How to Shorten Affiliate Links (Keep Your Commission)

The short answer

Copy the full affiliate link from your affiliate program (with your tracking tag), paste it into a link shortener, and share the short link. Then click the short link once and check that the final address still contains your tag. Before you start, read your program's rules about link shorteners, and always tell your audience that the link is an affiliate link.

Why shorten affiliate links

• They look cleaner. A long link full of codes such as ?tag=yourname-20&linkCode=... looks untrustworthy in a bio or a video description.
• You see which post brings clicks. Affiliate dashboards often show sales, but not which of your posts or channels sent the click. With one short link for each channel, you can compare them.
• You can fix a link later. If a product goes out of stock, point the short link to another product. The video or the printed card that holds the link does not change.

Step by step

1. Get the full affiliate link from your program's dashboard or toolbar. Make sure that it contains your tracking ID.
2. Shorten it. Paste the link into the box on the URLyte home page. With a free account, you can use a readable name such as urlyte.com/yourname/camera.
3. Test it. Open the short link in a private browser window. Check that the final address in the browser still contains your tracking tag.
4. Make one link for each channel. For example /camera-yt for YouTube and /camera-ig for Instagram. Both point to the same affiliate link, but the clicks are counted separately.
5. Compare clicks with sales. Your short-link analytics show clicks by day, country and device. Your affiliate dashboard shows sales. Together they show which channel converts.

Read your program's rules first

Each affiliate program has its own rules, and the rules can change. Some examples of rules to look for:

• Amazon Associates gives you its own short links (amzn.to) in the SiteStripe toolbar. Its Operating Agreement does not allow special links in offline material such as printed flyers, or in emails and e-books. It also does not allow links that hide which site sent the customer. Read the current agreement before you use any third-party shortener or a QR code with an Amazon affiliate link.
• Other networks (such as ShareASale, Impact or CJ) have their own policies. Some allow shorteners. Some ask you to use their own link tools.

If the rules are not clear, ask the program's support team. A lost account costs much more than a long link.

Always disclose affiliate links

In the United States, the FTC requires a clear disclosure when you earn money from a link, and many other countries have similar rules. A short link hides the destination, so the disclosure is even more important. Put it near the link, in plain words, for example: "This is an affiliate link. I earn a commission if you buy." Amazon also requires the sentence "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."

Common problems

• The tag is missing after the redirect. You shortened a link without the tag, or the product page redirected and dropped it. Copy the link again from the affiliate dashboard.
• A platform blocks the link. Some platforms limit shortened links, especially in comments. Use the platform's own link features (such as the Instagram bio link or a YouTube description) and use your own branded links, not a random code.
• Clicks are high but sales are low. Check the device numbers. If most clicks come from mobile, check that the product page works well on a phone.

Frequently asked questions

Do short links remove my affiliate commission?

No, if the short link points to the full affiliate link with your tag. The shortener only forwards the visitor. Always test the link to be sure.

Is it free to shorten affiliate links?

Yes. URLyte short links and click analytics are free. Paid plans add more links and longer history.

Can I shorten Amazon links?

Yes, but read the Associates rules above. See our Amazon link shortener page for details.