Troubleshooting: Links Not Showing Up
If your bot isn't recommending your affiliate links, here's how to fix it.
📹 Video tutorial coming soon! For now, use the diagnostic checklist below.
How Link Matching Works
Your bot uses semantic similarity, not keyword matching.
What that means:
- Bot reads your Instagram content (captions + video transcripts)
- Reads your product descriptions
- Matches products that are contextually relevant
It's NOT keyword matching:
User asks "protein powder" → Bot doesn't just search for "protein"
Bot understands context: "post-workout nutrition" = protein powder
Diagnostic Checklist
1. Are your descriptions detailed enough?
❌ Too vague:
- "Great product"
- "Nike shoes"
- "Fitness supplement"
✅ Specific enough:
- "Nike Air Max 270 - women's cushioned running shoes for daily workouts"
- "Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey - vanilla protein powder for muscle recovery"
Fix:
Add details about product type, features, use case, target audience
2. Do your products match your content?
Example problem:
Your content: Fitness and workouts
Your links: Kitchen appliances
Result: Bot won't recommend appliances when users ask about fitness
Fix:
Only add products relevant to your niche
3. Do you have enough content?
Minimum needed:
- At least 10-20 posts
- Video content with transcripts (helps matching)
- Captions that mention products
Fix:
Post more content about the products you promote
4. Is your bot knowledge up to date?
Check:
- Go to Dashboard → Check "Last Sync" date
- Should sync nightly at 2am CST
- New posts take ~24 hours to appear in bot
Fix:
Wait 24 hours after posting new content
5. Are you testing correctly?
✅ Right way:
- Ask natural questions: "What protein do you recommend?"
- Ask about topics in your content: "Best shoes for running?"
❌ Wrong way:
- Copy-paste brand names: "Nike Air Max 270"
- Ask about products not in your content
Fix:
Test with real questions followers would ask
Good vs Bad Examples
Example 1: Running Shoes
❌ Bad description
"Nike shoes - great for running"
Why it's bad: Too generic, no specifics
✅ Good description
"Nike Air Max 270 - women's running shoes with Air cushioning, breathable mesh, perfect for 5K training and daily jogs"
Why it's good: Specific model, features, use case, target audience
Example 2: Supplements
❌ Bad description
"Protein powder"
Why it's bad: No brand, no details, no context
✅ Good description
"Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey - vanilla flavor, 24g protein per serving, best for post-workout muscle recovery and weight training"
Why it's good: Brand, flavor, serving size, specific use case
Still Not Working?
Try these steps:
- Test your bot yourself - Chat with your own bot, ask questions about your niche, see what it recommends
- Review your links - Go to Affiliate Links page, check descriptions are detailed, remove irrelevant products
- Check your content - Do you mention these products in posts? Are captions descriptive? Do videos discuss products?
- Wait for sync - New content syncs nightly, link changes sync immediately, bot updates in real-time
- Ask the Lightwell bot! - Our bot can review your descriptions and get personalized troubleshooting