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This guide explains the step-by-step process of affiliate tracking in Affelios - starting with creating trackers, then generating tracking links, and finally understanding how you get credited for sales. This tracker-first approach helps you build effective promotional campaigns from the ground up.

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Understanding the Tracker Foundation

Trackers: The Foundation of Your Campaigns

In Affelios, tracking begins with trackers - these are the building blocks that represent your promotional campaigns or traffic sources. Understanding trackers is essential because they form the foundation for all your tracking links.

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What Are Trackers?

Trackers are campaign identifiers that help you organize and measure your promotional efforts. Each tracker represents a specific traffic source, promotional strategy, or marketing channel. Think of them as labels that help you understand which of your promotional activities are driving the best results.
Key Tracker Concepts:
  • Campaign Organization: Each tracker represents a specific promotional effort
  • Performance Tracking: Trackers help you measure which campaigns work best
  • Attribution Foundation: Trackers are essential for proper commission attribution
  • Flexibility: You can create as many trackers as needed for different strategies

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Creating Your First Tracker

1

Access Tracker Management

Navigate to the Trackers section in your affiliate dashboard. This is where you’ll manage all your promotional campaigns.
2

Create a New Tracker

Click “Create New Tracker” and provide a descriptive name that clearly identifies your promotional strategy (e.g., “youtube-reviews”, “homepage-banner”, “instagram-stories”).
3

Define Tracker Purpose

Choose the purpose and promotional strategy for this tracker. Consider what type of content or traffic source this tracker will represent.
4

Save Your Configuration

Save your tracker configuration. Your tracker is now ready to be used for generating tracking links.

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Tracker Strategy Examples

Tracker Examples:
  • homepage-banner - Banner placement on your website homepage
  • blog-sidebar - Sidebar widgets in blog posts
  • product-review-posts - Direct links within product review content
  • newsletter-signup - Links in email capture sequences
Strategy Benefits:
  • Understand which website placements perform best
  • Optimize high-traffic pages for better conversion
  • A/B test different promotional placements
Tracker Examples:
  • instagram-stories - Instagram story promotions
  • youtube-descriptions - Links in YouTube video descriptions
  • facebook-posts - Facebook organic and paid posts
  • tiktok-videos - TikTok video promotions
Strategy Benefits:
  • Compare performance across social platforms
  • Identify which content types drive sales
  • Optimize posting strategies based on data
Tracker Examples:
  • weekly-newsletter - Regular newsletter promotions
  • product-announcements - New product launch emails
  • seasonal-campaigns - Holiday and seasonal promotions
  • welcome-series - New subscriber onboarding sequences
Strategy Benefits:
  • Track email campaign effectiveness
  • Segment email performance by campaign type
  • Optimize send timing and frequency

The Link Generation Process

Now that you understand trackers, learn how to transform them into working tracking links that drive commissions. This is where your tracker strategy becomes actionable promotional content.
In Affelios, you don’t create tracking links directly. Instead, you generate tracking links by combining your trackers with specific brands or products. This approach ensures consistent campaign tracking and better performance analytics.
How It Works:
  1. Tracker (What): Represents your promotional campaign or traffic source
  2. Brand (Where): Specifies which brand/merchant you’re promoting
  3. Product (Optional): Targets specific products within the brand
  4. Link (Result): The final tracking URL that customers click
1

Select Your Tracker

Choose the tracker that represents your current promotional campaign. This could be youtube-reviews for a video campaign or homepage-banner for website promotion.
2

Choose Your Brand

Select the brand you want to promote. This determines which merchant’s products you’ll be promoting through this specific tracker.
3

Select Products (Optional)

Optionally choose specific products to promote. Leave blank for general brand promotion where customers can browse all products.
4

Generate and Test

The system generates your unique tracking link. Always test the link to ensure proper functionality before deploying in your campaigns.
  • Basic Components
  • Intent Types

