Overview
An affiliate link is a trackable link, or on TikTok Shop a tagged product, that attributes a sale to the creator who shared it. It is the mechanism that makes affiliate commission possible.
When a buyer purchases through a creator's link or tagged content, the platform credits that creator and pays their commission.
How it works
On TikTok Shop, the affiliate relationship tags a creator's content with your product. Sales through that content are attributed automatically, so the creator earns commission and you see who drove what.
Why it matters
Affiliate links are how a creator program stays measurable and fair. Without reliable attribution, you cannot tell which creators to reward or scale, and the whole performance model breaks down.
How brands use it
Brands rely on affiliate attribution to rank creators by GMV, set commission tiers, and decide where to invest more samples and spend.
