Also known as:Affiliate Link, Referral Link, IB Link, Partner Link
What is Tracking Link?
A tracking link is a unique URL assigned to a partner that carries identifying parameters — most importantly an affiliate or IB ID — so a broker's system can record the clicks, registrations, and deposits that URL produces. It is how a broker knows a new client came from you.
Mechanically, the link points to the broker's site but appends query parameters the broker's CRM reads and stores. Instead of sending a prospect to `www.broker.com`, you send them to `www.broker.com/?ref=12345`. When they register, `ref=12345` writes your partner ID onto their account, permanently binding that trader to your profile so every qualifying commission — CPA, RevShare, or a hybrid — routes to you.
Key takeaways
No tracking link, no attribution, no commission — it underpins the whole industry.
The ?ref= (or similar) parameter permanently binds a new client to your profile.
Add sub-IDs to know which ad, post, or button actually converts.
A mistyped or truncated link silently breaks tracking and loses revenue.
Mark affiliate links rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" per Google's guidelines.
Without tracking links there is no attribution, and without attribution there are no commissions — this is the foundational technology of the entire IB and affiliate industry. The same mechanism supports refinements: a sub-ID parameter (`?ref=12345&subid=fb_ad_1`) lets you tag the exact ad, post, or button behind each click, so your dashboard shows which creative actually converts rather than a single undifferentiated total.
Because tracking links carry commercial intent, they interact with SEO and compliance rules. Search engines expect paid or affiliate links to be marked with `rel="sponsored"` or `rel="nofollow"`, and financial regulators expect the promotion the link sits inside to be fair, clear, and not misleading — a live obligation for any partner marketing leveraged products.
How it works
When you join a partner program the broker generates a link containing your unique ID. A prospect who clicks it usually gets a cookie or a server-side flag recording your ID, and the broker's platform holds that attribution for a defined window. If the prospect registers and funds an account inside that window, the CRM ties the new client to your partner profile and begins accruing commission under your agreed model.
Sub-IDs extend this without changing the core mechanism: extra parameters pass through to your reporting so you can slice performance by traffic source. Two failure modes matter. First, a mistyped or truncated link drops the parameters and the attribution silently fails — the client converts, but not to you. Second, attribution can be lost if the cookie is cleared, blocked, or expires before the deposit, which is why server-side postback tracking and shorter, cleaner links are worth using where the broker supports them.
1
Join the partner program
Register in the broker's partner cabinet and get approved so a unique affiliate/IB ID is issued to you.
2
Generate your tracking link
Create the link in your cabinet; it embeds your ID as a query parameter (e.g. ?ref=12345).
3
Add sub-IDs for channels
Append a sub-ID per source (?ref=12345&subid=fb_ad_1) so each ad, post, or button reports separately.
4
Place and test the link
Publish it with the correct rel attribute, then click it yourself to confirm the parameters resolve and the click registers.
5
Track and optimize
Watch which sub-IDs drive registrations and deposits, then shift effort toward the sources that convert.
Why it matters for partnership: The tracking link is the entire basis of getting paid: it is the only way a broker can attribute a client's deposit to your marketing, so without it no commission is ever earned. Sub-IDs on the link also tell you exactly which channel converts, letting you scale what works.
Real World Example
An affiliate promotes XM and, instead of linking to the homepage, publishes `xm.com/?ref=98765&subid=review_cta` inside a broker review. Two visitors register and deposit through it; the XM cabinet attributes both accounts to the affiliate and, because the sub-ID is `review_cta`, the affiliate sees those conversions came from the in-article button rather than the sidebar banner — and moves more emphasis to in-article CTAs.
Plain URL vs. tracking link
Aspect
Plain URL
Tracking link
Example
broker.com
broker.com/?ref=12345&subid=fb1
Attribution
None — client not tied to you
Client bound to your partner ID
Commission
Not earned
CPA / RevShare / hybrid credited
Channel insight
None
Per-source via sub-IDs
Pro Tip
Always append a sub-ID for each channel (?ref=12345&subid=telegram_pin) so your dashboard reveals which specific placement earns, instead of one blurred total you can't optimize.
Common Pitfalls
Copy-pasting a link and dropping characters at the end strips the tracking parameters, so conversions still happen but are never attributed to you — pure lost revenue that is easy to miss until payout day.
FAQ
Are tracking links safe for SEO?
Yes, as long as you tag them with rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" so search engines know the link is a paid or affiliate relationship, per Google's link-attribution guidelines.
How long does a tracking link keep attributing a client to me?
It depends on the broker's cookie or attribution window — anywhere from a session to many months. Many IB relationships are lifetime once the account is registered under your ID. Check the partner terms.
What is a sub-ID and should I use one?
A sub-ID is an extra parameter that tags the traffic source. Yes — it lets you see which ad, post, or button converts, so you can optimize rather than guess.
What happens if a user clears their cookies before depositing?
Cookie-based attribution can be lost, and the conversion may go unattributed. Server-side postback tracking, where the broker supports it, is more resilient than cookies alone.
Can I shorten or cloak my tracking link?
Usually yes, using tools like Bitly or Pretty Links, but confirm the broker permits it and that the redirect preserves all parameters, or the attribution will break.
Why did my conversion not get tracked?
Common causes are a truncated or mistyped link, blocked or cleared cookies, an expired attribution window, or the user registering on a different device. Test your link and prefer clean, short URLs.
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