---
title: How to track file downloads, affiliates, outbound and external links with Google Analytics
url: "https://www.seopress.org/support/guides/how-to-track-file-downloads-affiliates-outbound-and-external-links-with-google-analytics/"
lang: en-US
updated: 2025-07-11
---

# How to track file downloads, affiliates, outbound and external links with Google Analytics

The first step is to setup Google Analytics by [adding your tracking ID / measurement ID](https://www.seopress.org/support/guides/google-analytics/).

Then, go to **SEO**, **Analytics**, **Google Analytics** tab, **Events** section.

To track external links, check “**Enable external links tracking**” option.

To track download files, check “**Enable downloads tracking**” option and enter the file extensions you want to track in Google Analytics to “**Track downloads’ clicks**” field.

Separate them with a pipe “`|`“, eg: `docx|pdf|doc|txt`

To track affiliate links, check “**Enable affiliate/outbound links tracking**” option and enter the keywords to follow.

Eg: if your affiliate link is `https://example.com/aff/my-affiliate-link` and you want to track it, enter “`aff`” to the field “**Track affiliate/outbound links**“.

You can add multiple keywords by separating them with a pipe “`|`“.

**Save changes**.

Clear your cache if necessary.

[![Analytics > Google Analytics tab - SEOPress Free](https://www.seopress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/04-01-analytics-google-analytics-tab-seopress-free-scaled.png)](https://www.seopress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/04-01-analytics-google-analytics-tab-seopress-free-scaled.png)

*Analytics > Google Analytics tab – SEOPress Free*

Then go to **Google Analytics website**.

Open your website property, and go to **Reports**, **Engagement**, **Events** page.

It might be necessary to manually setup the reporting by following [this guide](https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/14240153?hl=en&visit_id=638878354506477713-2360472965&rd=1).