If you're new to the world of affiliate marketing or are just starting out with it, then there's no greater challenge than keeping track of all your affiliates (i.e., people who sign up for your program) and their progress.
Whether you use one platform like ShareASale or another like ClickBank, you'll need to have some way of monitoring what they've been doing so that you can understand where they're at in terms of sales volume, commission payouts, etc. It can be very overwhelming if you don't know how to start! Let's take a look at how you might go about tracking down these stats.
There are two types of affiliate link tracking solutions available today: manual and automated. Manual means entering data manually into spreadsheets or databases. Automated refers to systems which automatically collect this information as part of ongoing processes such as web-traffic analysis.
Here's the good news - both methods are valid ways to keep tabs on your affiliates' performance. The bad news is that each method has its own pros/cons, depending on whether you want to get more hands-on control over the process or not. If you prefer to stay hands off, then automatic solutions will suit you better. But if you want to make sure everything goes smoothly, then you should invest time learning how to enter data manually yourself.
Let's now talk about each type of solution in turn.
A typical affiliate dashboard consists of three main sections:
The first section displays basic statistics about your entire affiliate network. This includes things like total number of active affiliates, average revenue per month, commissions paid through the platform, and conversion rates. You may also see graphs showing traffic trends.
The second section contains tables displaying individual affiliate statuses, including details such as earnings history, recent activity, and referrals sent by other affiliates. Your dashboard could even include charts illustrating historical trends in these metrics.
Finally, the third section provides access to reports based on certain parameters. These reports help you analyze your affiliates' behavior patterns and identify areas of improvement. For example, you might find that most of them generate sales within 24 hours after signing up, but only a small percentage close sales within 30 days. Or perhaps 80% of your affiliates never click any ads on your site, while 10% of those who clicked did convert.
The report table lets you sort rows by columns, allowing you to quickly spot trends and anomalies.
You can customize your dashboards further. In fact, many tools allow you to build multiple dashboards using different templates.
One great tool for creating custom dashboards is Dashboardly. Dashboardly offers a range of features, including the ability to add widgets, filters, graphs, and drilldowns for quick overviews. You can choose from six prebuilt themes or design one from scratch.
Another option is to try out Post Affiliate Pro, which allows you to build customized dashboards without writing code.
Post Affiliate Pro currently supports seven popular affiliate networks, namely Commission Junction, Clickbank, JVZoo, LinkShare, Shareasale, VigLink, and Warrior Plus. All you need to do is log in via the provided username and password and select the desired options under "Dashboard". Then simply copy & paste the HTML snippet generated onto your website. That's it! No coding required.
Once you've chosen your preferred affiliate dashboard provider, it's time to set up your account. Some providers offer several levels of membership, ranging from trial accounts to full commercial ones. Make sure you check before purchasing anything because some websites require a credit card payment upfront.
In order to register, you'll typically need to provide personal information such as name, email address, and billing info. Once logged in, you can view the list of existing partners and begin building your dashboard.
Depending on the service used, you may be able to import previous data directly from Excel files (.xls/.csv). Alternatively, you may upload CSV files containing affiliate data.
Some services support bulk uploading of data using FTP clients. Others let you send mass emails to every registered user inviting them to update their profiles. Still others give you the option to export data in XML format, which makes it easier to integrate into your CRM system or eCommerce store.
When it comes to importing data, however, we recommend sticking to official sources whenever possible. Data quality varies between affiliate networks, so you shouldn't expect consistent results across all of them. A few notable exceptions include ClickBank, Commission Junction, and PayDotCom.
As mentioned earlier, some companies charge extra fees to download data from their servers, usually around $20-$30. On top of that, you must consider the cost of bandwidth usage when sending large amounts of data. However, this fee is often waived if you purchase a higher level of membership.
An affiliate page is essentially an area on your website dedicated solely to promoting products sold by your partner(s), i.e., affiliates. When visitors land on your page, they're encouraged to buy whatever product matches the content displayed there.
Typically, you promote specific brands in exchange for a commission on the sale made by the visitor. To maximize your profits, you should display high-quality images of the advertised items along with detailed descriptions. Moreover, you should always ensure that your affiliate pages contain accurate pricing information since customers tend to trust prices posted online rather than those found in physical stores.
