An Amazon tracking ID is a unique alphanumeric string attached to your affiliate links that tells Amazon exactly which piece of content, traffic source, or promotional campaign generated a click or sale. Without them, you only see aggregate earnings across your entire account. By creating distinct identifiers for different channels, you gain granular data on what converts and what wastes your time.
Amazon permits up to 100 tracking IDs under a single account. This means you can isolate performance between a newsletter, a YouTube channel, and separate niche websites without managing multiple logins or payment profiles.
Understanding Tracking IDs vs. Store IDs
Many beginners confuse the Store ID with a tracking ID. Your Store ID represents your overarching account, assigned when you first register with the Amazon Associates Program. It typically ends with a regional suffix like -20 for the United States, -21 for the United Kingdom, or -28 for Canada.
A tracking ID builds directly on top of that Store ID. For example, if your store ID is mykitchen-20, your tracking IDs might look like mykitchen-20-20 or custom variations like mykitchen-blog-20 or mykitchen-newsletter-20.
- Store ID: Your account's master identifier. It handles tax information, direct deposits, and overall compliance.
- Tracking ID: The specific tag appended to URLs via the
tag=parameter to segment traffic sources.
If you don't explicitly create and assign a separate tracking ID, Amazon defaults to using your primary Store ID for all outbound links. While functional, this leaves you blind to performance metrics across individual campaigns.
How to Create a New Tracking ID
Generating a new tracking ID takes less than two minutes through the Amazon Associates Central portal. Follow these exact steps to set one up:
- Log in to your Amazon Associates account using your primary credentials.
- Navigate to the top navigation bar, hover over your email address or account name, and select Account Settings.
- Look for the section titled Manage Your Tracking IDs and click it.
- Click the yellow Add Tracking ID button.
- Enter your preferred name in the text box. Choose something descriptive, such as
winter-promo-20orinstagram-bio-20. - Click Create, and your new ID goes live immediately.
Once generated, you can select this new ID directly from the SiteStripe toolbar at the top of any Amazon page when building custom text or image links.
Strategic Ways to Use Multiple Tracking IDs
Splitting your traffic streams into dedicated identifiers changes how you optimize an affiliate site. Instead of guessing which promotion drove a spike in commissions, you isolate the exact variable.
Platform Segmentation
Assign a unique tracking ID to every distinct platform where you drop links. If you promote tech gear across a blog, a Twitter profile, and a YouTube channel, use three separate tags. You might use techsite-blog-20, techsite-twitter-20, and techsite-tube-20.
Content Format Tracking
Within a single website, different content formats convert at wildly different rates. Deep-dive product reviews often yield higher buyer intent than broad holiday gift guides. Setting up specific tracking IDs for categories like /reviews/ versus /roundups/ helps you spot which content style justifies the writing effort.
Email and Paid Traffic Campaigns
Email marketing has distinct conversion curves compared to organic search traffic. By appending a dedicated tracking ID to every link inside your weekly newsletter broadcasts, you measure subscriber value directly against SEO traffic earnings.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Managing dozens of tags introduces room for human error. Keep these operational pitfalls in mind to protect your revenue:
- Deleting Active Tracking IDs: If you delete a tracking ID from your dashboard, any legacy links using that tag stop attributing sales properly. Amazon won't credit commissions to a deleted identifier. Always update or redirect live links before removing an old ID.
- Ignoring Regional Localization: Tracking IDs do not cross international boundaries automatically. A US tracking ID (
-20) will not track earnings correctly if a US visitor clicks through to the UK storefront (.co.uk) via international redirection tools. You must set up corresponding tags within each regional Amazon Associates storefront. - Overcomplicating Naming Conventions: Keep your tag names logical and consistent. Cryptic strings like
xyz-99-tempmake reporting sheets difficult to audit six months down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my tracking ID name after creating it?
No, Amazon doesn't allow you to rename an existing tracking ID once it's created. If you want a different name, you must create a new tracking ID from your account settings and update your links accordingly.
What happens if I exceed the 100 tracking ID limit?
The standard cap is 100 tracking IDs per account. If you run a large media network or agency managing hundreds of client sites, you can contact Amazon Associates support to request an extension, though approvals depend on your overall traffic volume and compliance history.
Do tracking IDs affect how much commission I earn?
No, tracking IDs are purely analytical tools for your benefit. They do not increase or decrease your commission rates, nor do they change the price the customer pays on Amazon.
How do I view earnings broken down by tracking ID?
Log in to your Amazon Associates dashboard, navigate to the Reports tab, and look for the tracking ID filter or summary widget. This view lets you sort earnings, clicks, and conversion rates by each individual tag.
