“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”
So many new affiliate marketers work hard… but stay stuck.
They:
• Post daily on TikTok
• Write email after email
• Tweak landing pages over and over
But they have no idea which actions are driving results and which are wasting time.
That’s like trying to drive cross-country with no map, no fuel gauge, and your eyes closed.
If traffic is the fuel of your business…
Tracking is the dashboard.
In this post Part 6 of my 10-part series we’ll fix that.
You’ll learn:
What tracking actually means (without tech overwhelm)
Why not tracking costs you time, money, and sales
How to set up simple systems to track your links, pages, and emails
What metrics matter (and which ones are just noise)
The one tool I use and recommend especially for beginners
What Does “Tracking” Really Mean in Affiliate Marketing?
Tracking means collecting data about your content, links, pages, and emails so you can see what’s working and improve what isn’t.
Here’s what that looks like:
| You Post This… | You Track… | To Find Out… |
| TikTok with a bio link | Who clicks the link? How many? | Which videos drive traffic |
| Solo ad to a lead magnet | How many clicks? How many leads? | Whether that solo ad was worth it |
| Blog post with 3 links | Which link got the most clicks? | Which part of the blog converts |
| Email sequence | Open rates? Click-through? | Which emails perform and which flop |
Without tracking, you’re guessing.
With tracking, you’re optimising.
The Problem with “Gut Feeling” Marketing
You post a reel.
You write a blog.
You send an email.
And then you say:
“Hmm… I think it’s working?”
The problem is: feelings don’t pay commissions.
You need facts:
• Which traffic source got the click?
• Which link got the lead?
• Which ad actually generated the sale?
When you start tracking, it changes everything.
The 5 Things Every Affiliate Should Track (at a Minimum)
1.Clicks on Every Link – You want to know how many people click each blog link, TikTok bio, email button, etc.
2.Opt-In Conversions – How many of those clicks turned into leads (email subscribers)?
3.Sales Conversions – How many subscribers clicked and bought something?
4.Traffic Source Performance – Is TikTok sending more traffic than your blog? Are solo ads worth it?
5.Email Engagement – What’s your open rate? What’s your click-through rate? Where are people dropping off?
Once you can answer those questions, you’ll stop wasting energy and start doubling down on what works.
The Tool I Recommend: Click Magick
There are dozens of tracking tools, but most are too complex or too limited for affiliate marketers.
The one I use (and recommend to beginners and pros alike) is: Click Magick – Track. Test. Scale.
What it is:
A powerful tracking and optimisation tool designed specifically for affiliates.
Why It’s a Game Changer:
• Track every click, lead, and sale
• Know where each visitor came from
• Add tracking pixels to affiliate links
• Test multiple offers or pages (split testing)
• Rotate links across different sources
• Monitor your opt-in rate in real-time
Here’s an example:
Let’s say you post a TikTok with a link in your bio.
You use a Click Magick link in your bio.
Now you can see:
• How many clicks came from that one video
• How many converted to leads
• Which device they used
• Even their IP or location (optional)
Click Magick helps you see which videos, posts, or ads bring the best results so you can stop wasting time and scale the ones that work.
Yes, I have an affiliate link for Click Magick. If you’re serious about building a business, this is one tool worth investing in.
Example: What Click Magick Can Tell You About Your Own Business
| Traffic Source | Clicks | Leads | Conversion Rate |
| TikTok Video 1 | 189 | 32 | 16.9% |
| Facebook Lead Ad | 74 | 29 | 39.1% |
| Solo Ad | 222 | 35 | 15.7% |
This isn’t magic. It’s just measurement.
You now know to invest more in Facebook lead ads, tweak the TikTok CTA, and try a new solo ad vendor.
What NOT to Track (or Obsess Over)
Vanity Metrics:
• Views, likes, follows; these can feel good but they don’t always lead to clicks or sales.
Comments and DMs:
• Valuable for engagement, but not trackable in conversion terms (unless you use links or CTA replies).
Instead:
Focus on clicks, opt-ins, and revenue.
That’s the real data that grows your business.
Pro Tips for Getting Started with Tracking
Start small: Just track your TikTok link or blog links at first
Name your links clearly (e.g. “tiktok_day42_freechecklist”)
Track every source separately, don’t use one catch-all link for everything
Check your stats weekly and tweak based on data
Use split tests: Test two versions of your lead magnet, landing page, or CTA
What Else You Might Want to Explore (Optional Tools)
Once you’re comfortable with Click Magick, here are some supporting tools you can explore:
| Tool | Purpose |
| Google Analytics | Deeper blog and site traffic data |
| Systeme.io or Kit | Track open/click rates inside email automations |
| Airtable or Notion | Track lead magnet performance manually |
| Hotjar | Visual heatmaps of how visitors interact with your site |
But don’t get distracted. Click Magick is enough to get you results.
Traffic Is One of the Four Pillars in The Iceberg Effect
In The Iceberg Effect, Dean Holland breaks down why most new marketers only focus on what they can see the “tip” of the iceberg.
But the real business the part that creates lasting income lies below the surface.
And tracking your traffic is part of that foundation.
If you haven’t read the book yet, you’re missing out on the clearest explanation of how affiliate marketing actually works.
Grab your free copy here (just cover shipping)
Final Thoughts: Numbers Don’t Lie
You don’t need more guesses.
You don’t need more random actions.
You need clarity.
Tracking gives you power:
• Power to know what works
• Power to drop what doesn’t
• Power to grow faster, smarter, and with confidence
Start now. Even if it’s just one link.
What To Do Next
✔️ Bookmark this post
✔️ Subscribe to my newsletter more tools and guidance are coming
✔️ Read earlier posts in this series they’re all connected
✔️ Set up your first Click Magick link and track your traffic starting today
✔️ Share this with a friend this is one of the most important steps in building an online business
✔️ Grab The Iceberg Effect it’s the playbook I wish I had at the start
➡️ Coming Soon: Part 7 – Funnel Builders – Automate Your Business
Let’s build something that works while you sleep.
Progress over perfection. Always.
Atif
P.S. Know someone starting online? Share this blog with them, they’ll thank you later.