Platform availability
This article refers to functionality currently available only on Awin Classic.
What is the Awin Broken Links account?
The Awin Broken Links Account (13430) is automatically added to every program. It serves as the primary account for tracking transactions where an affiliate link is broken and unable to attribute the transaction to the correct partner.
Why did the transaction go to the Broken Links account?
A transaction is recorded under the Broken Links account when the affiliate link clicked by the customer was missing the partner’s unique ID. This typically occurs if the link was set up incorrectly or the tracking parameter was removed.
What to do if I see a transaction tracked under this account?
If you notice transactions tracking under the Awin Broken Links Account and want to identify whose link is broken, you can download a transactions report to look for the URL source.
How to identify the partner
To help identify which partner is associated with a transaction, check whether the URL contains an affid= parameter, as this indicates the partner’s ID.
Once you’re able to match the partner, you’ll need to notify them to update their link. Best practice is to also bonus missed partner commissions using the Add Manual Commission tool so the partner is awarded for the transaction they drove.
If the source still can’t be determined, contact Support and provide the affected link. The Tech team will be able to investigate and identify the underlying cause. If you have a dedicated Awin contact, please reach out to them. If not, you can get in touch with our support team by filling out the contact form.
Why can’t I identify the partner?
When the partner ID is missing, the system attempts to identify the source of the click by checking the referring webpage. If this is also unavailable, it’s likely due to one of the following reasons:
Privacy protections - The visitor’s browser or ad blocker prevented tracking information from being shared.
Clicked outside a web browser - The link was accessed via an email, mobile app, PDF, or messaging platform, which don’t pass on a referring website address.
Link redirects or shorteners - An intermediary tool stripped the original source address before the click was recorded.
Direct traffic - The customer pasted the link directly into their browser.
What does this mean?
Without the partner ID or referring website data, the transaction can’t be automatically attributed to a specific partner. However, if a partner provides proof of the order - such as the order reference, date, and time - you can manually credit them using the Add Manual Commission tool.
Important
Please do not suspend the Awin Broken Links Account from your program. If removed, you’ll be unable to identify if an affiliate link is broken.
If you’ve mistakenly removed the Awin Broken Links Account, please contact us so we can reinstate the partner onto your program. If you have a dedicated Awin contact, please reach out to them. If not, you can get in touch with our support team by filling out the contact form.