Linking Guide
Creating links is one of the most important aspects of the program. This guide provides detailed instructions on how to quickly and easily create properly encoded tracking links.
How To
Create Links
Quickly and easily create properly encoded tracking links with the Apple Services Toolbox.
If necessary, links can also be created by carefully following the instructions below.
The Apple Services Toolbox is the easiest way to create links quickly and without manual errors.
Step 1: Make sure to apply before attempting to create your account. You will not have an affiliate token until you are approved into the program.
Step 2: Each toolbox provides different creative options depending on the line of business. Be sure to explore them all!
Step 3: You can choose to link to the top of the subscription flow for each product, or direct users to a specific piece of content.
Step 4: Avoid manual keying errors by always copying and pasting your affiliate token. If the token is incorrect, you will not receive commissions for those links.
In some cases, creating links manually may be required. The Apple Services Toolbox can be used in most cases (unless the content is not available at that time). Carefully follow the examples below exactly to ensure proper attribution. Please note, the at= and ct= parameters should always be lower case.
Apple Podcasts and Apple Books links require use of the Apple Services Toolbox.
Apple Music
(iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android, Windows)
Raw Link — https://music.apple.com/subscribe
App Parameter — app=music
Affiliate Token (AT) — XXXXXX
Campaign Name (CT) — YYYYYY
LS Parameter — ls=1
Final Link —https://music.apple.com/subscribe?app=music&at=XXXXXX&ct=YYYYYY&ls=1
Apple TV+
(iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android, Windows)
Raw Link —https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.4000
Affiliate Token (AT) — XXXXXX
Campaign Name (CT) — YYYYYY
Final Link — https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.4000?at=XXXXXX&ct=YYYYYY
Apple Podcasts
(iOS, iPadOS, macOS)
To create links for Apple Podcasts shows or episodes, visit the Apple Podcasts Toolbox .
Apple Books
(iOS, iPadOS, macOS)
To create links for Apple Books, visit the Apple Books Toolbox .
Links should only have one question mark (?). Links with two question marks will not track properly.
The CT parameter is limited to 40 characters and cannot include: ?, !, and &. These characters will break the tracking.
Learn About
The CT Parameter
The CT parameter (campaign name) is an optional
description that can be added to any link in order to
segment links and further break out marketing
campaigns based on placement, creative variation, etc.
The link below is being used in a newsletter and has a corresponding CT parameter value. View campaign performance in Partnerize Analytics in the Create tab.
Example:
https://music.apple.com/subscribe?app=music&at=XXXXXX&ct=newsletter&ls=1
Learn About
Global Links
Some content may not be available in all countries. The geo parameter ensures that content links will work in all countries and regions where that content is available.
Please note, all content links created with the Apple Music Toolbox automatically include the geo parameter. Also, if you are creating links manually, the geo parameter will only work with Apple Music links.
Example: https://geo.music.apple.com/us/album/chromatica/1500951604?app=music&at=XXXXXX&ct=YYYYYY&ls=1
Learn About
Advanced Linking
See below for additional ways to create links to the various types of content.
MusicKit
MusicKit lets users play Apple Music and their local music library from your app or website. When users provide permission to access their Apple Music account, they can use your app or website to create playlists, add songs to their library, and play any of the millions of songs in the Apple Music catalog. If your app detects that the user is not yet an Apple Music member, you can offer a trial from within your app.
Apple Music API
Use the Apple Music API to retrieve information about albums, songs, artists, playlists, music videos, Apple Music stations, ratings, charts, recommendations, and the user’s most recently played content. With proper authorization from the user, you can also create or modify playlists and apply ratings to the user’s content. The API can be used with iOS apps, Android apps, and websites.
iTunes Search API
The Search API allows you to place search fields in your website to search for content. You can search for a variety of content; including books, movies, podcasts, music, music videos, audiobooks, and TV shows. You can also call an ID-based lookup request to create mappings between your content library and the digital catalog.
Apple TV & Apple Books
Private APIs are available for Apple TV and Apple Books. For additional information, please contact us.
Learn About
Linking to other platforms
In addition to Apple platforms like iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, partners can link to other platforms like Windows and Android, depending on the product.
Apple Music
Apple Music links also track in Android and Windows (in addition to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS). No additional parameters are needed.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ links also track in Android and Windows (in addition to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS). No additional parameters are needed.
Apple Podcasts & Apple Books
These products are only available on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
For additional information, visit our linking policies.
Make sure to test your links on all platforms to ensure proper tracking and attribution before setting them live.
What's Next
Reporting Guide
You can find your affiliate token in the upper right-hand corner of the Partnerize dashboard (called Partner Token there). It can also be found in your welcome email.
The CT (Campaign Name) parameter is limited to 40 characters and cannot include these characters: ?, !, and &. These characters will break the tracking.
Partners are unable to include any user- or device-level identifiers such as IDFA, Android ID, publisher tracking ID, clickID, or any other data that identifies a particular user or device.
To ensure your tracking link is working properly, click on your link(s) a few times. Then, check Partnerize to see if the clicks appear in Analytics. If you do not see clicks tracked, please check the tracking link(s) to ensure that all necessary parameters are included. If you did not create the tracking links with the Apple Services Toolbox, please consider doing so to ensure your links are properly configured.
Links for Apple Music require an additional parameter in order to track. The app=music parameter and affiliate token (at=) should be appended to all Apple Music links to ensure proper attribution.
Please note that the app= parameter is not required for Apple TV+, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Books links.
The Link Builder can be used when you have the exact content or playlist url you want to create an affiliate link. It can also be used if you have a URL for content that is not yet available in Apple Music.
The Subscribe Links builder is used to create a general Apple Music subscription link that takes a user directly to the top of the Apple Music sign-up flow.
Search engines, such as Google, require that partner links are explicitly differentiated from organic links. Add a rel=“nofollow” attribute in the HTML code of any partner link you put on your site, like the example below:
<a href="https://geo.music.apple.com/us/album/chromatica/1500951604?at=123456&ct=example&ls=1&app=music" rel="nofollow">Clickable text </a>