By Emil Klitmose—March 5

How to Track Link Clicks on WordPress: Easy and Effective Methods

How to Track Link Clicks on WordPress: Easy and Effective Methods

Quick Answer

To track link clicks on WordPress, you can:

  1. Use a link management plugin like Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates
  2. Implement Google Analytics event tracking
  3. Use a link shortener with analytics like Beckli
  4. Add custom code to track clicks with JavaScript

Why Track Link Clicks on WordPress?

If you're managing a WordPress site, knowing exactly how visitors interact with your content is invaluable. Link clicks are particularly important metrics to monitor because they reveal direct user engagement with your content.

Understanding which links receive attention helps you:

  • Identify top-performing content - See what topics truly resonate with your audience
  • Improve site navigation - Optimize menu structures and internal linking based on actual usage
  • Boost affiliate marketing efforts - Track which promotional links drive conversions
  • Increase conversion rates - Learn which calls-to-action are most effective
  • Refine content strategy - Create more of what works based on link engagement data

Let's explore several methods to effectively track link clicks on WordPress, starting with the simplest solutions.

Method 1: Using a Link Shortener with Analytics

Using Beckli for WordPress Link Tracking

Beckli offers a straightforward solution for tracking links without requiring technical expertise or WordPress plugins.

Key benefits for WordPress users:

  • 100% Free - No cost at any usage level
  • No Registration Required - Start tracking immediately
  • Detailed Analytics - Track clicks, locations, devices, and referrers
  • Works with Any WordPress Site - No compatibility issues

How to Implement Beckli on WordPress:

  1. Visit Beckli.com
  2. Paste the original URL you want to track
  3. Click "Shorten" to generate a trackable link
  4. Copy the shortened URL
  5. In your WordPress editor, highlight the text you want to make clickable
  6. Click the link button or press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac)
  7. Paste the Beckli link and save

Your link is now trackable, and you can view click statistics anytime by visiting Beckli's dashboard.

Method 2: WordPress Link Management Plugins

Several WordPress plugins can help you manage and track links directly within your WordPress dashboard:

1. Pretty Links

Pretty Links is a popular link management and tracking plugin for WordPress.

Key features:

  • Create custom branded short links
  • Track clicks from within WordPress
  • A/B test different link destinations
  • Organize links by categories
  • Automatically replace keywords with links

Installation steps:

  1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard
  2. Search for "Pretty Links"
  3. Click "Install Now" and then "Activate"
  4. Navigate to Pretty Links > Add New Link
  5. Enter your target URL and create a custom slug
  6. Enable click tracking in the options
  7. Save your link and use it in your content
// Example shortcode usage in WordPress
[pretty_link id="123" title="Visit Our Store"]

2. ThirstyAffiliates

ThirstyAffiliates is designed specifically for affiliate marketers but works well for general link tracking.

Key features:

  • Cloaks and manages affiliate links
  • Tracks clicks and provides reports
  • Organizes links by categories
  • Automatically links keywords
  • Geolocation targeting

Installation steps:

  1. Install and activate the ThirstyAffiliates plugin
  2. Go to ThirstyAffiliates > Add New
  3. Enter your link details and destination URL
  4. Enable click tracking under the "Statistics" tab
  5. Save and use your new trackable link

3. Simple Link Tracking

Simple Link Tracking is a lightweight option focused specifically on tracking clicks.

Key features:

  • Minimal configuration needed
  • Low impact on site performance
  • Basic click statistics
  • Works with any type of link

Method 3: Tracking with Google Analytics

If you already use Google Analytics with your WordPress site, you can leverage it for detailed link tracking.

Option 1: Using a Google Analytics Plugin

The easiest implementation is with a plugin like MonsterInsights or GA Google Analytics:

  1. Install and activate your chosen Google Analytics plugin
  2. Connect it to your Google Analytics account
  3. Enable enhanced link attribution in the settings
  4. For outbound link tracking, ensure that option is enabled

Option 2: Manual Event Tracking

For more custom tracking, you can add event tracking code directly to links:

<!-- Example for Universal Analytics -->
<a href="https://example.com" 
   onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'Link', 'Click', 'Example Website');">
   Visit Example Website
</a>

<!-- Example for GA4 -->
<a href="https://example.com" 
   onclick="gtag('event', 'link_click', {'link_url': 'https://example.com'});">
   Visit Example Website
</a>

You can add this code in the WordPress text/HTML editor when creating content.

