How to Install an Affiliate Link Manager Plugin on a New Blog
Updated 2026-06-25 · Hosting Reviews
If you are starting a blog with the intention of making money, managing your outbound links is crucial. Long, ugly URLs look spammy and can hurt your click-through rates. Learning how to install affiliate link manager plugin new blog setups is a technical skill that saves you time and keeps your site organized. Before you can manage links, however, you need a solid foundation. You cannot run a profitable business on slow or unreliable infrastructure.
Setting the Stage: Hosting and WordPress Setup
Before you worry about plugins, you need a live website. For a Blog Website focused on monetization, speed and uptime are non-negotiable. You have two main choices: website builders or content management systems (CMS). While builders are easy, WordPress is the industry standard for affiliate marketing because of its flexibility.
To run WordPress, you need web hosting. For new blogs, shared hosting is usually sufficient. It typically costs between $3 and $15 per month for introductory plans. You might see claims of "unlimited" resources, but be realistic—if your traffic explodes, you will eventually need to upgrade to VPS or cloud hosting. However, to start, look for a provider that offers fast servers, a free SSL certificate for security, and a free domain name for the first year.
Hostinger is a solid choice here. It is beginner-friendly, cost-effective, and includes a one-click WordPress installation feature that gets you online in minutes. They handle the technical server management so you can focus on writing content and configuring your plugins.
Why You Should Install an Affiliate Link Manager Plugin on a New Blog
Why not just paste the raw link from Amazon or ShareASale into your posts? You can, but it is a bad habit to start. Affiliate links are often long, complex, and contain tracking IDs that look unprofessional to readers.
A link manager plugin "cloaks" these URLs. Instead of sending a user to yourblog.com/product-id=12345&ref=xyz, you send them to yourblog.com/recommends/hosting. This looks trustworthy. Furthermore, if an affiliate program changes its link structure or shuts down, a manager allows you to update the destination URL in one dashboard rather than editing every single blog post you have ever written.
Selecting the Right Plugin for Your Needs
There are several options available, but for a new blog, you want something lightweight and reliable. Two of the most popular choices in the WordPress repository are ThirstyAffiliates and Pretty Links.
- ThirstyAffiliates: Excellent for heavy users. It offers geolocating links (sending UK visitors to Amazon UK, for example) and detailed click reports.
- Pretty Links: Very user-friendly with a clean interface. It is great for beginners who want a simple way to shorten links and track basic clicks.
Both offer free versions that are perfectly adequate for a new site. You can upgrade to Pro versions later if you need advanced features like automatic link keyword replacement.
Step-by-Step Guide to Installation and Configuration
Once you have purchased your hosting and installed WordPress via your host's control panel, follow these steps to get your link manager running.
- Navigate to the Plugin Dashboard: Log in to your WordPress admin area. Hover over "Plugins" on the left sidebar and click "Add New."
- Search and Install: In the search bar, type your chosen plugin name (e.g., "ThirstyAffiliates"). Click "Install Now" on the plugin listing. Once the installation finishes, click the blue "Activate" button.
- Configure Your Settings: Look for the new plugin menu item in your sidebar. Go to the settings page. Here, you can set your link prefix. The default is usually
/go/or/recommend/. This is what will appear in your URL structure. Choose something short and relevant. - Create Your First Link: Click "Add New" or "New Link." Give it a title (this will be the slug, e.g., "best-hosting"). Paste your long affiliate URL into the "Destination URL" field. Save the link. You now have a clean, trackable URL to use in your posts.
Managing Your Links for Long-Term Success
Installing the software is just the first step. Organization is key. Use categories to group your links (e.g., "Hosting," "Software," "Books"). This makes it easy to find old links when you need to audit them.
Be honest with your audience. Just because you are cloaking a link doesn't mean you should hide the fact that it is an affiliate link. Most link managers include a disclosure option that automatically adds an FTC-compliant disclaimer at the top of posts containing your links. Utilize this feature to stay transparent and legal.
FAQ
Do I need coding skills to manage affiliate links?
No. That is the entire point of using a plugin on WordPress. The interface is visual and text-based, similar to writing a document. You simply paste the destination URL and name your link.
Are free affiliate link plugins safe to use?
Yes, provided you download them directly from the official WordPress Plugin Repository. Plugins like ThirstyAffiliates and Pretty Links are highly rated and frequently updated to ensure security and compatibility with the latest WordPress version.
Does web hosting speed affect affiliate link performance?
Indirectly, yes. If your hosting is slow, your page load times suffer. Readers get impatient and leave before they even click your links. Fast hosting, like Hostinger, ensures your site loads instantly, keeping readers engaged and more likely to click through to your affiliate offers.