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How to Create an Affiliate Link From Scratch: A Complete Guide for Beginners

How to Create an Affiliate Link From Scratch: A Complete Guide for Beginners

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Written by

INB Team

Published on

June 3, 2026

A lot of people think affiliate marketing is simple. You launch ads, traffic starts coming in, leads appear – that means everything is working.

But sooner or later, another question comes up: what exactly produced those results? Which creative worked? Which traffic source brought the user? Where did you actually make money, and where did you just burn your budget?

That’s when it becomes clear that the key element in this entire system is the affiliate link. It’s not just a link you use to drive traffic – it’s an important tool that provides detailed analytics. Without it, you only see general numbers with no real way to optimize your results.

In this guide, we’ll break down how to create an affiliate link from scratch and set it up so the numbers actually start working for you.

What is an affiliate link and how does it work?

Abstract white spherical object with cylindrical protrusions, glowing green tubes connecting through it, surrounded by grass and small white flowers.

In nutra, an affiliate link is more than just a URL leading to a product page. It’s an important tool that tracks user actions and connects them directly to you.

Here’s how affiliate links work in practice: a user sees an advertisement → makes a click → follows your link → lands on a landing page → learns about the product → leaves a lead or makes a purchase → the system tracks the action → you receive a commission.

Every affiliate link includes additional URL parameters that pass traffic data: where the user came from, which campaign was launched, and which creative performed best.

For the user, it looks like a regular redirect. But for you, it’s the foundation of analytics. In reality, an affiliate marketer manages the entire flow through a unique link that connects advertising, web traffic, and final results into one system.

How to create an affiliate link: step-by-step guide

White segmented capsule pill partly open with green light inside, resting on green moss and small white flowers on a white surface.

Now let’s move on to the practical part.

A lot of affiliates make the same mistake – they grab a ready-made affiliate link and immediately start driving traffic. As a result, there are clicks and expenses, but no understanding of what actually produced results.

To avoid that, you need to build the launch setup correctly from the beginning.

Step 1: Choose a GEO

The first step is choosing the country you’ll be driving traffic from. Right now, some of the biggest scaling opportunities are in Tier-3 GEOs like Algeria, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. Competition is lower there, the entry barrier is cheaper, and there’s more room for testing. Audiences are also less saturated with ads, which means they usually respond better to creatives.

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Your GEO choice directly affects conversion rates. The exact same offer can produce completely different results depending on the country.

🌿 Read also: “Emerging Markets vs Tier-1: Where Affiliates Actually Make Money in Nutra Affiliate Marketing

Step 2: Choose an offer

Next, you need to choose a product. In nutra, the best-performing niches are usually simple and easy to understand: joints, prostate health, blood pressure, diabetes, and weight loss. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel – it’s better to choose a proven product that already has demand, so you don’t have to spend too much time explaining it to the audience.

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Step 3: Choose an advertiser or an affiliate network

After selecting an offer, you need to decide who you’ll work with. There are two options.

The first option is joining an affiliate network or different affiliate marketing programs, where you connect as a publisher and get access to offers through a platform.

The second option is working directly with an advertiser. A direct advertiser gives you access to offers through a manager after sign-up. They explain the conditions, share what’s currently performing best, and immediately send you a ready-to-use affiliate link.

In practice, this approach is simpler and faster: fewer middlemen, more transparent analytics, and usually better results.

Step 4: Get your affiliate link

Once you’re connected, you receive your affiliate link – your working URL connected to your account. 

A basic link usually looks something like this:

https://offer-domain.com/?aff_id=123

It consists of two main parts:

  • offer-domain.com – the page the user lands on (the landing page)
  • aff_id=123 – your affiliate ID

This ID allows the system to identify that you referred the user and that the commission should be credited to you.

At this stage, the link already works and can generate earnings, but it only shows the big picture without detailed analytics.

Step 5: Add parameters

To make your affiliate link provide detailed analytics, you need to expand it with parameters.

There are two main ways to do this.

The first option is adding parameters directly into the link. This is the simplest and most common approach that affiliates worldwide start with.

It usually looks like this:

https://offer-domain.com/?aff_id=123&sub1=facebook&sub2=video1

Here:

  • aff_id – affiliate ID
  • sub1=facebook – traffic source
  • sub2=video1 – specific creative or campaign

This way, after launch, you don’t just see leads – you understand exactly which ad generated them.

If you’re testing multiple creatives, you simply change the values: sub2=video1, sub2=video2, sub2=image1.

This allows you to compare what delivers better conversion rates. That’s what the basic use of affiliate links in nutra actually looks like.

The second option is working through a tracker. This is a separate service that traffic passes through before reaching the offer.

The link may look something like this:

https://tracker.com/click?campaign=nutra1&subid=fb_video1

In this setup, the user first goes through the tracker and only then reaches the landing page or offer. The tracker collects detailed data about the visit: traffic source, GEO, clicks, conversions, and user behavior.

This approach is commonly used by experienced affiliate partners and teams working with large amounts of web traffic who want more control over traffic or sales.

Simply put, parameters provide basic analytics, while trackers provide deeper control and more data. For getting started, regular parameters are usually enough. Most affiliates connect trackers later, once launches and tests become more frequent.

Step 6: Test everything before launch

Before launching, make sure to test your link.

Open it yourself, go through the full user journey, and check how the landing page loads and whether everything works correctly without errors.

It only takes a few minutes, but it directly affects conversion rates. Even a small mistake at this stage can cost you earnings.

Where to use affiliate links: working nutra funnels

A white spherical vase with three spouts emitting green glowing lines connecting to an envelope, a blank screen, and a document, surrounded by plants.

Once your affiliate link is ready, it’s important to understand where exactly to place it. In nutra, there are several common setups, and each one is used for specific goals.