Core Elements

Every Tracking Link Contains:
  • Base Domain: Your program’s tracking domain (often custom-branded)
  • Affiliate Identifier: Your unique affiliate ID within the program
  • Tracker Information: Your specific tracker ID (from trackers you create)
  • Brand/Product Data: What you’re promoting
  • Redirect Target: Where customers go after clicking
Example Structure:
https://track.brandname.com/click?affiliate=123&tracker=youtube-reviews&brand=product-line
Optimization Strategies:
  • Use descriptive names that match your promotional strategy
  • Create separate trackers for different traffic sources
  • Include timing indicators for seasonal campaigns (e.g., black-friday-youtube)
  • Use consistent naming conventions across all trackers
Examples of Good Tracker Names:
  • homepage-banner-summer2024
  • youtube-review-electronics
  • instagram-story-fashion
  • email-newsletter-weekly
Link Management Strategy:
  • Keep organized records of which links are used where
  • Document the purpose and strategy for each tracker
  • Set up monitoring for link performance
  • Plan for regular link audits and updates
  • Archive outdated trackers when campaigns end
Documentation Tips:
  • Maintain a spreadsheet of tracker purposes
  • Note deployment dates and campaign contexts
  • Track which content pieces use which trackers
  • Record any special configuration or targeting

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How the Tracking Process Works

From Click to Commission

Now that you understand trackers and tracking links, let’s explore what happens when customers click your links and how you get credited for sales.

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The Complete Tracking Flow

Here’s exactly how the tracking process works in Affelios:
1

Tracker-Based Link Generation

You use your created tracker to generate a unique tracking link for a specific brand or product. This link contains your affiliate ID, tracker ID, and targeting information.
2

Customer Click & ClickKey Creation

When a potential customer clicks your tracking link, Affelios automatically generates a ClickKey that is unique to that customer and tied to your tracker. This ClickKey is what attributes the customer back to you.
3

ClickKey Storage & Customer Journey

The ClickKey is stored (typically as a cookie) and follows the customer through their browsing and purchasing journey on the operator’s website.
4

Purchase Attribution & Commission

When the customer makes a purchase, the ClickKey links the sale back to your specific tracker, and Affelios calculates your commission based on the applicable commission plan.

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What Makes Tracking Successful

For Proper Attribution:
  • Customer’s browser must accept cookies (or alternative tracking methods)
  • ClickKey must be properly stored by the merchant’s website
  • Customer must complete purchase within the attribution window
  • Merchant’s system must properly report sales to Affelios
Common Technical Challenges:
  • Cookie blocking or privacy settings
  • Cross-device purchases (click on mobile, buy on desktop)
  • Browser privacy features affecting tracking
  • Ad blockers interfering with tracking scripts
Timing Factors:
  • Attribution Window: How long after clicking your link you can get credit (typically 30-90 days)
  • Same-Session Sales: You always get credit if they buy during the same visit
  • Return Customers: You may get credit when they return to buy later
  • Repeat Purchases: Some programs give lifetime credit for customers
Attribution Logic:
  • First-Click: You get credit even if they click other affiliate links later
  • Last-Click: The most recent affiliate link gets the credit
  • Program-Specific: Each program may have its own attribution rules

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Commission Attribution Details

Commission Plan Priority System: Affelios uses a priority system to determine your commission rate for each sale. More specific plans take priority over general ones:Your Specific Rates (Highest Priority):
  • Special rates for specific products you promote
  • Rates for specific trackers or campaigns you run
  • Custom rates negotiated just for you
  • Your general affiliate rate
Program Defaults (Fallback):
  • Standard product rates
  • General program rates
  • Platform-wide default rates
What This Means for You:
  • Different trackers may have different commission rates
  • Product-specific promotions might earn bonus rates
  • High-performing trackers often get better rates over time
When Customers Click Multiple Links: If a customer clicks multiple of your tracker links, the program’s attribution rules determine which gets credit:
  • Some programs give credit to all trackers (split attribution)
  • Others use first-click or last-click rules
  • Different trackers you create may compete for the same sale
Common Multi-Tracker Scenarios:
  • Customer clicks your youtube-review link, then your homepage-banner link
  • Customer shares your social-media link and someone else clicks it
  • Customer clicks your mobile-app tracker, then buys via your email-newsletter tracker
Best Practice: Check your program’s specific attribution rules to understand how multiple tracker interactions are handled.

