If your affiliates promote your app through short codes — shared on TikTok, Instagram, podcasts, or even word of mouth — you have probably wondered: which codes are actually getting used?
Until now, short codes were a set-and-forget feature. An affiliate would get a code like SARAH25 or FITPRO, share it with their audience, and your app would attribute the install. But there was no easy way to see how many times each code was entered, or compare performance across affiliates.
That changes with short code usage tracking.
What Changed
Every time a user enters an affiliate's short code in your app (via the SDK's setShortCode() method), Insert Affiliate now counts it. This happens automatically — no extra integration work needed if you are already using short codes.
Each affiliate's record now tracks:
- Total uses — how many times their short code has been entered
- Last used — when the code was most recently entered
Why This Matters
A customer asked us for this feature because they rely entirely on short codes rather than insert links. Their affiliates promote on platforms where clickable links are impractical — think TikTok bios, Instagram stories, YouTube video descriptions, or even verbal mentions on podcasts.
Without usage metrics, they had no way to quickly tell which affiliates were driving real engagement and which were not pulling their weight. Now they can see it at a glance.
Where You Will See the Data
Affiliates Table
The main affiliates table now includes a Short Code Uses column. You can sort by this column to instantly rank affiliates by engagement. On mobile, this data appears in the expandable row detail view.
Affiliate Detail Page
Click into any affiliate and you will find a new Short Code Metrics tab alongside the existing Insert Link Metrics tab. This shows:
- Total Uses — the raw count of how many times the code was entered
- Revenue per Use — total revenue attributed to this affiliate divided by their short code uses, giving you a clear picture of code quality
Admin Dashboard
The main dashboard now shows a Short Code Performance section with aggregate stats across all your affiliates:
- Total Uses — combined short code entries across your entire programme
- Affiliates with Uses — how many of your affiliates have had their code entered at least once
How It Works Under the Hood
When your app calls setShortCode("SARAH25"), the SDK validates the code and checks it against your affiliate list. If the code matches a registered affiliate, the usage counter increments by one. This is a lightweight, fire-and-forget operation that does not slow down the user experience.
The tracking works across all six supported SDKs: JavaScript, Swift, Android, React Native, Flutter, and Unity.
Getting Started
If you already use short codes, there is nothing to configure. Update to the latest SDK version and the tracking starts automatically. Your dashboard and affiliate detail pages will begin showing usage data as codes are entered.
If you have not set up short codes yet, check our short codes documentation to get started. Short codes are 3-25 character alphanumeric identifiers assigned to each affiliate — simple, memorable, and effective on platforms where links are not practical.
Identify Your Top Performers
With short code usage tracking, you finally have visibility into which affiliates are actively driving engagement through their codes. Use this data to reward top performers, identify underperformers who might need support, and make informed decisions about your affiliate programme.