> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://adly-news.gitbook.io/adly.news-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://adly-news.gitbook.io/adly.news-docs/02-newsletter-owners/06-affiliate-links.md).

# Affiliate Links

Affiliate links let you earn commission on sales you drive — perfect for filling gaps between paid sponsorships or recommending products you actually use. [adly.news](https://adly.news) gives you access to a curated library of advertisers, generates trackable share links automatically, and pays you out as commissions come in.

## How Affiliate Links Work

Unlike paid sponsorships (which charge advertisers a flat rate or CPL), affiliate links pay you a **commission** every time a reader buys, subscribes, or signs up after clicking your link. You don't have to negotiate with anyone — the rates are pre-set by the advertiser.

### The Flow

```
Pick an advertiser
       ↓
Pick an asset (banner or text link)
       ↓
We generate a trackable share URL
       ↓
You drop the URL (or banner embed) into your newsletter
       ↓
A reader clicks → we record the click → forward them to the advertiser
       ↓
Reader makes a purchase → advertiser reports a commission
       ↓
Commission shows up in your dashboard as Pending
       ↓
Once the advertiser pays out, we credit your available balance
       ↓
You withdraw to your bank via Stripe Connect
```

## Creating an Affiliate Link

### Step 1: Pick an Advertiser

1. Navigate to **Affiliate Links** in the sidebar
2. Click **New Link**
3. Browse the advertiser library — every advertiser shows:
   * **Brand icon** (favicon from their site)
   * **Category** badges (e.g. *Computer SW*, *Wellness*)
   * **Commission rate** for each conversion type (e.g. *Commission: 40% per purchase*)
   * **EPC** (Earnings per 100 clicks — both 7-day and 3-month)
   * **Network rank** — higher = more reputable advertisers
   * **Bonuses** badge when the program offers performance incentives
4. Use the search box to filter by name or keyword
5. Click any advertiser card to continue

> **Tip:** EPC is the best apples-to-apples comparison metric. A 30% commission with $10 EPC will earn you more than a 50% commission with $1 EPC, because conversion rates differ wildly between programs.

### Step 2: Pick an Asset

You'll see all available creatives for that advertiser:

* **Banners** — Pre-designed banner images in various sizes (728×90, 250×300, etc.) rendered as actual previews so you can see what your readers will see.
* **Text links** — Plain-link options that go to the advertiser's homepage or specific landing pages, with optional descriptions.

Click any asset card to instantly generate a tracking link for that specific creative. There's no confirmation step — the link is created and you're redirected to your **Affiliate Links** page.

> **Why pick an asset?** Each asset gets its own unique tracking link, which means click counts and commissions are attributed *per creative*. You can run an A/B test by creating links for two different banners and seeing which one performs better.

### Step 3: Share the Link

On the **Affiliate Links** page, every link you've created shows:

* **The asset preview** (banner image or text-link card)
* **The share URL** (e.g. `https://adly.news/a/aB3xK9pQrLmN`)
* **Click counts** (total + unique)
* **Commission counts** (number of attributed sales)

Copy options:

| Action              | What it copies                          | When to use                                                                |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Copy share URL**  | The short tracking URL                  | Plain-text mentions, bullet lists, anywhere you want a clickable text link |
| **Copy embed HTML** | A ready-to-paste `<a><img></a>` snippet | Embedding a banner image in your newsletter HTML                           |

The embed HTML wraps the advertiser's banner image with your tracking URL, so even when readers click the image they still flow through our click counter and the commission still attributes to your newsletter.

## Tracking Performance

### Click Counts

Every click on your share URL is recorded:

* **Total clicks** — Every click, including from the same person
* **Unique clicks** — Clicks from distinct readers (deduplicated by IP)

Bots and crawlers are filtered out automatically. Repeat clicks from the same IP within an hour are also dropped to keep your numbers honest.

