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Are visits or referrals not being generated as expected in your affiliate program? If so, this guide will help you identify and resolve the most common causes of tracking issues in AffiliateWP.
Whether the issue is related to cookies, settings, integrations, or external conflicts, we’ll walk you through troubleshooting steps to ensure your affiliate program is functioning correctly.
Troubleshooting Visits
Visits are essential for tracking affiliates and generating referrals. The most common reason referrals aren’t being created is because a visit wasn’t successfully stored. You can confirm this by visiting AffiliateWP » Visits in your WordPress admin. For visits to be recorded, AffiliateWP’s tracking cookies must be added to the visitor’s browser. Follow these steps to troubleshoot visit-related issues:
First, ensure you are running the latest version of the AffiliateWP plugin. Check that the affiliate’s account status is set to Active in AffiliateWP » Affiliates. Affiliates must use valid referral URLs with the correct referral variable and an active affiliate ID or username. Review this guide for acceptable formats: Affiliate URLs.
Next, inspect your browser cookies to verify the presence of AffiliateWP cookies (affwp_ref, affwp_ref_visit_id). If cookies aren’t visible, visits won’t be recorded. This guide explains how to view and delete cookies: How to Manage AffiliateWP Cookies.
Caching or script optimization can block cookies from being set. Check your caching plugins, CDN services (e.g., Cloudflare), or server-side caching settings. Refer to this guide for specific caching solutions: How AffiliateWP Works with Caching.
JavaScript errors can also prevent tracking scripts from working. Open your browser’s console to identify errors, particularly those linked to .js files. JavaScript errors are often caused by conflicts with plugins or themes. Temporarily disable all plugins except AffiliateWP and test visits again. Gradually reactivate plugins in small groups to identify the source of the conflict.
If JavaScript errors persist, enable the Fallback Referral Tracking Method in AffiliateWP » Settings » Advanced. While fallback tracking bypasses JavaScript, fixing the underlying error is strongly recommended as it may affect other plugins.
Troubleshooting Referrals
If visits are being tracked but referrals aren’t being created, the issue is likely with your integration or settings. Referrals can be viewed in AffiliateWP » Referrals. Use the following steps to diagnose the problem:
Start by verifying that your chosen integration is installed, activated, and up-to-date. Ensure the integration is enabled in AffiliateWP » Settings » Integrations. Remember, referrals cannot be generated if you’re logged in as the affiliate or using the affiliate’s email during testing. By default, AffiliateWP prevents affiliates from generating referrals for their own purchases unless the Allow Own Referrals addon is enabled.
Check if the Ignore Referrals with Zero Amounts option is enabled in AffiliateWP » Settings » Commissions. If you’re attempting to generate $0.00 referrals (e.g., for lead generation), this setting may block those entries. Similarly, ensure the Allowed Products addon is configured correctly if you’re using it; failure to specify products will result in $0.00 referrals, which may be ignored if the zero-amount setting is active.
To further troubleshoot, enable Debug Mode in AffiliateWP » Settings » Advanced. This activates a Debug Assistant tab in AffiliateWP » Tools, where you can review logs for errors. Advanced users can also enable debug mode globally by defining AFFILIATE_WP_DEBUG as true in the wp-config.php file. Test referrals again and review the debug log for insights.
External Issues
If neither visits nor referrals are working, the issue may be caused by external conflicts such as plugin or theme incompatibilities. If possible, conduct testing on a staging site.
Begin by deactivating all plugins except AffiliateWP and test whether visits and referrals are functioning. If everything works, gradually reactivate your plugins in small groups to pinpoint any conflicting ones. Once identified, contact the plugin developer for assistance.
If plugins aren’t the issue, temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Two). If this resolves the problem, the issue likely lies with your current theme. Reach out to the theme developer for support.
Ensure your staging or live site is backed up before making significant changes, especially on a live site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are visits not being tracked in AffiliateWP?
Visits are not tracked if the AffiliateWP cookies (affwp_ref or affwp_ref_visit_id) are not successfully set in the visitor’s browser. Common causes include caching issues, JavaScript errors, or ad blockers. Ensure cookies are enabled in the browser, check for conflicts with caching plugins or CDNs, and inspect for JavaScript errors in the console.
How can I check if AffiliateWP cookies are working?
Use your browser’s developer tools to check for the presence of cookies when visiting a referral link. Refer to this guide for detailed steps: How to View and Delete AffiliateWP Cookies.
Why are referrals not being created even though visits are tracked?
This may be due to:
- An inactive or misconfigured integration.
- Testing while logged in as the affiliate, which AffiliateWP blocks by default.
- Zero-amount referrals being ignored if the Ignore Referrals with Zero Amounts setting is enabled.
Review your integration settings, ensure correct configurations, and test with debug mode enabled.
What is Fallback Referral Tracking, and when should I use it?
Fallback Referral Tracking bypasses JavaScript-based tracking by relying on server-side tracking. Enable it in AffiliateWP » Settings » Advanced if JavaScript errors or ad blockers prevent standard tracking. However, it’s recommended to resolve underlying issues rather than relying on fallback tracking.
Why are $0.00 referrals not being recorded?
If you’re generating referrals for lead generation or free trials, ensure the Ignore Referrals with Zero Amounts option in AffiliateWP » Settings » Commissions is disabled. If using the Allowed Products addon, ensure products are correctly specified.
Can an affiliate create referrals for themselves?
By default, AffiliateWP blocks affiliates from generating their own referrals. If needed, you can enable self-referrals using the Allow Own Referrals addon.
That’s it! By following the troubleshooting steps above, you should be able to identify and resolve issues preventing visits or referrals from being recorded in AffiliateWP. Whether it’s ensuring cookies are stored, resolving JavaScript errors, or configuring your integration settings, these checks will help you get your affiliate program back on track.
If you still encounter issues, don’t hesitate to contact the AffiliateWP support team for further assistance.