How to shorten URLs and track affiliate links in WordPress

13. 12. 2025 / Admin

How to shorten URLs and track affiliate links in WordPress

When you own a website or blog, it can be helpful to have the ability to shorten URLs and track affiliate links. And this is what a plugin for WordPress called Pretty Links allows you to do. This article will give you an overview of how the plugin works and what its benefits are.

What the Pretty Links plugin can do

Pretty Links is a plugin‍ for WordPress that allows you to shorten and create custom URLs. Simply put, you can convert long and complicated links into short and easy-to-remember URLs. Moreover, the plugin also allows you to track clicks on these links and get information about their performance. This means that you can monitor how many people visited your site through affiliate links and how many of them made a purchase.

With Pretty Links you can also create custom links with your own domain, giving you more control over your links and allowing you to create a more professional and trustworthy impression on your visitors.

Why use Pretty Links

There are several reasons why you should consider using the Pretty Links plugin on your site:

More clarity

With shortened and easy-to-remember URLs, it can be easier for your visitors to access relevant pages on your site or affiliate products. You can also create custom links that are easy to remember and reflect the content of the page they link to.

Performance monitoring

Tracking clicks on links is key to optimizing your content and gaining more information about your visitors’ behavior. With the Pretty Links plugin, you can see which links are clicked most often ‍and which pages bring in the most visitors. This can help you adjust your strategies and increase the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.

A more professional look

Using custom links with your own domain can give your website or blog a more professional look. Instead of long and generic links, you can create short links that better match the content of the page and create a more trustworthy‍impression with your visitors.

Install the plugin directly in the administration

Installing the Pretty Links plugin is quick and easy, just follow the steps below:

Log in to the WordPress administration.
Go to the “Plugins” section and click on “Add New”.
Select “Upload plugin” and upload the downloaded plugin file (pretty-links.zip).
Click‍”Install” button and activate the plugin after the installation is complete.
The plugin will now be available in your WordPress administration. Configure the plugin according to your needs and you can start creating and following shortened links.

Conclusion: using the Pretty Links plugin in WordPress will allow you to shorten URLs and track affiliate links. Not only does this make it easier to access your content and affiliate products, but it also gives you useful information about the performance of your links. Using the Pretty Links plugin is quick and easy, and‍ if you’re looking for similar options, you might also consider the ThirstyAffiliates, Easy Affiliate Links or WP Shortlink plugins. Remember that using shortened and custom links can give your site a more professional look and improve its effectiveness.

User review of the “Pretty Links” plugin

Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)

Pluses of Pretty Links plugin

1. URL shortening and personalization
One of the main advantages of Pretty Links is the ability to shorten long and unsightly URLs into shorter and more memorable versions. This is especially useful for sharing links on social media or in emails, where shorter links look more credible and professional.

2. Easy to manage and clear interface
The plugin is very intuitive and offers a clear user interface right in the WordPress administration. Users can easily create, edit and manage their links from one place without the need for complicated setup.

3. Automatic keyword replacement links
One of the more advanced features is the ability to automatically replace selected keywords with links. This means that when you type a certain word or phrase into an article, Pretty Links will automatically convert it into a clickable link, saving you time and improving your site’s internal linking.

4. Detailed statistics and click tracking
The plugin allows you to track the performance of individual links, including the number of clicks, traffic source, and other statistics. This is especially useful for affiliate marketing or campaigns where tracking link effectiveness is important.

5. 301, 302 and 307 redirect option
Pretty Links allows for different types of redirects, including permanent (301) and temporary (302, 307). This gives users the flexibility to manage links and optimize SEO without losing search engine rankings.

6. Suitable for affiliate marketing
The plugin is a great tool for affiliate marketers who want to hide long affiliate links and make them more friendly and professional URLs. This way, they can increase credibility and improve conversion rate.

7. Ability to categorize and filter links
Pretty Links allows you to group links into categories and filter them easily. This will be especially appreciated by users with a large number of links who want to keep them organized.

8. Good compatibility with WordPress templates and plugins
The plugin is compatible with most WordPress templates and other plugins, which means that using it will not cause conflicts with other features of the site. This ensures it runs smoothly without the need for complicated debugging.

Cons of Pretty Links plugin

1. Limited features in the free version
While the free version of the plugin allows basic link shortening, some advanced features like automatic keyword exchange, advanced statistics and bulk editing are only available in the paid version. This can be limiting for users who need more features but don’t want to invest in a premium plan.

2. Can affect site performance
If you have a large number of shortened links or are tracking their stats in real-time, it can slow down site performance slightly. It is important to optimize your database and clean unnecessary links regularly to avoid slowdown.

3. The paid version is quite expensive
The price of the premium version can be high for some users, especially if they only need the plugin for basic purposes. There are other alternatives that offer similar features at a lower price or even for free.

4. Statistical data may be inaccurate
Although the plugin offers detailed click tracking, its accuracy is not 100%. Some visits may not be recorded correctly, especially if visitors use ad blockers or VPN services, which can skew the actual results of campaigns.

5. No support for QR codes
Unlike some competing plugins, Pretty Links does not offer QR code generation for links, which could be useful for print materials or offline marketing, for example.

6. Possible conflicts with some security plugins
Some users have reported conflicts with security plugins that may prevent Pretty Links from working properly. It is therefore a good idea to test compatibility with other plugins you have installed on your site after installation.

7. Dependency on WordPress database
All links and statistics are stored directly in the WordPress database, which can lead to its gradual overwhelm. If you manage a large site with thousands of links, you may need to optimize the database regularly to prevent it from slowing down.

8. Inability to create dynamic links in the free version
Dynamic links, which for example could change the destination URL according to conditions (e.g. user’s country), are not available in the free version. This can be a disadvantage for users who want advanced link personalization options without having to pay for the premium version.

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