How to Get Affiliate Links in 7 Practical Steps 2026
Learn how to get affiliate links after approval, create deep links, add tracking IDs, test redirects, disclose commissions, and publish links safely.
What Should You Compare Before Choosing?
Learning how to get affiliate links is the practical step between joining a program and earning from it. After approval, the program gives you a unique tracking link through its own dashboard or an affiliate network. You then choose the right destination, preserve the tracking code, test the redirect, add a disclosure, and publish it in an allowed channel.
The short answer is simple: sign in to the approved program, open its links or assets area, choose a default link or approved destination, copy the generated URL, and test it before publishing. Do not invent a tracking parameter, copy another affiliate's link, or assume every product page allows deep linking.
This seven-step guide covers direct programs, networks such as impact.com, and a familiar Amazon SiteStripe example. It also explains the compliance and measurement checks that beginner guides often skip.
Quick Checklist for Getting an Affiliate Link
| Step | Action | Evidence to save |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm final program approval | Approval email or active contract |
| 2 | Open the program's link tool | Dashboard location and current terms |
| 3 | Choose a valid destination | Default landing page or approved deep link |
| 4 | Add approved tracking labels | Sub ID or tracking ID created in the platform |
| 5 | Test the complete redirect | Final page, device, and timestamp |
| 6 | Add disclosure and link qualification | Visible disclosure and publishing settings |
| 7 | Publish and verify reporting | Live placement and first test click |
1. Confirm You Are Approved for the Exact Program
An account on an affiliate network is not always approval for every brand. Many networks let you create a publisher profile first, then require a separate application for each advertiser. Wait until the contract or program status is active before looking for a commissionable link.
If you have not joined a program yet, start with the guides to finding affiliate programs and getting approved for affiliate programs. Those steps come before link creation.
Save the approval email, current commission terms, allowed traffic sources, and effective date. A link can technically redirect while still being ineligible for commission if the contract is pending, the program excludes your region, or the placement violates its terms.
2. Find the Link Tool in the Program Dashboard
Direct affiliate programs usually label the area Links, Creatives, Assets, Promote, or Referrals. Networks may organize links by brand contract. For example, impact.com's official partner instructions tell approved partners to open Discover, choose My Brands, and copy the brand link. Other link tools can create URLs for products, deals, or approved landing pages.
Amazon Associates uses SiteStripe on eligible Amazon pages. SiteStripe can generate short or long text links that already include the selected Associate ID and tracking ID. This is safer than manually editing an Amazon URL.
The same principle applies to programs such as Shopify, Semrush, and Fiverr. Use the program's own generator or approved network tool. If the dashboard does not show a link, contact program support instead of guessing the URL structure.
3. Choose the Right Destination Page
The default affiliate link usually points to a homepage or campaign landing page. A deep link points to a specific product, plan, feature, category, or resource. Deep links can improve message match because the visitor lands closer to the recommendation they clicked.
Use a deep link only when the program allows it. Some brands limit partners to approved landing pages, while others enable links to most pages on their domain. impact.com notes that deep-link availability depends on each brand's settings and requirements.
Match the destination to the promise in your content. A review of a pricing plan should link to the relevant pricing or plan page if allowed. A tutorial about one feature should use an approved feature page. Do not send a reader to a generic homepage when a clearer destination exists.
4. Add Tracking IDs Inside the Approved Tool
Sub IDs, tracking IDs, channels, and campaign labels help you see which article, video, email, or placement generated a click or conversion. They do not replace the main affiliate identifier. They add reporting detail to a valid link.
Use the network or program dashboard to create them. Impact's official link documentation warns that manually changing tracking URLs can cause errors and recommends adding reporting parameters inside the platform. A practical naming system might use blog, youtube, or newsletter plus a short content identifier.
Keep a simple record with the program, destination, tracking label, content URL, creation date, and status. The existing guide to tracking affiliate links and commissions explains how to manage those records after publication.
5. Test the Link Before Publishing
Open the complete generated link in a private browser window. Confirm that it loads the intended page, uses HTTPS, keeps the expected domain, and does not end on an error or irrelevant redirect. Repeat the check on mobile when the content will be mobile-heavy.
Next, check whether the click appears in the affiliate dashboard. Reporting may not be instant, so note the test time and wait for the platform's normal processing window. Some networks offer a formal test parameter or diagnostic tool. Use that method when documented.