Method 4: Custom WordPress Code Solution

For developers comfortable with code, you can add a custom tracking solution to your WordPress theme:

Track Clicks with jQuery (Add to theme's functions.php or as a plugin)

<?php
// Add script to footer to track link clicks
function add_link_tracking_script() {
  ?>
  <script>
  jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
    // Track clicks on all links
    $('a').click(function() {
      var linkHref = $(this).attr('href');
      var linkText = $(this).text();
      
      // Send to server for logging
      $.ajax({
        type: 'POST',
        url: '<?php echo admin_url('admin-ajax.php'); ?>',
        data: {
          action: 'track_link_click',
          href: linkHref,
          text: linkText
        }
      });
    });
  });
  </script>
  <?php
}
add_action('wp_footer', 'add_link_tracking_script');

// Process the AJAX request
function process_link_click() {
  // Get the link data
  $href = isset($_POST['href']) ? sanitize_text_field($_POST['href']) : '';
  $text = isset($_POST['text']) ? sanitize_text_field($_POST['text']) : '';
  
  // Log to database or file
  global $wpdb;
  $table_name = $wpdb->prefix . 'link_clicks';
  
  $wpdb->insert(
    $table_name,
    array(
      'link_url' => $href,
      'link_text' => $text,
      'click_time' => current_time('mysql'),
      'user_ip' => $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']
    )
  );
  
  wp_die(); // Required to terminate AJAX request properly
}
add_action('wp_ajax_track_link_click', 'process_link_click');
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_track_link_click', 'process_link_click');

// Create database table on plugin activation
function create_link_tracking_table() {
  global $wpdb;
  $table_name = $wpdb->prefix . 'link_clicks';
  
  $charset_collate = $wpdb->get_charset_collate();
  
  $sql = "CREATE TABLE $table_name (
    id mediumint(9) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
    link_url text NOT NULL,
    link_text text NOT NULL,
    click_time datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' NOT NULL,
    user_ip varchar(100) NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY  (id)
  ) $charset_collate;";
  
  require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php');
  dbDelta($sql);
}
register_activation_hook(__FILE__, 'create_link_tracking_table');
?>

This code creates a custom database table and records every link click on your site, storing the URL, link text, timestamp, and user IP.

Comparing Link Tracking Methods

| Method | Ease of Use | Features | Performance Impact | Cost | |--------|-------------|----------|-------------------|------| | Beckli | Very Easy | Click counts, geography, device data | None | Free | | Pretty Links | Easy | WordPress integration, detailed stats | Low | Free/Premium | | ThirstyAffiliates | Easy | Affiliate focused, reporting | Low | Free/Premium | | Google Analytics | Moderate | Comprehensive integration with GA | Low | Free | | Custom Code | Complex | Fully customizable | Varies | Free |

Best Practices for Link Click Tracking

To get the most value from your link tracking:

  1. Track consistently - Use the same method across your site
  2. Organize your links - Categorize links for better analysis
  3. Check your data regularly - Review performance weekly or monthly
  4. Test different placements - Experiment with link position and anchor text
  5. Combine with other metrics - View link clicks alongside page views and conversions

Privacy Considerations

When tracking link clicks, be mindful of privacy regulations:

  • Include link tracking in your privacy policy
  • Consider anonymizing IP addresses
  • Ensure compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws
  • Provide clear opt-out options where required

Conclusion

Tracking link clicks on WordPress doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you choose a simple solution like Beckli, a dedicated WordPress plugin, or a custom code implementation, the insights you gain will help optimize your site and improve user engagement.

For most WordPress site owners, starting with a simple tool like Beckli or a popular plugin like Pretty Links provides the perfect balance of functionality and ease of use. As your needs grow, you can explore more advanced options or custom solutions.

By understanding which links your visitors click, you'll gain valuable insights into user behavior, helping you create more effective content and a more engaging website experience.