.
On the conversion side, use your network’s sub-IDs or custom parameters. Give each placement a matching sub-ID, like youtube-spring, and you can line up clicks and sales for the same placement.
Key affiliate metrics to watch
Three metrics show whether a link earns attention, converts visitors, and pays off. Pull click data from Bitly, then pull conversion and commission data from your network.
| Metric | Formula | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Click-through rate (CTR) | Clicks ÷ impressions × 100 | How well your link copy and placement earn attention |
| Conversion rate | Conversions ÷ clicks × 100 | How well the offer turns visitors into buyers |
| Earnings per click (EPC) | Total commission ÷ clicks | Which programs and placements pay best per visit |
For example, a placement that earns $40 in commission from 800 clicks has an EPC of $0.05. If you also run a referral program, learn how to track a referral link with the same approach.
How affiliate links are used
Brands and creators use affiliate links to credit sales, track referrals, and pay the right partner. Each use relies on the same unique ID, but each one tracks a different outcome.
| Use | Who gets credit | What to track |
|---|---|---|
| Attributing sales | The affiliate whose link drove the purchase | Conversions and revenue by affiliate |
| Tracking referrals | The partner who referred a sign-up or lead | Clicks and sign-ups by partner |
| Paying commissions | The affiliate with a valid click inside the attribution window | Approved conversions and payouts |
Benefits of using affiliate links
Affiliate links extend your reach, drive sales, and make partner performance measurable. Here’s what each benefit looks like in practice.
Greater brand reach and exposure
Affiliate links put your brand in front of every partner’s audience. The Performance Marketing Association’s 2025 industry study found that US affiliate spend rose from $9.1B in 2021 to $13.62B in 2024. The same study reports that this spend generated $113B in e-commerce sales, 9.4% of all US e-commerce.
When you work with one affiliate, you reach two audiences: Yours and theirs. Live streamers can share trackable affiliate links with viewers in real time through Bitly’s Twitch integration. Work with dozens of affiliates, and you reach dozens of targeted audiences.
More sales and conversions
Most affiliate programs exist to drive sales. In its State of Affiliate Marketing 2025 report, impact.com found that 74% of brands earn 11% to 30% of revenue from affiliate marketing.
Affiliates promote your products, send likely buyers to your product pages, and earn a commission when those visitors convert. That shared goal keeps both sides focused on sales.
Better performance tracking and analytics
Each affiliate link has a unique identifier, so you can see which links perform best. From there, you can find out why, whether it’s the channel or an affiliate whose audience fits your offer.
The metrics your links generate in Bitly Analytics point to the answer. The tracking section above shows how to pair those clicks with your network’s conversions.
Best practices for using affiliate links
These six practices help your affiliate links earn more clicks, stay compliant, and report clean data.
1. Track across multiple channels. Spread affiliate links across several channels to extend your reach. A cross-channel tracking approach also shows which channels perform best.
Place affiliate links on landing pages and in product reviews. Partner with creators on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, plus newsletter writers and podcast hosts. Use influencer tracking to see which creators and posts drive results.
2. Shorten your affiliate links. Short links are easier to share and easier to trust than long strings of random characters. A short link with your branding and a descriptive back-half tells people where they’re going.
To shorten a link with our URL shortener, log in and select Create new, then Shorten a link. Paste your affiliate URL into the Destination field and select Create your link. For more ideas, explore how to use short links and our affiliate link shortener guide.
3. Use branded links. A branded link shows your domain up front, so people know the link belongs to your business. Branded links see a 2.3x increase in clicks compared to unbranded links.
Pair a custom domain with a descriptive custom back-half for each partner or placement. Megan Collins, founder of Style Girlfriend, explains how her team uses Bitly: “Bit.ly has been an integral part of our tech stack for years. It’s helpful in tracking links for brand campaigns where we want more visibility into tracking affiliate links.”
4. Qualify affiliate links for search engines. Mark affiliate links with rel=”sponsored”, per Google’s guidance on qualifying outbound links. Google prefers the “sponsored” value and still accepts “nofollow” for these links.
Keep your total link count in check. A January 2023 Forbes Agency Council article recommends a limit of around 100 total links per page. That count includes internal links, cited sources, and links the page needs to function.
5. Disclose your affiliate links. Tell readers you earn commissions, and say it clearly near each link. The FTC’s Endorsement Guides Q&A asks for disclosures that people notice and understand. Use this checklist:
- Disclose the relationship clearly and conspicuously.
- Place the disclosure close to the link.
- Use plain words like “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.”
- Avoid relying on the words “affiliate link” alone.
- Apply the same rule on social posts and other sites.
Clear disclosure also builds trust. Some readers can even choose your link on purpose to support content they value.
6. Monitor your data. Review your analytics regularly, because that’s how you improve results over time. Watch the clicks and sales each link generates, plus the locations and devices behind them.
You’ll learn which affiliates promote your products best and who their audiences are. That insight helps you reach new audiences and grow with the segments that respond.
Create and manage your affiliate links with Bitly
Learning how to get affiliate links is the first step, and knowing which links drive sales across scattered channels is the payoff. Get or create the link, shorten and brand it, then track clicks against your network’s conversions.
Bitly is the marketing platform that helps businesses of all sizes see what’s working. Simply and clearly. Bitly Links and Bitly Analytics help you connect the dots between each placement and sale, so you can do more of what works.
Link your marketing. Get started today and track every affiliate link in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do beginners get into affiliate marketing?
Beginners get into affiliate marketing by choosing a niche, joining a program that fits it, and sharing their links in helpful content. Start with products you already use and trust. Then track each link so you know which posts earn clicks and sales.
How much do affiliate links pay?
Affiliate links pay the commission set by each program, and rates vary by program and product category. Check the commission rate and cookie duration before you join. Your earnings depend on how many clicks turn into purchases within that window.
Which affiliate program is best for beginners?
The best program for a beginner is one that matches your niche and offers clear terms. Look for a footer link labeled “Affiliates” or “Partners” on brands you already recommend. Affiliate networks also list many merchants in one place.
What is the best way to track affiliate link clicks?
The best way to track affiliate link clicks is to wrap each link in a short link and review clicks in Bitly Analytics. Create one link per placement and add UTM parameters to each. Then compare your click data with the conversions in your affiliate network’s dashboard.
Can I shorten affiliate links?
Yes, you can shorten affiliate links, and the short link redirects visitors to your full affiliate URL. A branded short link also looks cleaner in captions, bios, and emails. Review your program’s terms first, because each program sets its own link rules.
Do I need to disclose affiliate links?
Yes. The FTC says affiliates must disclose the relationship clearly and conspicuously, close to the link. The FTC also notes that the words “affiliate link” alone may not be enough, so use plain language about earning commissions.ng commissions.
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