The Ultimate Guide to Short Amazon Affiliate Links in WordPress (2023)

Hey there, affiliate marketer! Are you tired of using those long, ugly Amazon product links in your WordPress posts? You know the ones I‘m talking about – they look something like this:

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFGFTBP?ref=exp_yourblog_dp_vv_d

Not only are these links an eyesore, but they can also be a major turn-off for your readers. Who wants to click on a complicated URL that looks like it might take them to a spammy site?

Luckily, there‘s a solution: short Amazon affiliate links. By condensing your links into a cleaner, more user-friendly format, you can:

Improve the user experience on your site
Increase click-through rates and conversions
Make your links more shareable on social media
Strengthen your brand with custom URLs

In fact, studies have shown that shortened links can increase click-through rates by up to 39% compared to long, complex URLs.

So, are you ready to start using concise, powerful Amazon affiliate links in your WordPress site? Let‘s dive in!

Method 1: Amazon‘s Built-In amzn.to Shortlinks

The easiest way to create short Amazon affiliate links is to use the built-in amzn.to domain. Here‘s a step-by-step guide:

Find the product you want to link to on Amazon.
Copy the ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number). It‘s the 10-character code in the product URL after /dp/. For example: B01MFGFTBP
Paste the ASIN after https://amzn.to/, then add your affiliate tag to the end of the URL using ?tag=yourtag.

Your final short Amazon affiliate link should look like this:
https://amzn.to/B01MFGFTBP?tag=yourtag

Boom! You now have a clean, concise link that‘s ready to use in your WordPress posts, pages, and widgets.

While this method is quick and easy, keep in mind that amzn.to links are still recognizable as Amazon URLs. If you want to fully brand your links with a custom domain, keep reading.

Method 2: Using WordPress Affiliate Link Plugins

If you want more control over your link appearance and tracking, a dedicated WordPress affiliate link plugin is the way to go. Here are three of the most popular options:

Plugin	Features	Pros	Cons
ThirstyAffiliates	Shortening, cloaking, categorizing, automatic linking	Comprehensive features, easy setup	Slight learning curve, may conflict with some themes
Pretty Links	Shortening, cloaking, redirection, tracking	Simple, beginner-friendly interface	Fewer features than some other plugins
AAWP	Shortening, Amazon product info integration, comparison tables	Robust toolkit for Amazon affiliates	Can be overwhelming for beginners, requires Azon API key

Most affiliate link plugins work in a similar way:

Install and activate the plugin on your WordPress site
Navigate to the plugin settings and connect your Amazon Associates account
Paste your long Amazon product URL into the link shortener tool
Customize the URL slug and add your affiliate tag
Insert the shortened link into your WordPress content

Using a plugin, your short Amazon affiliate links could look like this:
https://yoursite.com/recommends/your-product

This format is more user-friendly, on-brand, and optimized for social sharing.

Affiliate Link Plugin Pro Tip

To maximize your affiliate commissions, use your link plugin‘s auto-linking feature to automatically convert keywords into affiliate links across your site. For example, if you frequently mention a product like the "Instant Pot," the plugin will find all instances of that phrase and turn them into affiliate links.

According to affiliate marketing expert Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, using auto-linking helped increase her affiliate income from $1,035 to $9,997 per month in just 6 months.

Method 3: Manual Short Links via htaccess (Advanced)

For tech-savvy WordPress users, you can create short Amazon affiliate links by editing your site‘s .htaccess file. Here‘s how:

Access your WordPress site‘s files via FTP or cPanel File Manager
Find the .htaccess file in your site‘s root directory
Download a backup copy of .htaccess to your computer (safety first!)
Open the .htaccess file in a text editor
Paste the following code at the bottom of the file:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^recommends/instant-pot$ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FLYWNYQ?tag=yourtag [R=301,L,NC]

Replace instant-pot with your desired link slug, B00FLYWNYQ with your product ASIN, and yourtag with your Amazon affiliate tag.

Save the changes and re-upload the .htaccess file to your server
Test your new short link to make sure it redirects properly

With this method, you can create custom branded Amazon links like:
https://yoursite.com/recommends/instant-pot

Keep in mind that editing .htaccess directly can break your site if done incorrectly. If you‘re not comfortable with code, it‘s best to stick with one of the plugin options above.

Tips for Optimizing Your Amazon Affiliate Links

Now that you know how to create short Amazon links, let‘s talk about some best practices for using them effectively in your affiliate marketing strategy:

Always disclose your affiliate relationship. To stay compliant with Amazon‘s terms and the FTC, include a clear affiliate disclosure statement near your links, like: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
Choose relevant, high-quality products. Only link to Amazon products that fit naturally with your content and provide value to your readers. Promoting everything under the sun will quickly erode trust.
Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text. When linking to Amazon, use anchor text that describes the product and includes relevant keywords. For example: "Check out this top-rated air fryer for quick and healthy meals!"
Create compelling calls-to-action. Encourage clicks by placing persuasive CTAs near your affiliate links, like "Get yours now" or "See the latest price."
Track your link performance. Use your affiliate plugin‘s built-in tracking or connect a tool like Google Analytics to monitor clicks and identify top-performing products.

Affiliate Linking Pro Tip

Legendary affiliate marketer Pat Flynn recommends placing your affiliate links strategically for maximum impact: "Focus on the areas that get a lot of views. I‘ve found placing affiliate links at the top of my sidebar converts really well."

Frequently Asked Questions

Before we wrap up, let‘s quickly address some common questions about short Amazon affiliate links:

Can I use link shorteners like bit.ly for my Amazon links?

No, using third-party link shorteners like bit.ly is against Amazon‘s terms of service. Stick to the amzn.to shortener or your own custom links.

How many affiliate links can I include per page?

Amazon doesn‘t have a hard limit, but stuffing your content with tons of links is a bad idea. Aim for just a few highly-relevant links per post for the best user experience.

Will using short affiliate links hurt my SEO?

No, shortening your Amazon links won‘t negatively impact your WordPress site‘s SEO. However, make sure to mark your affiliate links with the rel="nofollow" or rel="sponsored" attribute to avoid any search engine penalties.

What if Amazon changes my affiliate ID?

If your Amazon Associate ID changes, you‘ll need to update your shortened affiliate links with the new tag. If you‘re using a link management plugin, this is usually a quick global find-and-replace. If you‘re using the .htaccess method, you‘ll need to edit the file directly.

Wrapping Up

Phew, that was a lot of info! Let‘s recap the key takeaways for creating effective short Amazon affiliate links in WordPress:

Use Amazon‘s built-in amzn.to shortener for quick and easy link creation
Install a WordPress affiliate link plugin for more control and link management
Manually create custom links via your .htaccess file (advanced users only)
Always disclose your affiliate relationship and use links responsibly
Optimize your links with strategic placement, persuasive CTAs, and performance tracking

By implementing these strategies, you can boost your click-through rates, increase affiliate commissions, and create a smoother experience for your valued readers.

To learn more about succeeding with affiliate marketing, check out these additional resources:

I hope this guide has equipped you with the tools and knowledge you need to start using short Amazon affiliate links like a pro. Now get out there and start monetizing your WordPress site!

If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment below. I‘m always happy to help my fellow affiliate marketers.

Happy linking!