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From Click to Commission: The Complete Journey

1

Customer Clicks Your Tracker Link

When someone clicks your tracking link, they’re associated with your specific tracker, allowing you to see which campaigns drive results.
2

Attribution Processing

When they make a purchase, the system determines:
  • That you should get credit for the sale
  • Which specific tracker generated the sale
  • What commission rate applies to that tracker
  • The final commission amount you’ll earn
3

Commission Appears in Dashboard

Your commission is recorded and appears in your affiliate dashboard:
  • Shows the sale amount and your commission
  • Indicates which tracker generated the sale (key for campaign optimization)
  • Updates your performance metrics by tracker
  • Adds to your pending payments
4

Payment Processing

According to the program’s payment schedule, your commission is processed and paid according to your payment preferences.

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Putting Your Trackers to Work: Implementation Examples

From Tracker Strategy to Real Campaigns

Now that you understand trackers and how to generate tracking links, see how to implement them across different promotional channels. Each example shows how your tracker strategy translates into actionable campaigns.

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Tracker-Based Implementation Examples

Remember: Each promotional placement should use a specific tracker that represents that traffic source. This allows you to measure performance, optimize campaigns, and understand which promotional strategies work best.
  • Website Integration
  • Social Media Campaigns
  • Email Marketing Campaigns
  • Content Marketing

Website Tracker Implementation

Scenario: You’ve created trackers for different website placementsTrackers Created:
  • homepage-hero-banner
  • blog-sidebar-widget
  • product-review-inline
Implementation Example:
<!-- Hero banner using homepage-hero-banner tracker -->
<a href="https://track.brandname.com/click?affiliate=123&tracker=homepage-hero-banner&brand=products" 
   target="_blank" rel="noopener">
  <img src="hero-banner.jpg" alt="Featured Products - Special Offer">
</a>

<!-- Sidebar widget using blog-sidebar-widget tracker -->
<a href="https://track.brandname.com/click?affiliate=123&tracker=blog-sidebar-widget&brand=products"
   class="sidebar-affiliate-link">
  Check Out These Products
</a>
Tracker Benefits:
  • Compare performance: homepage vs sidebar vs inline content
  • Optimize high-performing placements
  • A/B test different positions using separate trackers
  • Understand which content types drive sales

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Tracker Performance Analysis

Using Tracker Data for Optimization

What Your Tracker Data Tells You:
  • Traffic Volume: Which trackers generate the most clicks
  • Conversion Rate: Which trackers convert clicks to sales most effectively
  • Revenue per Click: Which trackers generate the most commission per click
  • Customer Journey: How customers move between your different trackers
Optimization Actions Based on Tracker Performance:
  1. Scale Successful Trackers: Invest more time in high-performing tracker strategies
  2. Improve Underperformers: Optimize content and placement for low-converting trackers
  3. Create Variations: Test variations of successful tracker strategies
  4. Retire Ineffective Trackers: Stop using trackers that consistently underperform
Example Optimization Cycle:
  1. Create tracker → Generate links → Deploy in campaign
  2. Monitor tracker performance for 2-4 weeks
  3. Analyze results: clicks, conversions, revenue
  4. Scale winners, optimize losers, test variations
  5. Repeat cycle with new tracker strategies

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Tracker Analytics and Performance Optimization

Maximizing Your Tracker Performance

Your trackers generate valuable performance data that helps you understand which promotional strategies work best. Learn how to analyze tracker performance and optimize your campaigns for maximum earnings.