1. Pre-Landing Funnel

This is the most common setup in nutra: banner → pre-lander → landing page

The user first sees an advertisement banner on Facebook or in native advertising and clicks on it. The first affiliate link is already embedded into the banner and leads to a pre-lander.

For example, a button or text on the banner may look like this:

  • [Learn More]
  • [Read More]

After the click, the user lands on a pre-lander – a page with a story, a problem explanation, or a product review. That page contains a second affiliate link leading directly to the offer.

For example:

  • [Get Prosteron With a Discount]
  • [Visit the Official Chondrolax Website]

In this setup, the user goes through two stages: banner → product introduction → offer page

That’s exactly why this funnel usually delivers better conversion rates. The user doesn’t land directly on the product page but first gets context and understands the offer better.

2. Direct-to-landing launch without a pre-lander

This setup is shorter: banner → landing page

The user sees an ad and, after the click, lands directly on the offer page. Here, the affiliate link is embedded straight into the advertisement banner or CTA button.

For example:

  • [Order Prosteron]
  • [Get Chondrolax at a Discount]

This format is simpler and faster to launch, which is why it’s often used for testing or quickly validating a new offer.

However, there’s also a downside: the user lands directly on the product page without any warming-up stage, so conversion rates are usually lower.

3. Email newsletter

In this case, the affiliate link is placed directly inside the email or CTA button within the newsletter.

The setup looks like this: email → landing page

For example:

  • [Activate Your Prosteron Discount]
  • [View the Special Chondrolax Offer]

This format works especially well when you already have a contact list or an audience familiar with you. That’s why many affiliate partners use email newsletters to share deals and bring users back to offers repeatedly.

4. Content: articles, pinterest, blogs

Here, the affiliate link is inserted directly into content or images.

The setup looks like this: content → landing page

This is how bloggers and content creators usually work. Instead of selling directly, they guide users toward a purchase through useful content.

In all cases, these are simply external links placed inside buttons, text, or ads. Technically, this is done using basic HTML:

<a href="https://offer-domain.com/?aff_id=123&sub1=facebook">
Buy Chondrolax at a Discount
</a>

The key is not to use affiliate links without context. If you just drop a link without explaining what’s behind it, it looks like spam and usually doesn’t work.

When users understand where they’re going and why, it creates a positive experience – and that directly affects results.

🌿 Read also: “How to Scale an Offer After Your First Successful Test: A Step-by-Step Strategy for Affiliates

Conclusion

An affiliate link is much more than just a URL leading to a product page. It’s the foundation of all traffic operations. Analytics run through it, optimization is built around it, and ultimately, it determines your earnings.

If you want to work with proven offers in profitable GEOs, the best choice is to partner with a direct advertiser. Sign up at INB.bio – our managers will help you choose an offer, provide you with a ready-to-use affiliate link, and help you become profitable faster.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you create an affiliate link without a tracker?

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Yes. For getting started, a regular affiliate link with parameters is enough for most affiliates. You simply add the traffic source and creative name to the URL, and the system already shows where the leads came from. Trackers are usually added later, once launches and tests become more frequent.

Do you need a disclosure when using affiliate links?

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If you work through a blog, YouTube, or other content channels, it’s worth adding a disclosure about affiliate links. In many countries, this is regulated by the FTC, which oversees advertising and marketing communications. It also positively affects the reputation of the creator or brand.

What’s the difference between parameter-based links and trackers?

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A parameter-based link provides basic analytics: traffic source, creative, and leads. A tracker collects much more detailed data about web traffic, clicks, conversion, and user behavior. That’s why trackers are more commonly used by teams and large affiliate partners.

Can you drive traffic through Google or SEO?

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Yes. Many affiliates work not only with paid advertisements but also through content and search engines. This usually involves basic search engine optimization, proper keyword selection, and maintaining content relevancy. This approach allows affiliates to drive traffic consistently without constantly launching ads.

Can you work without your own website?

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Yes. To get started, you only need one traffic source – for example, Facebook, TikTok, or Pinterest. Many affiliates start without a website and later create their own home page or blog to further monetize their traffic through content.

This is especially common among creators and influencers who build audiences through content and gradually grow their own subscriber base.

Why use trackers if regular links already work?

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Regular links are enough for basic testing. But once you start running multiple campaigns, it becomes difficult to understand what exactly generates traffic or sales without a tracker.

That’s why trackers are used for scaling and more advanced affiliate management.

Is affiliate marketing only used in nutra?

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No. Today, affiliate marketing is part of the global World Wide Web. Affiliates work across many niches, including nutra, SaaS, finance, and e-commerce.

Large platforms like Amazon Associates, the Amazon Associates Program, Rakuten, and LTK are also built around the partnership model.

In traditional affiliate marketing programs, partners often work through a marketplace or a large e-commerce platform where offers are provided by a merchant, vendor, or retailer.

Why is it important to add parameters to affiliate links?

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Without parameters, you only see general statistics. But when your affiliate link includes a traffic source, campaign, and creative, you can clearly understand what’s actually working.

That’s how using affiliate links evolves from simply pushing traffic into a complete analytics-driven process.

Can you work through content and newsletters?

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Yes. Some affiliates work through blogs, Telegram channels, or email newsletters. In this format, they can share deals, add a coupon code, or encourage users to subscribe for updates.

This works especially well when you already have your own audience and want to support creators through affiliate integrations.

Do you need large budgets to start in affiliate marketing?

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Not necessarily. Many affiliates begin promoting offers with small tests and scale gradually over time.

At the beginning, the most important thing is setting up your affiliate link correctly – not spending huge amounts on ads. In many cases, you can get started without significant additional cost.

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