There are two ways to create a HOPLINKTM (referred to as a “HopLink” from here on out in this article). One, you can create an encrypted HopLink via the ClickBank Marketplace, or through the HopLink Shield. An encrypted HopLink is a more secure link because it does not contain the name of the affiliate or vendor in the link text.
Or, you can create a readable HopLink that contains the name of the affiliate and vendor. Because this version of a HopLink is not encrypted, it requires no special tools to make.
Once you have created a HopLink, you can add additional tracking IDs or parameters to track traffic sources and pass on information to a ClickBank Vendor’s page.
This article is a composite article that contains the following sub-articles. Click the link that best suits your instructional needs:
How to Create an Encrypted HopLink from a Product Listing
How to Create an Encrypted HopLink Using HopLink Shield
How to Create a Readable HopLink
How to add Tracking IDs to a HopLink
How to Create an Encrypted HopLink from a Product Listing
Creating an encrypted HopLink from a product listing is the easiest way to create a HopLink. To do so, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Log in to your account.
Log in to your ClickBank account using your login credentials. If you have multiple linked accounts, or created an account after 10/29/19, access the sales account management page by clicking on the hyperlinked account nickname of the account you wish to work in.
Step 2: Click the Marketplace tab.
On the horizontal navigation bar at the top of the screen, click the Marketplace tab.
Step 3: Search for a product you’d like to promote.
In the ClickBank Affiliate Marketplace, you can search for products you would like to promote.
ClickTip: CLICK HERE to find out more about searching the ClickBank Marketplace.
Step 4: Click the Promote button.
Once you find a product that you would like to promote, click the Promote button. If the vendor is not screening potential affiliates, clicking the Promote button will prompt the display of the HopLink Generator.
Step 5: Add an additional tracking ID.
In the HopLink Generator, your account nickname will automatically be displayed. In the Tracking ID field, you can add an additional tracking ID to help you identify what promotional materials are working the best. Your tracking ID (TID) can contain up to 250 characters.
ClickTip: CLICK HERE to read more about adding a tracking ID to your encrypted HopLink.
Step 6: Click the Create HopLinks button.
Once you have added a tracking ID, click the Generate HopLinks button. Clicking this button will create a unique, encrypted HopLink.
Step 7: Copy the HopLink.
Copy this link to use in your promotional material.
Step 8: Save the HopLink.
Before navigating away from the HopLink Generator page, save the HopLink somewhere so you can access it later.
Step 9: Test the HopLink.
Before you add the HopLink to your promotional material, make sure to test it. CLICK HERE to learn more about testing a HopLink.
Step 10: Use the HopLink in your promotional material.
Once you have tested the HopLink, you can add it to your promotional material.
How to Create an Encrypted HopLink Using HopLink Shield
In addition to creating an encrypted HopLink from a Marketplace listing, you can also create one from the HopLinks Shield.
ClickTip: Before you create an encrypted HopLink from the HopLink Shield, you must know your account nickname as well as the account nickname of the ClickBank vendor whose product you would like to promote.
Step 1: Access the HopLink Shield page.
CLICK HERE to access the HopLink Shield page.
Step 2: Provide the required information.
Enter in your account nickname and the account nickname of the vendor whose product you wish to promote into the corresponding fields.
Step 3: Click the Encode button.
Once you have added the affiliate nicknames to the fields, click the Encode button. Clicking this button will create a unique encrypted HopLink to use in your promotional material.
Step 4: Copy the HopLink.
Copy this link to use in your promotional material.
Step 5: Save the HopLink.
Before navigating away from the HopLink Generator page, save the HopLink somewhere so you can access it later.
Step 6: Test the HopLink.
Before you add the HopLink to your promotional material, make sure to test it. CLICK HERE to learn more about testing a HopLink.
Step 7: Use the HopLink in your promotional material.
Once you have tested the HopLink, you can add it to your promotional material.
How to Create a Readable HopLink
If you prefer to create a non-encrypted HopLink, you can do that as well. However, non-encrypted HopLinks are not as secure as encrypted HopLinks. We recommend creating HopLinks through the Marketplace or by using the HopLink Shield.
To create a non-encrypted HopLink, follow these steps:
Step 1: Choose the HopLink format that you prefer.
There are three different formats for HopLinks to occur in. Select the one that you wish to use from the following examples:
https://hop.clickbank.net/?affiliate=AFFILIATE&vendor=VENDOR
http://hop.clickbank.net/?affiliate=AFFILIATE&vendor=VENDOR
http://AFFILIATE.VENDOR.hop.clickbank.net
Step 2: Replace AFFILIATE with your account nickname.
Step 3: Replace VENDOR with the account nickname of the vendor whose product you’re promoting.
Step 4: Add a tracking ID or additional parameters to the HopLink.
CLICK HERE to find out more about adding a tracking ID to a HopLink.
Step 5: Test the HopLink.
Before you add the HopLink to your promotional material, make sure to test it. CLICK HERE to learn more about testing a HopLink.
Step 6: Use the HopLink in your promotional material.
Once you have tested the HopLink, you can add it to your promotional material.
How to add Tracking IDs to a HopLink
A tracking ID is an alphanumerical string of characters that are added to a HopLink for the purpose of adding a determining element to the link. This makes it possible to keep track of where a link originates from if it is used to promote the same product via different promotional materials.
Tracking IDs can include numbers, lowercase letters, and underscores. However, you cannot start a tracking ID with an underscore. Additionally, you cannot include repeat underscores in your tracking ID.
Follow the instructions below to add a tracking ID to your HopLink.
Step 1: Choose the tracking ID format that works best for you.
There are two ways to include a tracking ID on your HopLink. Select the method you prefer from the following options:
http://AFFILIATE.VENDOR.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=ExampleTID
or
https://hop.clickbank.net/?affiliate=AFFILIATE&vendor=VENDOR&tid=ExampleTID
Step 2: Replace AFFILIATE with your account nickname.
In whatever example you choose, replace AFFILIATE with your account nickname.
Step 3: Replace VENDOR with the account nickname of the vendor whose product you’re promoting.
Then, replace the word VENDOR with the account nickname of the vendor whose product you have chosen to promote.
Step 4: Replace ExampleTID with a unique identifier.
In the example, replace the term ExampleTID with a unique identifier.
ClickTip: Use unique identifiers to indicate the location and type of promotional material the link will be used in. For example, use blog_feb_2019 to indicate that the link was used in a blog post in February of 2019.
Step 5: Test the HopLink.
Before you add the HopLink to your promotional material, make sure to test it. CLICK HERE to learn more about testing a HopLink.
Step 6: Use the HopLink in your promotional material.
Once you have tested the HopLink, you can add it to your promotional material.