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Essential Tracker Metrics

Key Metrics by Tracker:
  • Total Clicks: Volume of traffic generated by each tracker
  • Unique Clicks: Individual users who clicked your tracker links
  • Conversion Rate: Percentage of tracker clicks that result in sales
  • Revenue Per Click (RPC): Average revenue generated per tracker click
  • Earnings Per Click (EPC): Average commission per tracker click
  • Geographic Distribution: Where your tracker traffic comes from
  • Device Breakdown: Desktop vs. mobile performance by tracker
  • Time-Based Patterns: When each tracker performs best
Compare Tracker Performance:
  • Traffic Quality: Which trackers bring the highest-converting traffic
  • Audience Match: Which tracker audiences match best with promoted products
  • Content Performance: Which content types (represented by trackers) work best
  • Channel Effectiveness: Which promotional channels (trackers) drive the most revenue
  • Seasonal Trends: How different trackers perform during different times
Example Tracker Comparison:
  • youtube-reviews: High conversion rate, medium traffic volume
  • homepage-banner: Medium conversion rate, high traffic volume
  • email-newsletter: Very high conversion rate, low traffic volume
  • social-media-posts: Low conversion rate, very high traffic volume
Understanding Multi-Tracker Attribution:
  • First-Touch Trackers: Which trackers introduce customers to your brand
  • Last-Touch Trackers: Which trackers close the sale
  • Assist Trackers: Which trackers help move customers through the funnel
  • Cross-Device Patterns: How customers move between tracker sources
  • Time to Conversion: How long between different tracker interactions and purchase

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Tracker-Based Optimization Strategy

1

Identify Top-Performing Trackers

Analyze your tracker data to identify winners:
  • High Conversion Rate: Trackers that convert clicks to sales effectively
  • High Revenue Volume: Trackers that generate significant total revenue
  • Balanced Performance: Trackers with good conversion AND traffic volume
  • Audience Quality: Trackers that bring customers with high order values
Action: Document what makes these trackers successful (content type, audience, timing, etc.)
2

Scale Successful Tracker Strategies

Expand what’s working:
  • Create Tracker Variations: Test similar trackers with slight modifications
  • Increase Investment: Spend more time/resources on high-performing tracker strategies
  • Cross-Apply Strategies: Apply successful tracker approaches to new channels
  • Seasonal Scaling: Increase activity on seasonal high-performers during peak times
Example: If youtube-reviews performs well, create youtube-unboxing and youtube-comparisons trackers
3

Optimize Underperforming Trackers

Improve or retire poor performers:
  • Content Analysis: Review and improve content quality for low-converting trackers
  • Audience Mismatch: Consider if the tracker audience matches the promoted products
  • Placement Testing: Test different promotional placement strategies
  • Product Selection: Try different products with underperforming trackers
  • Retirement Decision: Stop using consistently poor-performing trackers
Example: If sidebar-widget has low performance, test different widget designs, placements, or products
4

Continuous Tracker Testing

Always be testing new tracker strategies:
  • A/B Test Tracker Variations: Compare similar tracker strategies
  • New Channel Exploration: Create trackers for emerging promotional channels
  • Seasonal Tracker Development: Develop trackers specifically for seasonal campaigns
  • Cross-Promotion Testing: Test trackers that combine multiple promotional strategies
Testing Framework:
  1. Create hypothesis for new tracker strategy
  2. Implement tracker and generate test links
  3. Run campaign for sufficient data collection period
  4. Analyze results against existing tracker benchmarks
  5. Scale winners, optimize moderates, retire failures

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Advanced Tracker Analytics

Long-Term Tracker Performance:
  • Customer Lifetime Value by Tracker: Which trackers bring the most valuable long-term customers
  • Repeat Purchase Attribution: Which trackers generate customers who buy again
  • Seasonal Performance Patterns: How tracker performance changes throughout the year
  • Customer Retention by Source: Which tracker sources retain customers longest

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Tracker Management Best Practices

