How Affiliate Tracking Links Work (and Why Every Placement Needs Its Own)
How tracking links attribute clicks and sign-ups to you, what can break attribution, and how to organise links per account, post and channel so you know what pays.
A tracking link is how a program knows a sign-up came from you. It looks like a normal link, but it carries an ID that ties every click and sign-up back to the promoter and the placement.
What happens when someone clicks
- 1The link opens with your ID in it.
- 2The program counts the click and remembers who sent the visitor.
- 3When the visitor signs up or buys, the conversion is credited to your ID.
- 4Your dashboard shows clicks, conversions and earnings per link.
One link per placement
If every account uses the same link, you can't tell which one works. Give each placement its own link: your Reddit account, your X bio, each TikTok profile, each paid shoutout. Then compare clicks and conversions side by side and move your time to what converts.
AMZA promoters create their own tracking links per creator in their dashboard, named however they like, and see the numbers for each one.
What breaks attribution
- Copying the clean URL instead of your tracking link.
- Link shorteners or redirects that drop the ID.
- Visitors who open the link in one app and sign up later in another.
Reading the numbers
The two numbers that matter most are conversion rate (sign-ups per click) and earnings per click. Our metrics guide explains them.
Tracking links vs UTM tags
UTM tags (utm_source, utm_campaign…) tell a website's analytics where a visit came from. A program's tracking link goes further: it credits the conversion to you and your commission depends on it. Use the program's link for payment, and UTM tags only if you also run your own landing pages.
Naming your links
Names should tell you the placement at a glance: platform, account and spot. For example:
- reddit-main-profile
- x-bio
- tiktok-fitness-acc2
- shoutout-pagename-oct
Keep the same pattern everywhere, so reports stay readable as you add accounts.
Attribution windows
Most programs remember a click for a set time, the attribution window. If the visitor signs up within that window, you get the credit even if they come back later. Ask your program how long its window is, and whether the last click or the first click wins when a visitor clicked links from two promoters.
Testing a link
- 1Open the link in a private window.
- 2Check it lands on the right page.
- 3Check the click shows up in your dashboard.
- 4Only then post it.
FAQ
Why do I need a different tracking link for every account?+
So you can see which account, post or channel actually brings sign-ups, and put your time where it pays.
Do link shorteners break tracking links?+
Some do, by dropping or rewriting the ID. Test any shortened link before you use it.
Promote with a partner, not just a link.
AMZA promoters get a dedicated manager, approved content, live tracking and weekly payouts.