# Create an Affiliate Link

> Learn to create affiliate links with UTM parameters and AnyTrack. This guide covers setting up tracking, optimizing campaigns, and measuring affiliate partner performance.

## Introduction

Create effective affiliate links to track campaign performance and maximize shop `revenue`. This guide helps shop owners create affiliate links using affiliate software, one-time links, or recurring solutions. We'll cover <a href='/docs/utm-parameters'>UTM parameters</a> and naming conventions for smooth integration and tracking.

### Your Attribution Objectives

Use standard UTM parameters with affiliate partners to achieve <a href='/docs/anytrack-attribution-explained'>marketing attribution</a> objectives:

1. Measure affiliate marketing effectiveness as a channel and by individual partners
2. Compare performance across marketing channels (paid, organic, affiliate)
3. Analyze customer behavior differences by channel
4. Build custom audiences based on the affiliate channel

### Step-by-Step Guide

#### Step 1: Determine Your Needs

Before creating an affiliate link, answer:

* Do you use affiliate software to manage your program?
* Is the link for a one-time promotion or regular use?
* Do you need to send conversion data to external platforms?

#### Step 2: Set UTM Parameters

UTM parameters track campaign effectiveness. AnyTrack, Google Analytics, and 99% of marketing platforms collect these values.

> 📘 **Important**
>
> The example tokens below are samples. Manually set names or IDs for your setup.

* **`utm_source`**: Identify the affiliate program or network (e.g., `affiliate_name`)
* **`utm_medium`**: Use `referral`
* **`utm_campaign`**: Use the offer or campaign name (e.g., `affiliate_campaign`)
* **`utm_id`**: Include the affiliate ID (`{affiliateId}`)
* **`utm_content`**: Include the promotion name, if applicable (`{promotional_content}`)

**Example Template**

```
?`utm_source`=affiliate_name&`utm_medium`=referral&`utm_campaign`=affiliate_campaign&utm_id={affiliateId}&`utm_content`={promotional_content}
```

#### Step 3: Use Affiliate Software

If using affiliate software:

* Integrate UTM parameters as described above
* Add dynamic macros to personalize links

**Hasoffers example:**

1. Affiliate ID token: `{aff_id}`
2. Offer ID token: `{offer_id}`
3. Offer name: `{offer_name}`

```
?`utm_source`={aff_id}&`utm_medium`=referral&`utm_campaign`={offer_name}&utm_id={offer_id}{aff_id}&`utm_content`={offer_name}&offer_id={offer_id}&aff_id={aff_id}&transaction_id={transaction_id}
```

> 📘 **Good**
>
> Each affiliate platform provides values through their knowledge base or platform interface.

#### Step 4: Follow Naming Conventions

Establish clear naming conventions for your links. This helps organize campaigns and analyze data efficiently. Generate IDs for values to track individual affiliate performance accurately.

#### Step 5: Review and Optimize Regularly

Review affiliate link performance regularly. Use UTM parameter data to optimize campaigns, improve affiliate performance, and increase ROI.

## Conclusion

Create affiliate links by understanding your needs, setting appropriate <a href='/docs/custom-utm-parameters'>custom UTM parameters</a>, and following naming and management best practices. Track and optimize affiliate marketing efforts to increase sales and build successful partnerships.

## Related Articles

- [Install AnyTrack Tag](/docs/install-anytrack-tag)
- [FB Ads Affiliate Marketing](/docs/how-to-do-affiliate-marketing-on-facebook-ads)
- [Google Ads Affiliate Marketing](/docs/how-to-do-affiliate-marketing-on-google-ads)