Affiliate Tracking Explained: Cookies, Server-Side Tracking and Affiliate Links
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In the previous article we explained how to start an affiliate program. This one covers how affiliate sales are tracked.
If you have affiliates promoting your offer, you need a reliable way to know which affiliate brought which sale. That is what affiliate tracking does. In this article we explain affiliate tracking in plain language: the difference between cookie-based and server-side tracking, how to create links and codes, what content you provide and the numbers to watch.
Affiliate tracking when you have affiliates
Tracking is the system that connects a sale to the affiliate who caused it. Without accurate tracking, affiliates cannot be paid fairly, and they lose trust in your program. With good tracking, everything runs automatically in the background.
Client-side affiliate tracking with cookies
In the past, tracking was mainly done on the “client side.” This means using cookies placed in the customer’s browser when they click an affiliate link. These cookies work invisibly in the background, a topic also covered in our article on website cookies in the legal lesson.
When the customer later buys, the cookie tells the system which affiliate sent them. This method works, but it has weaknesses. Ad blockers, cookie settings and switching between devices can stop the cookie from being read.
Server-side affiliate tracking
Today, many modern affiliate apps also support server-side tracking, which is much more reliable. Here, data is exchanged directly between servers, rather than tracking the customer’s behavior through their browser. Ad blockers and certain cookie settings are therefore less likely to interfere with correctly crediting a sale to the affiliate partner.
When you choose an affiliate app, check whether it supports server-side tracking. It protects both you and your affiliates from lost commissions.
What content affiliate tracking requires from you
If you work with affiliates to drive traffic, your main content task is to give them individual affiliate links or codes. They use these in their own content. In this way, your affiliates are the ones creating content for you, built around your offering.
Where to generate affiliate links and codes
You create these links or codes in the dedicated affiliate program section of your website builder or platform, such as Kajabi. Shops often use an affiliate app that connects to their store. After that, your affiliates take the lead.
How much control you have
In affiliate programs, you typically do not approve content piece by piece, because the process is largely automated. The one place you can exercise control is the entry point. You can set conditions for who can join your program.
For example, you could review applicants’ profiles before approving them as affiliates. This gives you a sense of the type of content that may be created around your product or service. In practice, most affiliates do an excellent job of recommending products, because they want to earn through the program and they know that quality recommendations lead to sales.
Beginner’s tip: Lynnaider’s own affiliate program
Lynnaider also runs its own affiliate program. At the time of writing, applications are open, subject to the program’s terms. It is a practical example of how a small business can work with affiliates.
Key numbers in affiliate tracking
| Metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Conversion rate | The percentage of affiliate link clicks that result in a sale. Shows the quality of the traffic affiliates send to your product. |
| EPC (earnings per click) | What affiliates earn on average per click they send. The figure to share with potential affiliates when recruiting them. A strong EPC shows your product converts well and makes joining your program worthwhile. |
How to calculate EPC
EPC is simple to calculate. Divide the total commissions paid to affiliates by the total number of clicks they sent. For example, if affiliates sent 1,000 clicks and earned 250 in commissions, the EPC is 0.25 per click.
Affiliate tracking and the law
Tracking cookies are usually considered non-essential under many data protection rules, which means visitors may need to agree to them. Make sure your cookie banner and privacy policy mention affiliate tracking. Affiliates must also disclose their affiliate links to their audiences, as explained in our article on misleading advertising.
Common affiliate tracking mistakes
The first mistake is not testing your affiliate links before sharing them. Click a link yourself and make a test purchase if possible. The second mistake is choosing a tool without reliable tracking, leading to lost commissions and unhappy affiliates.
A third mistake is forgetting to share results with affiliates. Regular updates on clicks, sales and commissions keep them motivated and show that your tracking is trustworthy.
An example of affiliate tracking in practice
Imagine you sell digital wedding planners through your own website, with an affiliate app connected. A wedding blogger joins your program and receives a unique link. She adds it to an article about planning tools.
A reader clicks the link, browses for a few days and then buys on her phone. With server-side tracking, the sale is still credited to the blogger, even though the reader changed devices. The blogger sees the sale in her dashboard, trusts your program and promotes it more.
Choosing an affiliate tracking tool
When comparing tools, check four things. Does it support server-side tracking? Does it integrate with your shop or course platform? Can affiliates see their own clicks, sales and commissions in a dashboard? And does it handle commission payouts, or will you pay affiliates manually?
Many platforms already include a basic affiliate tool, which is often enough at the start. Upgrade only when your program grows.
Affiliate programs on a small budget
Many platforms include affiliate tools in their plans, and you pay commissions only on sales. You did not need to spend more than about 20 dollars on your setup, and an affiliate program fits a small budget well. You can manage it yourself, without an agency.
A private way to grow
With affiliates, others create the content while your product stays at the center. If the idea of self-branding is what held you back so far, Lynnaider recaps the alternatives for you.
Your next step
Affiliate tracking connects directly to affiliate marketing, one of the ten online income techniques. The next article covers method number eight: marketplace advertising. The complete Lesson T5 is in the book on our products page. If you would like help setting up affiliate tracking, see our services page.
Frequently asked questions
How does affiliate tracking work?
Each affiliate receives a unique link or discount code. When a customer buys through it, the tracking system records the sale and credits the affiliate with their commission.
Will Lynnaider publish step-by-step tutorials for setting up the 10 online business models for free or at a very low cost?
They may be created depending on how much interest there is. Please join the waitlist to show that you are interested, and we will let you know as soon as they are ready.
What is client-side tracking?
It is the older method, where cookies are placed in the customer’s browser when they click an affiliate link. The cookie remembers which affiliate sent them.
What is server-side tracking?
It is a newer, more reliable method where data is exchanged directly between servers rather than through the customer’s browser. Ad blockers and cookie settings are less likely to interfere.
Where do I create affiliate links?
In the affiliate program section of your platform, such as Kajabi, or in the affiliate app connected to your shop. The system generates a unique link or code for each affiliate.
Do I approve every piece of affiliate content?
Usually not, because the process is largely automated. You can control who joins your program, for example by reviewing profiles before approving affiliates.
What is EPC?
Earnings per click: what affiliates earn on average for each click they send. It is the figure you share when recruiting affiliates, because a strong EPC shows your product converts well.
Does Lynnaider have an affiliate program?
Yes. Lynnaider runs its own affiliate program. At the time of writing, applications are open, subject to the program’s terms.
Do affiliate cookies need consent?
Cookies used for tracking are generally non-essential and may need visitor consent under many regulations. Check your cookie banner and privacy policy, as covered in our article on website cookies.
Is there a low-cost way to start an online business with Lynnaider?
Lynnaider teaches setup routes for each of the ten online income techniques that cost nothing, or very little (under 20 dollars), to go live, so you do not pay setup costs long before you earn. Our free AI agent, Lynnaider Compass, guides you through them step by step, in the same logic as the whole Lynnaider teaching.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as legal, tax, or business advice. Pursuing an online business does not guarantee income; results depend on many factors including the business environment, individual effort, skills, and consistency. Some links on this site may allow Lynnaider to earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader.