Prevention and Organization Strategies

Tracker Organization:
  • Consistent Naming: Use clear, descriptive tracker names that match your strategy
  • Documentation: Keep records of what each tracker represents and where it’s used
  • Regular Audits: Review tracker performance and usage monthly
  • Lifecycle Management: Archive outdated trackers, create new ones for new campaigns
  • Testing Protocol: Always test new tracker links before deploying in campaigns
Technical Best Practices:
  • Cross-Device Testing: Test tracker links on mobile, desktop, and tablet
  • Browser Compatibility: Verify tracker links work across different browsers
  • Privacy Settings: Test with various privacy and ad-blocking settings enabled
  • Email Client Testing: For email trackers, test across major email clients
  • Link Validation: Regularly check that tracker links redirect properly
Performance Monitoring:
  • Dashboard Reviews: Check tracker performance weekly
  • Anomaly Detection: Watch for unusual drops or spikes in tracker performance
  • Comparison Analysis: Regularly compare tracker performance against benchmarks
  • Seasonal Adjustments: Monitor how trackers perform during different seasons
  • A/B Testing: Continuously test tracker variations for optimization
Communication and Support:
  • Issue Documentation: Keep detailed records of any tracker-related issues
  • Proactive Reporting: Report potential tracker problems early
  • Relationship Management: Maintain good communication with program managers
  • Update Notifications: Stay informed about program changes that might affect trackers
  • Performance Reviews: Regular discussions about tracker performance and optimization

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Tracker Testing Checklist

Before launching any new tracker campaign:Link Testing:
  • Tracker link redirects to correct destination
  • Link works on mobile and desktop
  • Link functions with ad blockers enabled
  • Page loads properly after redirect
Analytics Testing:
  • Tracker appears in analytics dashboard
  • Click tracking is working properly
  • Attribution is functioning correctly
  • Performance metrics are updating
  • Commission tracking is active
Campaign Testing:
  • Content properly displays tracker links
  • Email rendering includes tracker links correctly
  • Social media posts have working tracker links
  • Website integration is functioning
  • Mobile responsiveness is maintained
Regular tracker health checks:Weekly Reviews:
  • Check tracker click volumes
  • Review conversion rates by tracker
  • Monitor commission attribution by tracker
  • Identify any performance anomalies
  • Compare tracker performance trends
Monthly Audits:
  • Full tracker performance analysis
  • ROI calculation by tracker
  • Seasonal trend analysis
  • Optimization opportunity identification
  • Tracker strategy adjustment planning

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Advanced Tracking Features

Power User Features

Explore advanced tracking capabilities that can help sophisticated affiliates maximize their performance and insights.

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Cross-Device Tracking

Understanding Cross-Device Challenges:
  • Customers often research on mobile, purchase on desktop
  • Different browsers and devices create attribution gaps
  • Privacy settings limit cross-device tracking
  • Cookie syncing helps but isn’t perfect
Available Solutions:
  • Browser fingerprinting technology
  • Email-based customer identification
  • Account-based attribution for logged-in users
  • Statistical modeling for attribution gaps
Multi-Touch Attribution:
  • Track multiple touchpoints in customer journey
  • Understand influence of different promotional channels
  • Measure assisted conversions and attribution
  • Optimize based on complete customer journey data

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Mastering Your Tracker Strategy: Next Steps

Building a Successful Tracker-Based Affiliate Business

Now that you understand the tracker-first approach to affiliate marketing in Affelios, you’re ready to build a systematic, data-driven promotional strategy. Your success will come from creating well-organized trackers, generating effective tracking links, and continuously optimizing based on performance data.
Your Tracker Journey:
  1. Start with Strategy: Plan your tracker structure based on your promotional channels
  2. Create Organized Trackers: Use descriptive names that reflect your promotional strategy
  3. Generate Targeted Links: Combine trackers with appropriate brands and products
  4. Deploy and Monitor: Implement tracking links and closely monitor performance
  5. Optimize Continuously: Scale successful trackers, improve underperformers, test new strategies
Essential Next Reading:Advanced Tracker Resources:For Program Operators:Technical Integration:
The Tracker Advantage: By organizing your affiliate marketing around trackers, you gain unprecedented insight into which promotional strategies work best. This systematic approach allows you to make data-driven decisions, scale successful campaigns, and build a more profitable affiliate business. Remember: every promotional effort should have its own tracker, and every tracker should have a clear strategic purpose.
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