Post Affiliate Pro DirectLink tracking - any other software which can do this?

2 replies
Hello,

the affiliate tracking software Post Affiliate Pro 4 has this feature:


DirectLink tracking

DirectLinks is advanced feature that allows your affiliates to link directly to your site without additional parameters in the URL.
So for example, instead of: http://www.yoursite.com/?a_aid=12345&a_bid=67890
you can use only: http://www.yoursite.com/


How it works

Visitor referred through DirectLink is recognized by the HTTP_REFERER information sent by the browser. It is the address of the page (if any) which referred the browser to the destination page. In short, when visitor clicks on a link on affiliates page, the HTTP_REFERER will be address of affiliates page.
Our system will then check this page in our database, finds that the page belongs to some affiliate, and assigns him the referral (and click).

This method is dependent on browser, so it is reliable on 90-99%. All the modern browsers send this information, and with the advantages mentioned below you can use it as your main linking method.
The big question is: is there any other affiliate tracking software, which can do this? Seems like a vital feature. But so far I was unable to find any other solutions, which can do this. Strange.
#affiliate #directlink #post #post affiliate pro #pro #software #tracking
  • Profile picture of the author zoobie
    Honestly I don't really think is a crucial feature. Beside HTTP_Referer can easily be hijacked which makes your affiliate link to be replaced by someone else. (just do a search on Google about HTTP_referer hijack) So My opinion to this kind of software:

    STAY away from it!

    Think about it if HTTP referer is safe, there are should be dozen of affiliate software doing this, and why there are NONE beside this?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1691218].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author unitminer
    Post Affiliate Pro is not limited just to direct links. It support all possible types of affiliate links.

    Latest tracking option, which is the most seo friendly next to direct links is tracking through anchors in link.

    e.g. let's say, that affiliate has referral id "aff1", than you can use affiliate link in format www.yoursite.com#aff1
    or www.yoursite.com#a_aid=aff1
    or www.yoursite.com?a_aid=aff1
    or www.yoursite.com/aff1
    ... and many other options.

    Direct linking is widely used and I don't think you can hijack it as you mentioned it.

    Please give me example, how would you hijack link from my site :-)
    changing of referrer is possible, but you need to find also customer, which will click through such link/script ... I don't think it would be possible to hijack direct link and earn commissions, which should belong to other affiliate .... it is proven tracking method!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1691378].message }}

Trending Topics