Question

What's the fastest way to update Amazon affiliate links after buying a website?

Answer 1

The fastest way to update Amazon affiliate links after buying a website is to use a WordPress plugin like Better Search Replace, ThirstyAffiliates, or Pretty Links to bulk-replace old affiliate IDs with your new ones across the site. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Backup the Website: Before making changes, back up the site to avoid data loss. Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy.
2. Install a Plugin:
   • Better Search Replace: Ideal for simple find-and-replace tasks. Search for the old affiliate ID (e.g., ?tag=oldID-20) and replace it with your new ID (e.g., ?tag=newID-20) across all posts and pages.
   • ThirstyAffiliates or Pretty Links: These manage and update links centrally. Import existing links, update the affiliate ID, and the plugin handles the rest.
   • Add & Replace Affiliate Links for Amazon: Specifically designed for Amazon links, this plugin can automatically find and replace shortened links (e.g., amzn.to) with long-form links containing your ID.
3. Database-Level Replacement (Advanced): If comfortable with databases, use phpMyAdmin to run an SQL query to replace affiliate IDs in the database.
     
   Example query: 
   UPDATE wp_posts SET post_content = REPLACE(post_content, '?tag=oldID-20', '?tag=newID-20');
   Ensure you back up the database first.
4. Automate with Amazon’s API: For large sites, use Amazon’s Product Advertising API to generate new links based on ASINs. Tools like Geniuslink can automate this by identifying ASINs and rebuilding links with your ID. This is more complex but efficient for scaling.
5. Verify Changes: Use the Amazon Link Checker tool in your Amazon Associates account to confirm links have your new tracking ID. Check high-traffic pages manually to ensure accuracy.

Notes:

• Amazon no longer allows simple tag replacements in some cases, so ensure links are fully updated with your Associate ID.
• Prioritize high-traffic pages if manual edits are needed.
• Avoid cloaking links unless using Amazon-approved tools like SiteStripe or Geniuslink, as this violates Amazon’s rules.

For a site with 1,000+ links, plugins or API-based tools are the fastest, saving hours compared to manual updates. If outsourcing, hire a virtual assistant to use these tools, but plugins are generally quicker and more cost-effective.