Overview
HopLinks are referral tracking URLs that perform two important functions in the ClickBank Seller/Affiliate relationship.
For one, HopLinks direct a potential customer from an affiliate’s content to the seller's sales page where they can purchase products; and two, the HopLink tracks where sales come from, allowing affiliates to get paid commission on the sales they facilitate.
It is critical that ClickBank Affiliates to learn how to integrate HopLinks into your promotional content because, when a HopLink is clicked, that indicates to the ClickBank HOPTM referral tracking system that the potential customer accessed the seller's sales page via your content. If the potential customer makes a purchase within 60 days of accessing the seller's page, you will receive commission for that sale.
Below, find a broad overview of how HopLinks are created, used, tested, and tracked. For more information about a specific aspect of the process, there are links to additional articles located in each paragraph.
Creating a HopLink
There are three ways to create a HopLink: through the ClickBank MarketplaceTM, with the HopLink Shield, or manually. HopLinks are critical to tracking the sales that your promotional material has driven.
Related: How do I create a HopLink?
Testing a HopLink
Before you integrate HopLinks into your promotional material, it is important that you make sure they are properly functioning. Small oversights such as misspelled account nicknames can prevent your from receiving commission.
Related: How do I test a HopLink?
Using HopLinks
Once you have created and tested a HopLink, you can add it to your promotional material by linking it to an image or adding it in text. Sometimes, ClickBank Sellers will provide branding and marketing tools for ClickBank Affiliates via their Marketplace listing to use in their promotional materials via their affiliates tools page. However, these tools are not guaranteed or generated via ClickBank.
Related: How do I earn commission as a ClickBank Affiliate?
Tracking a HopLink
If you plan to promote products from more than one source, it is helpful to know which sources are driving traffic. To do this, you can add identifying information to your HopLinks using tracking IDs.