### Commissions

Click **Commissions** at the top of the Affiliate Links page (or use the Commissions tab in the sidebar) to see every attributed sale:

| Status       | Meaning                                                                                                                             |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Pending**  | The advertiser has reported the sale, but hasn't paid out yet (typically 30-60 days while they wait for the return window to close) |
| **Paid**     | The advertiser has paid us, and we've credited your available balance                                                               |
| **Reversed** | The reader returned the product or canceled, so the commission was clawed back                                                      |

The summary tiles at the top show your **Pending**, **Paid**, and **Lifetime** totals at a glance.

## Getting Paid

Affiliate commissions follow the same payout flow as ad-slot earnings:

1. **Pending** — Commission has been reported by the advertiser
2. **Reconciled** — Once we receive payment from the advertiser, we credit your **available balance**
3. **Withdraw** — Transfer funds to your bank via the **Payments** page (Stripe Connect)

The platform takes a 13% fee on affiliate commissions, the same rate as all other transactions on the platform.

> **Patience required:** Affiliate networks are slower than direct sponsorships. Most advertisers pay out 30 days after the end of the month in which the sale happened, plus a return window. Don't be surprised if a commission stays in **Pending** for 45-60 days.

## Tips for Success

### Be Authentic

Only promote products you'd actually recommend. A single bad recommendation can erode trust faster than ten good ones build it.

### Lead with Value

Don't just paste a banner — explain *why* you're recommending the product. A 2-sentence honest review converts way better than a generic "Check out X" callout.

### Match the Advertiser to the Audience

A coupon-code merchant that converts at 5% might still earn less than a high-ticket B2B tool that converts at 0.5% — because the commission per sale is so much higher. Look at EPC, not just commission percentage.

### Test Multiple Creatives

Create links for both a text mention and a banner, share each in different newsletter editions, and compare click counts. Double down on the one that resonates with your audience.

### Refresh Frequently

Advertisers rotate creatives constantly. The Surfshark banner with "76% off" today might say "60% off" next month. Check in weekly to make sure your active links match the current promotion.

## FAQ

### Do I need to apply to advertisers?

No. We've already pre-joined the advertiser network on your behalf — every advertiser you see in the picker is one you can promote immediately. Just pick one and start sharing.

### Can I use the same link in multiple newsletters?

Each tracking link is tied to one newsletter (the one you selected when creating it). If you have multiple newsletters, create a separate link from each one so commissions get attributed correctly. There's a `+ add another asset` shortcut on the list page to make this fast.

### What happens if I delete a link?

If the link has no commissions yet, you can delete it. Once a commission has been attributed, the link is locked to preserve the history. Unused links can be deleted any time.

### Can I customize where the link goes?

The asset you pick determines the destination. If you want a different landing page (e.g. a specific product page rather than the homepage), pick a different asset — most advertisers offer multiple banners and text links pointing to different pages.

### Why didn't my click count go up?

Bots, crawlers, and repeat clicks from the same IP within an hour don't count. If you're testing the link yourself, try in incognito mode or wait an hour between clicks. The actual share URL still works for redirects either way.

### Why is my commission showing as Pending for so long?

Affiliate networks have long return windows (often 30 days) before they confirm a sale. Add another 30 days for their payment cycle, and 45-60 days end-to-end is normal. Only after we receive payment does the commission move to your available balance.

## Quick Reference

| Task                                      | Where                           |
| ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Browse advertisers and create a new link  | Affiliate Links → New Link      |
| Copy a share URL or embed HTML            | Affiliate Links (per-link card) |
| See click counts and creative performance | Affiliate Links (per-link card) |
| See attributed commissions                | Affiliate Links → Commissions   |
| Withdraw earnings                         | Payments                        |

## Need Help?

* **Setting up payouts?** See [Payments & Payouts](/adly.news-docs/02-newsletter-owners/09-payments-and-payouts.md)
* **General overview?** See [Platform Overview](/adly.news-docs/01-getting-started/01-overview.md)

***

[Start earning affiliate commissions on adly.news →](https://adly.news/newsletter/affiliate-links)


---

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