# How to Manage Affiliate Links in WordPress

You manage affiliate links in WordPress from **Link Manager Pro → Affiliates** and **Links** in one dashboard. You register each partner with a **name**, **website URL**, and **domain**; the domain drives **auto-linking** when that merchant appears in post content. You set **default `rel` attributes** (for example **nofollow** and **sponsored**) per partner, organize links with **categories** and **tags**, and review **per-affiliate click analytics** in **Analytics**. You enable **disclosure** so posts that contain affiliate or sponsored links can show an FTC-style notice automatically. You filter and bulk-manage links by partner when your catalog grows.

## The problem

Affiliate programs scatter tracking IDs across posts, make attribute discipline hard, and hide which partner actually earns clicks. Without a system, you chase broken hops manually and you risk inconsistent **`rel`** values.

## The solution

Link Manager Pro centralizes partners, inherits their defaults on new links, auto-wraps raw merchant URLs where you allow it, and surfaces performance per affiliate.

### Affiliates: what you store

- **Partner profile** — Name, public site URL, and the **domain** Link Manager Pro matches for auto-linking.
- **Default link attributes** — Typical affiliate policy: **nofollow**, **sponsored**, sometimes **noopener** for new-tab flows.
- **Auto-linking** — When enabled, occurrences of the partner domain in content convert to masked links that carry the right attributes.

### Organization and compliance

- **Categories and tags** — You group links the same way you organize other content types.
- **Analytics** — You compare partners side by side instead of exporting spreadsheets.
- **Disclosure** — You automate a clear notice on posts that include affiliate or sponsored hops (configure text and placement in **Settings**).

*The Affiliates screen keeps every partner domain and default policy in one place.*

## Step-by-step

1. Go to **Link Manager Pro → Affiliates → Add New**.
2. Enter **partner name**, **website URL**, and **domain**.
3. Set **default link attributes** for this affiliate (for example **nofollow** + **sponsored**).
4. **Enable auto-linking** if you want the plugin to rewrite matching merchant URLs in content.
5. **Create links** tied to this affiliate—they **inherit** the partner defaults until you override them.
6. Open **Analytics** to review **per-affiliate** click trends and spot weak performers early.

*Domain-level defaults flow into every new managed hop unless you change them on the link.*

### Bulk management

Use list filters by affiliate when you rotate a seasonal coupon, pause a program, or audit attributes before a compliance review. You update the partner profile once, then edit only the exceptions.

## Auto-linking: what you gain

**Auto-linking** watches post content for the partner **domain** you registered. When a raw merchant URL appears, Link Manager Pro rewrites it to your masked slug and injects the **`rel`** string you chose for that partner. You spend less time swapping URLs inside old posts when a network changes tracking formats—you update the managed link record and the front end follows. You still control where auto-linking runs: disable it on landing pages that must show bare URLs, or pair it with disclosure so monetized posts stay compliant.

## Analytics and housekeeping

**Per-affiliate analytics** answer which partners earn clicks—not just which single link you pinned in a hero. Export or screenshot baselines before you negotiate rates, then compare after you refresh creatives or disclosure placement. **Categories and tags** help editors find “summer tools” or “hosting stack” bundles without memorizing slugs. When a program ends, filter by affiliate, bulk-update destinations or pause links, and run a quick front-end spot check so no orphaned mentions still point at expired offers.

## Disclosure and attributes together

Set **nofollow** and **sponsored** defaults on the affiliate profile so auto-linked HTML matches your SEO policy. Turn on **disclosure** in **Settings** when you want an FTC-style banner on posts that actually include affiliate hops—read the dedicated disclosure guide for wording and placement tips. The combination—correct **`rel`**, masked URLs, and visible disclosure—keeps reader trust and search quality signals aligned.

## Related

- [Affiliates](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/user-guide/affiliates)
- [Auto-linking](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/auto-linking)
- [Disclosure](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/disclosure)