Here is how to add affiliate links to your website: copy your tracking link from the program dashboard, paste it onto a word or button in your post, mark it rel="sponsored", add a short disclosure above it, then click it yourself to confirm the tracking works. That takes a minute per link once you have done it a few times.
Below you will find the steps for WordPress, hosted builders and plain HTML, a tag builder, ideas on how to promote affiliate links on website pages without annoying readers, and ways to manage hundreds of links without losing track.
Quick answer
The short answer
Paste the tracking link onto text or a button, add rel="sponsored", disclose it, test it.Time
About one minute per link; ten minutes to set up a link sheet.Cost
Free with built-in editor tools. Link plugins have free and paid tiers.The rel rule
Mark paid links with rel="sponsored" (nofollow is also accepted by search engines).The risk
Broken or untagged links lose commission; hidden ones can break program terms.
How to add affiliate links to your website in five steps
- Get approved and find the link. Every program gives you a dashboard with a link builder or a ready link for each product. It contains your ID, often as a parameter like ?ref=yourname.
- Pick the right words. Link the product name or a clear phrase such as "see the current price". Avoid vague anchors like "this".
- Insert it. In any editor, select the words, hit the link icon, paste the address.
- Tag it. Add rel="sponsored" so search engines treat it as a paid link. Opening in a new tab is optional.
- Disclose and test. Add a short note above the first link, publish, then click through yourself to check it lands on the right page.
No site yet? Start with the affiliate website build guide.
Build the tag with the link builder
The tool above writes the HTML for you, so you never forget the rel value. It helps most when you paste into a custom HTML block or a page builder field.
- Paste your affiliate URL.
- Type the link text, for example Gooseneck kettle.
- Tick sponsored, the one that matters most. Nofollow is optional extra cover. The new tab box suits comparison posts where people flip between your table and the store.
- Copy the result.
Here is the result for a kettle link:
<a href="https://shop.example.com/kettle?ref=quietgear" rel="sponsored noopener" target="_blank">Gooseneck kettle</a>
If you untick every rel option, the tool shows a warning, because a paid link with no rel value can be read as an attempt to pass ranking credit. It stores nothing you paste.
Adding links in WordPress
In the WordPress block editor, adding the link itself is quick:
- Highlight the words in a paragraph block.
- Press the link icon in the toolbar, or Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on a Mac).
- Paste the affiliate URL and press Enter.
- Click the link again to open its settings and switch on "Open in new tab" when that suits the page.
The core editor has no sponsored checkbox. For that, use the block's options menu (the three dots), choose Edit as HTML, and add rel="sponsored" inside the link tag. Or paste the tool's output into a Custom HTML block. Some SEO and link management plugins add a sponsored toggle to the link popup, which saves time on big sites.
Other platforms: hosted builders and plain HTML
On a hosted website builder, select text, choose link, paste the URL. Many builders hide rel options in an advanced or SEO panel for each link; if yours has none, use its HTML or embed element with the code from the tool.
On a hand-coded site, paste the full anchor tag into your HTML file where the link should go. Keep one style for all paid links so you can find them later with a quick search for "sponsored".
Whatever the platform, the same checks apply: correct ID, rel value, a note before the link, and a working click. Compare platforms in our roundup of builders for affiliate sites.
Where to put affiliate links so readers use them
Placement drives clicks more than colour or wording. Put links where the reader is making up their mind, and keep the page useful even for people who never click.
| Placement | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| In the sentence that names the product | Reviews and guides | Linking the same product ten times |
| Button under a product summary | Top picks and buying guides | Buttons that look like ads and get ignored |
| Comparison table | Readers ready to choose | Tables that break on phones |
| Quick picks box near the top | Skimmers who want the answer | Placing it before your disclosure |
| Resource page of tools you use | Returning readers | Listing things you have never used |
To promote affiliate links on a website without annoying readers, link only where it helps the decision. See how established sites do it in our affiliate website examples.
Affiliate link management: tools and simple systems
Ten links are easy. Five hundred links across a hundred posts are not. Programs change URLs, products go out of stock, and you need to update everything fast.
| Method | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| A spreadsheet | One row per link: product, program, post, date checked | New sites with few links |
| A link management plugin | Stores each link once and creates a short redirect on your domain | Sites with many repeated links |
| Hosted affiliate link management software | Tracks clicks and can route visitors by country | Sites with readers in many countries |
| Search and replace | Finds an old URL across all posts | One-off program changes |
Test every link before you publish
- Click each link in a private browser window. Does it land on the right product?
- Check the address bar or the program report to confirm your ID survived.
- View the page on a phone. Are buttons easy to tap?
- Confirm the disclosure sits above the first paid link.
- Run a broken link check every month and replace dead links.
For wording ideas for that disclosure line, see our disclosure examples page, and for why the rel tag matters to rankings, read about affiliate links and SEO.
Mistakes that cost commission
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Link copied without your ID | Always copy from the program dashboard |
| No rel value on paid links | Add rel="sponsored" with the tag builder |
| Links in posts with no disclosure | Add a note above the first link |
| Dead links after a product is retired | Monthly link check and a spreadsheet log |
| Every second word is a link | Link each product once or twice per section |
| Links hidden behind redirects a program bans | Use the program's own link format |
Questions people ask
How do I put affiliate links on my website if I am not technical?
Use your editor's link button: highlight words, paste the link, save. Then add the rel value with the tag builder or your editor's HTML view. No coding knowledge is needed.
Do affiliate links need rel sponsored?
Search engines ask for paid links to be marked with rel="sponsored", and they accept nofollow too. Marked links do not hurt your site; paid links left unmarked risk being seen as link schemes.
Should affiliate links open in a new tab?
It is your choice. A new tab keeps your page open for readers comparing products, but some readers find it annoying. Either way, add noopener when using a new tab.
What is the best affiliate link management tool?
For a small site, a spreadsheet works. Larger sites use a link management plugin or hosted service to update links in one place and track clicks. Check each program allows redirects first.
How many affiliate links should a post have?
As many as help the reader decide, usually one or two per product. A page stuffed with links looks spammy and tends to convert worse.
Can I add affiliate links to old posts?
Yes, and it is often the quickest win. Add links where products are already mentioned, then add a disclosure above the first one.