To drive additional traffic to your affiliate pages, place relevant keywords throughout the text, image captions, and navigation menus. Also, write a compelling headline, preferably enticing enough to draw clicks away from competing sites. After all, potential buyers would probably opt for the latter instead of spending time reading boring posts.
However, it's important to note that Google considers affiliate links and banners to be spammy, meaning they won't rank well in search engines. Therefore, you should avoid placing too much emphasis on SEO if you want to boost visibility. Instead, focus on providing valuable content and focusing on converting readers into paying clients.
An affiliate portal is a centralized location where affiliates can manage their business activities. Typically, you assign users different roles such as admin, manager, member, and moderator. Each role has unique privileges and responsibilities.
For instance, admins can perform various tasks such as adding new members and managing payments. Moderators handle disputes related to customer complaints and refunds. Members can post blog articles, submit reviews, and respond to comments. Finally, managers oversee the whole operation and make decisions regarding future developments.
Affiliates can also access your affiliate portal remotely. They can login via mobile apps or desktop versions of the same interface. There's no limit to the number of users allowed inside your portal.
Most portals feature built-in reporting functions. Users can access this data via charts and graphs, enabling them to monitor key indicators such as monthly revenues, sales figures, and referral statistics.
Other useful features commonly offered by affiliate portals include live chat, forums, and social media integration.
If you're new to the world of online affiliate marketing, then this is a question that's going to come up for you fairly often. If you have never considered becoming an affiliate marketer, or if you are just looking to get started with affiliate marketing in general, one thing you need to know right away about affiliate marketing is that there really isn't any way to "keep track" of what happens after someone clicks through to your link and buys something. It all depends entirely upon whether or not they make a purchase at that point, which means you can only hope that some percentage of people will buy when clicking on your affiliate links.
The good news here is that even though you can't actually monitor every single click that comes off of those affiliate links, you can use Google Analytics (or another similar service) to learn more about who visits your site and what pages they visit most frequently. This information gives you insight into which products sell well, which sites visitors tend to stick around longer than others, and so forth. There are several other ways to figure out what works better for your business as well -- check out these tips on how to become an effective affiliate marketer!
You may be wondering why we mentioned above that you don't actually pay taxes on affiliate commissions until the end of the year. Well, because Amazon doesn't charge sales tax unless a customer has paid with a credit card issued by a state within their own country (for example, California residents would pay 8.25 percent sales tax). In addition to the fact that you wouldn't have to deal with collecting sales tax yourself, many states also offer reduced rates to affiliates in order to encourage them to promote goods sold by local retailers over goods bought online.
For instance, Tennessee offers a 6 percent discount for merchants whose customers spend $100 or more per month via its affiliate program. The same goes for Mississippi, where affiliates receive 5 percent back on qualifying items purchased using a Visa or MasterCard. Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Montana also offer varying discounts for various levels of purchases made by consumers using their respective card providers. These types of incentives are usually offered to affiliates who actively engage with customers and provide excellent customer support.
However, if you happen to live somewhere else, such as outside the United States, you'll want to look into paying sales tax before signing up with a company like Amazon. You should always contact your state government first to find out what rules apply to you -- but generally speaking, you won't owe sales tax if you're selling things across state lines, provided that both the buyer and seller agree to collect sales tax. For more details, read our article detailing common myths surrounding sales tax laws.
There are dozens of different tools available for tracking affiliate links from websites, social media posts, emails, etc., including Post Affiliate Pro and Refersion. Both of these services allow you to set up filters for specific affiliate networks, such as eBay, Amazon, ClickBank, Commission Junction, ShareASale, CJ, LinkShare, Rakuten, PayDotCom, Shopify, CPA Network, Awin, VigLink, etc., and view detailed reports based on each individual network. They also include features that let you see data aggregated across multiple networks, as well as track conversion rate statistics for particular keywords used in your advertising campaigns.
Refersion additionally lets you create custom dashboards showing traffic sources, referral sources, referring domains, top-performing ads, and much more, while Post Affiliate Pro allows you to sort results according to date range, keyword search terms, ad type, campaign ID number, and more.
Both of these solutions cost money, however, although Post Affiliate Pro starts at $60/month for 30 days of access. Refersion costs $99/year or $59/month for 12 months of access, depending on payment method (you can choose between monthly payments or annual plans). Either option provides you with unlimited access to each tool's full functionality, so you shouldn't feel limited by either pricing plan.
