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One of the easiest ways to leave money on the table? Not knowing what’s working. If you’re just tossing affiliate links into blog posts without tracking anything, you might be missing patterns — or profits.
Tracking doesn’t have to be techy or time-consuming. With the right tools (and a simple routine), you can see what’s working, improve your results, and grow your income without guessing.
📊 Tools to Track Your Affiliate Earnings Like a Pro (Even If You’re Not “Techy”)
If you’re still getting set up, start with Affiliate Marketing For Beginners: How To Earn Money From Your Blog.
And here are the other helpful posts in this series:
- Best Affiliate Networks for New Bloggers
- How to Write Blog Posts That Convert Affiliate Clicks
- Affiliate Link Placement Strategies That Work
Now let’s dig into what to track — and how to keep it simple.
📈 Start With Your Affiliate Dashboards
Most networks like ShareASale, Awin, and Amazon Associates have built-in dashboards. You can see clicks, earnings, and sometimes even which posts are sending traffic.
Set a reminder to log in weekly or monthly. It takes just a few minutes, but those insights can tell you exactly what’s bringing in income — and what needs tweaking.
Amazon Associates especially gives great info on what was purchased, even if it wasn’t the exact item you linked (like this wireless keyboard and mouse combo).
🗂️ Use a Simple Spreadsheet
Sometimes the best tracking tool is just… a spreadsheet.
Keep tabs on:
- What product you linked
- What post it appeared in
- Date added
- Affiliate network used
- Any promo or seasonal push
Color code it, add a few notes, and you’ve got a working snapshot of your affiliate strategy.
📋 The Blog Post Checklist is a great printable to keep next to you while you’re writing — especially when you’re deciding where and how to add links. It pairs perfectly with spreadsheet tracking.
🔍 Try Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates
If you’re using WordPress, link cloaking plugins like Pretty Link or ThirstyAffiliates can help you:
- Shorten long URLs
- Track clicks in real time
- Spot underperforming links
They also make your links look cleaner — which readers tend to trust more.
DO NOT cloak Amazon links – it’s the FASTEST way to get removed from their programs.
🧪 Use UTM Parameters for Bigger Campaigns
If you ever run email campaigns or want to track social shares, UTM links (you can build them in Google’s Campaign URL Builder) help you see which source is driving traffic to your affiliate post.
It’s a little more advanced, but once you try it, you’ll get hooked on the data.
📌 Use a Planner or Strategy Tool to Stay Focused
With all the platforms and links, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s where having something like The Ultimate Blog Starter Kit can come in handy — to keep your process consistent as your blog grows.
📥 Want a simple check-in for your progress? The 10-Minute Blog Growth Checklist is a quick, printable tool to help you stay focused and improve week by week.
Tracking is how you shift from “blogging for fun” to treating it like a business. You don’t need a fancy setup — just a plan that works.
