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CPA newbie question: Redirects OK?

by Syzygy999
7 replies
I've been doing affiliate marketing for awhile but have just (as of the past week) begun exploring CPA. One question I can't seem to find a definite answer to, either on WF or in the networks' TOS, is whether or not it's OK to use redirects. I mean, can I drive traffic to a domain that I own, but that simply redirects to an offer page (with my affiliate ID embedded in the redirect, of course)?

I would think this should be OK, unless it somehow is seen as circumventing the networks' tracking mechanism.

I've seen some people saying they use redirects for their offline CPA marketing efforts, just to keep everything as simple as possible.
#cpa #newbie #question #redirects
  • Profile picture of the author williamd52
    Just joined Peerfly and they don't allow that from certain sites such as Craigslist and Twitter. They do allow traffic from your site via those sites, however.
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    • Profile picture of the author strk44
      I Joined Adscend media about two months ago and I always redirect my traffic. And I have not had any problem with it so, I think it depends on the CPA.
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  • Profile picture of the author Syzygy999
    Thanks for these replies. I'm thinking that with offline marketing in particular (flyers, newspaper ads, etc.), it would make sense just to send people to a page that picks up one's affiliate ID and then automatically redirects to the actual offer page. But how would the network know whether or not those leads came ultimately from, say, a Craigslist ad? So this is why (I'm thinking) they might frown on it. Assuming offline marketing itself is OK, I intend to keep everything whitehat, and don't want there to be any questions about that.

    I'm probably obsessing too much!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kenster
      Originally Posted by Syzygy999 View Post

      Thanks for these replies. I'm thinking that with offline marketing in particular (flyers, newspaper ads, etc.), it would make sense just to send people to a page that picks up one's affiliate ID and then automatically redirects to the actual offer page. But how would the network know whether or not those leads came ultimately from, say, a Craigslist ad? So this is why (I'm thinking) they might frown on it. Assuming offline marketing itself is OK, I intend to keep everything whitehat, and don't want there to be any questions about that.

      I'm probably obsessing too much!

      Depending on exactly how you are redirecting will determine if you leave footprints that they can track the ultimate traffic source. I mean, if the traffic is offline and people are literally just typing in the domain, then they wont specifically know its offline traffic unless they are tracking geo such as IP or zip code within the offer.

      Keep in mind that there are ways to blank or fake referrers too, so they might suspect that if your traffic is converting like garbage.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    Originally Posted by Syzygy999 View Post

    I've been doing affiliate marketing for awhile but have just (as of the past week) begun exploring CPA. One question I can't seem to find a definite answer to, either on WF or in the networks' TOS, is whether or not it's OK to use redirects. I mean, can I drive traffic to a domain that I own, but that simply redirects to an offer page (with my affiliate ID embedded in the redirect, of course)?

    I would think this should be OK, unless it somehow is seen as circumventing the networks' tracking mechanism.

    I've seen some people saying they use redirects for their offline CPA marketing efforts, just to keep everything as simple as possible.
    Redirects are normally ok, however it will vary offer by offer. The best way to know for sure is to contact your am and confirm which offers allow this and which do not.
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  • Profile picture of the author Syzygy999
    Kenster:

    I saw your username come up a lot on my WF searches for info on offline CPA marketing. I salute your expertise. Thanks for your reply to this thread.

    I'm looking at possibly using offline marketing with email and zip submits. The latter of course would create a definite geographical footprint. I still haven't gotten a good idea whether this would be a problem.

    I've just shot off an email to my affiliate manager at one of the networks I've been accepted in, asking if offline marketing is OK (no answer yet). My urge is to plunge ahead and do it anyway, rather than risk a "No" before I even start, but if I can clear it ahead of time I'll be less stressed about it.

    Any insight or experience you have with this will be much appreciated!

    Thanks again,
    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Kenster
    Hi Steve,

    Thanks for the kind words buddy.

    I mean I always suggest clearing things through the network or affiliate manager first, though it's not always what I did and do haha.

    When I started in the offline game, many of my AMs said that the traffic converts like garbage on the backend and therefore said that I couldnt drive the traffic. So what I ended up doing was driving the traffic (in small amounts) to other networks, then contacting the AM and asking how the traffic is converting and if it's okay, only then I would reveal its coming from offline.

    Of course there is a risk of not getting paid here, but 9 times out of 10, if the traffic converts, then the AM will let you slide and let you drive the offline traffic thereafter. If the traffic isn't converting, then just stop the campaign.


    But again, I have a little more leverage now at most of the networks I deal with, but as a newer marketer, I always advise simply running everything by the network first to be safe.

    Let me know if you have any other questions buddy.

    ~Kenster
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