It varies widely depending upon your niche, product quality, and competition level. However, the average time frame for making money from an affiliate promotion ranges anywhere from 60 days to six months, with the vast majority falling in the middle ground. That said, the key factor affecting profitability is finding high-quality products that people actually want to buy instead of cheap junk.
In the case of digital products, it typically takes 2 weeks to 10 days to reach break-even once you've received payment from the vendor. After that, your profits depend largely on how fast you can drive additional revenue from existing customers. Once you start seeing consistent income from repeat buyers, your earnings will begin to grow rapidly.
As soon as you sign up with an affiliate manager, you'll need to register your domain name and web hosting account. Then, you'll upload your content files and install WordPress or whichever CMS platform you prefer onto your server. Next, connect your database to the host, log in as administrator, and configure your installation settings. Finally, download and activate plugins to customize your blog further.
Once everything is done, you can finally publish articles and add images to your site. At this stage, you can also import contacts from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, MailChimp, or whatever other email list management system you'd like to work with.
Once you're ready to launch your blog, you'll probably want to focus on building relationships with influencers in your industry. One great place to start is checking out the blogs of popular bloggers in your field, reading their latest posts, commenting on relevant topics, following them on Twitter, adding them on LinkedIn, and sending them regular newsletters or e-mails highlighting useful resources. Don't forget to share your expertise whenever possible, and ask for feedback whenever appropriate.
When you build strong connections with influential figures in your niche, they might eventually help recommend your brand to their followers. Eventually, you could wind up getting featured on their personal blog, receiving press coverage, or being invited to guest post on their site. In return, you can feature them on yours, send them helpful articles, and share valuable resource recommendations.
Now that you've learned more about the ins and outs of affiliate marketing, go ahead and explore our complete collection of related guides below!
As an online marketer who wants to earn money through the internet, it's important that you know which affiliates are giving you traffic and converting into customers. You may be wondering what "affiliate" means in this context -- it stands for any business or person (including yourself) offering their products or services as a way to make extra income.
Affiliates can include companies like eBay, Amazon, Google Play Store, Facebook Marketplace, Apple's AppStore, and more. They also often refer to people selling digital goods such as ebooks, audiobooks, videos, courses, subscriptions, etc., though there are plenty of other types of businesses out there too. Affiliates help businesses get exposure by sharing their content with others via social media channels or advertising websites like AdSense.
In return, they receive commissions based on how much revenue those referrals generate. The amount of commission varies depending on the type of product being sold, but typically ranges between 5% - 30%. For example, if someone buys something using your referral link, you will earn 10% when they purchase items at Amazon.com. If you're just starting out, it might seem difficult to figure out where all these different affiliate programs are located. This article offers some helpful tips so you can easily identify them later on!
An affiliate tracking ID is basically a unique number given to every affiliate program that allows you to track data about each individual sale generated by each referred customer. Once you have found your affiliate IDs, you'll need to add them up over time so you can see how many sales came from specific sources. In order to understand how effective your efforts were, you must first start seeing numbers instead of just names.
Some affiliate marketers choose not to use an affiliate tracking ID because they think it takes away from personal branding. However, we personally believe that this method provides better results overall since you can clearly see which sites brought you the most profit. A good rule of thumb is that if you don't want to give up your name, then you should definitely avoid using an anonymous ID. It doesn't take long before you realize how valuable having an actual ID can be.
If you aren't sure whether to use one or not, consider this scenario: let's say you've decided to promote a particular website and you received $50 worth of traffic. Then you decide to share it with your friends on Twitter or elsewhere. After doing so, you notice that only 1 out of 100 followers actually converted into paying clients while the remaining 99 users didn't even buy anything. That would mean that you earned 50 cents per conversion, right? But wait...if you had used your own affiliate ID instead, that same user would have bought several things from you, generating hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in additional earnings.
Now imagine you could go back to that original site and ask the owner why his/her traffic was so ineffective. Maybe he/she has been promoting the wrong keywords, perhaps the design isn't optimized well enough, or maybe the content wasn't compelling enough. By providing proof of the success of the strategy you recommend, you'd increase the likelihood of getting paid more for future work.
So, how does an affiliate track its sales? There are two main methods available today: manual logging and automated tools. Manual logging requires a lot of effort and patience, whereas automatic solutions tend to provide instant feedback without requiring your involvement. We highly recommend finding a tool that works best for you, especially if you plan on becoming a successful affiliate marketer.