Do not place a real order solely to test commission credit unless the program explicitly permits self-referrals or test orders. Many programs ban self-referrals. A clean redirect and recorded test click are usually enough for a pre-publication check.
6. Add a Clear Disclosure and Qualify the Link
The FTC's affiliate disclosure guidance says an affiliate marketer should disclose the financial relationship clearly and conspicuously, close to the recommendation. A plain sentence such as "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post" is clearer than labels such as "affiliate link" or "commissionable link" by themselves.
For websites, Google Search Central recommends marking affiliate and paid links with rel="sponsored". nofollow remains acceptable, but sponsored communicates the relationship more directly. Your publishing platform or affiliate-link plugin may apply the attribute automatically, but you should verify the rendered page.
Disclosure rules depend on the channel. A video may need the relationship disclosed in the video and near links in the description. A short social post needs a disclosure that viewers can see without opening hidden text. Follow the program's requirements and the laws that apply to your audience.
7. Publish the Link and Verify the Live Placement
Publish the link only in a traffic source the program allows. A brand may permit blogs and YouTube but restrict paid search, coupons, email, browser extensions, or direct messaging. Approval for one website does not automatically authorize every channel.
Open the live page after publication and test the rendered link again. Confirm that a content editor, redirect plugin, email platform, or social network did not strip or rewrite the tracking parameters. Also confirm the disclosure remains visible near the recommendation.
Record the final content URL and the exact affiliate link version used. Then monitor clicks, conversions, reversals, and payout status. The guide to where to promote affiliate links can help choose compliant channels once the link is ready.
Where Affiliate Links Usually Come From
Where you retrieve a link depends on the program model. The table below shows how to get affiliate links from four common systems.
| Program type | Where to get the link | Typical options | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct brand program | Brand affiliate dashboard | Default link, campaign links, creatives | Assuming a public referral link is an affiliate link |
| Affiliate network | Active brand contract | Brand link, product link, deep link, sub IDs | Network approval without advertiser approval |
| Retail marketplace | Associates toolbar or portal | Product, category, or search links | Editing required tracking IDs manually |
| SaaS referral program | Account referral area | Personal referral link or invite code | Confusing customer rewards with public affiliate rights |
| Creator campaign | Campaign task manager | Task-specific link or promo code | Using the asset outside the approved campaign |
Common Affiliate Link Mistakes
Copying a Link Before Approval
A visible URL is not proof that the contract is active. Confirm the program status first and save the applicable terms.
Editing Tracking Parameters by Hand
Removing or rewriting a parameter can break attribution. Use the program's link builder and reporting fields whenever possible.
Linking to the Wrong Page
A homepage link may create unnecessary friction when the content discusses a specific product or plan. Use an approved deep link with better message match.
Hiding the Disclosure
A disclosure in a footer, profile, or separate terms page may be missed. Put a clear explanation close to the endorsement and link.
Skipping the Live Test
A correct dashboard link can still break after a content management system, redirect plugin, or email tool rewrites it. Test the published version.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an affiliate link after approval?
Sign in to the approved program or network, open its Links, Assets, Promote, or Referrals area, choose an allowed destination, and copy the generated tracking URL. Add reporting labels inside the platform when available, then test the complete link before publishing.
Can I create my own affiliate link?
You can often choose a destination or reporting label, but the program must generate the commission-tracking portion. Do not invent or copy an affiliate identifier. Use the official link builder or ask program support.
What is a deep affiliate link?
A deep affiliate link sends the reader to a specific product, feature, or landing page instead of the brand homepage. It still contains affiliate tracking, and the program must permit the destination.
How can I tell whether my affiliate link works?
Open it in a private browser, confirm the final destination, check for errors, and verify that a test click appears in the dashboard after the normal reporting delay. Test the live published link again because publishing tools can modify URLs.
Do I need to disclose every affiliate link?
You need a clear and conspicuous disclosure that lets readers understand the financial relationship when they see the recommendation and link. One disclosure can sometimes cover nearby links in the same review, but separated placements may need their own disclosure.
Key Takeaways for How to Get Affiliate Links in 7 Practical Steps 2026
Knowing how to get affiliate links is not only about copying a URL. The reliable workflow is approval, official link creation, destination selection, reporting labels, testing, disclosure, and live verification.
Start with one approved program and one useful piece of content. Generate the link inside the official tool, preserve its tracking, and make the relationship clear to the reader. When you need another relevant program, use FindAffiliates to research options before repeating the same seven checks.