There are tons of options out there, including popular ones like Post Affiliate Pro, TapFiliate and Refersion. These tools allow you to set up your affiliate accounts quickly and efficiently, making it easier than ever to manage multiple profiles. Plus, you won't have to worry about losing data after upgrading or switching apps. Here are three top choices:
1. Post Affiliate Pro ($20/month): Post Affiliate Pro automates the entire process of setting up new campaigns and managing existing ones. It makes creating ads incredibly simple and allows you to create customized audiences within seconds. All you have to do is input the URL you wish to advertise, select the niche, pick a landing page template, and enter your desired CPA (Cost Per Action). From there, PAP starts working behind-the-scenes to ensure everything goes smoothly.
2. TapFiliate ($15/month): Similar to PAP, TapFiliate is another great option that lets you build custom audiences on demand. The difference here is that you pay monthly rather than upfront. With TAP, you simply log into your account whenever you want to access your list and view detailed reports showing total conversions. The system automatically updates daily, meaning you never miss a beat.
3. Refersion (free): Another powerful solution is Refersion, which is completely free to use. Not only does it feature advanced reporting features, but it also includes a built-in keyword research tool called Searchify to discover profitable niches. When combined with SEO optimization techniques, you'll be able to drive targeted visitors straight to your adverts.
After signing up with any of these tools, you'll need to add your affiliate IDs manually. To do this, head to the respective platform's dashboard and click on the tab labeled "Add New." Next, scroll down until you reach the section titled "IDs," where you'll find either a dropdown menu or text box allowing you to enter your affiliate code. Make sure to check off both boxes next to "Amazon Associates" and "Google Shopping".
Once done, save your changes and follow the prompts to complete registration. Now that you've got an ID, you're ready to begin adding your affiliate links to relevant posts and pages!
Finding your affiliate IDs can be tricky, particularly if you haven't signed up yet. Fortunately, you have several options for locating your ID(s), depending on whether you prefer to stick to a single network or try various networks simultaneously.
For instance, you can look up information directly within your chosen app's settings screen, where you'll usually find a field named "ID." Alternatively, you can search the web for "how to find your affiliate ID", "where do I find my affiliate ID?", or similar queries. Some apps offer guides specifically designed to teach you how to find your ID.
You can also sign up for newsletters hosted by your favorite brands and follow instructions provided by your preferred company. Often times, these emails will contain a special link that directs you to a dedicated page where you can locate your ID. If none of those strategies work, you can always contact support staff directly to determine which ID belongs to yours.
The easiest way to find your affiliate IDs is probably to visit the official website of whichever company you intend to sell products for, as shown below. Scroll down until you reach the bottom of the page and you'll likely find a small banner featuring a hyperlink inviting you to join the affiliate program. Simply click the button underneath it, fill out the form, and you'll instantly receive your affiliate ID.
Finally, if you still feel stuck trying to find your ID, you can always reach out to third party resources like GetResponse or SendOutCards. Both of these platforms specialize in helping individuals establish relationships with potential advertisers. They charge fees ranging from $30 - $100, depending on the size of your mailing list and the level of service required.
When it comes to Amazon, you'll need to register separately with the retailer's affiliate program. Signing up is pretty straightforward, and once you do, you'll be asked to provide details regarding your store address, payment preferences, tax ID, and shipping info.
Next, you'll need to download the Amazon Webstore app onto your phone. On iOS devices, the app is available via the App Store. Android users can install the app by heading to the Google Play Store. Once installed, open the app and tap the plus symbol (+) in the upper left corner. Select "Create Account" and follow the steps. Finally, confirm your payment preferences and agree to terms & conditions.
To start earning commissions, simply start posting reviews or listing deals on Amazon. Your affiliate ID will appear inside the description area of the item itself. This can be confusing at first sight, so remember to double-check the source of your traffic in case you forgot to add your ID to the post.
Another thing to note is that the Amazon affiliate IDs you receive will expire after 90 days, so you'll need to reregister periodically. Also, make sure to regularly update your status to stay active in the program. While you're waiting for your IDs to refresh, you can always opt to use a proxy server.
Clickbank is known for hosting numerous affiliate programs, so you'll need to register separately with each one. As mentioned above, however, you can use a proxy server to work around this issue.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.