a.gd down -- watch out if you're using short-url services...

Ken Strong · 10-11-2009, 01:19 PM

I should know better, but I've been using a.gd to shorten a lot of the URLs for my products, and those I promote as an affiliate.

Yesterday I got an email from someone on my list letting me know that some of my URLs were broken. I went to the a.gd site and there's some weird error code about broken tables, and every single one of my URLs is gone from my account. Hopefully this is temporary, but it's been two days now.

I realize now that every single time someone clicks on one of those links, it has to be forwarded through the service's servers before it gets to the appropriate site, and so my whole business is dependent on this free service being up and running.

I won't make that mistake again -- I'm going to run everything through a "recommends" directory on one of my own domains from now on.

Just a heads up to anyone else who might be using any of these services.

tecHead · 10-11-2009, 01:41 PM

tsk tsk tsk... you should know better

here's an open source one you can run yourself.. full control
urlShort - Open Source URL Shortener

Hope this helps
PLP,
tecHead

cadoutsource · 10-11-2009, 01:41 PM

Yikes! This is also an eye opener to me as well.

awesometbn · 10-11-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenStrong

I won't make that mistake again -- I'm going to run everything through a "recommends" directory on one of my own domains from now on.

Just a heads up to anyone else who might be using any of these services.

I think you make an excellent point about using a third-party. Unless it is under your control and responsibility, we are taking a risk that the service we select will always be available and ready to use in the future. I remember reading a news article recently about downtime at Google. Anyone who was using Google Apps for their domain or for their small business suddenly found themselves without email or file storage or instant messaging, etc.

Sources:
Google Apps Customers Miffed Over Downtime - Business Center - PC World

Google unveils dashboard to alert users to Google Apps downtime

Ken Strong · 10-11-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecHead

tsk tsk tsk... you should know better

here's an open source one you can run yourself.. full control
urlShort - Open Source URL Shortener

Perfect! Exactly what I need, thanks.

To make things even stupider, I don't have the "real" URLs written down anywhere that the short URLs redirected to -- so I have to contact product owners, etc. to recreate all those. Argh.

Stallion · 10-11-2009, 01:53 PM

I don't know why people use services like this. I don't get it.

Considering it is so easy to just make a php file.

<?php header('Location: youraffiliatelink'); ?>

tecHead · 10-11-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenStrong

Perfect! Exactly what I need, thanks.

To make things even stupider, I don't have the "real" URLs written down anywhere that the short URLs redirected to -- so I have to contact product owners, etc. to recreate all those. Argh.

Welcome.

...but dude... I'm just walking away, now lol

URLs not written down ... ::sigh:: shoot him --> KenStrong

waken · 10-11-2009, 02:29 PM

Yeah.. I had the same experience with Offto.net too when Jon sold it to another guy. But today, it seem to work. Anyway, I'm not dare to risk again ..

10-11-2009, 02:44 PM

Ken,
This is why I created my own using my own domain.. Course you could always use the .htaccess without much trouble too. I never did understand why so many want to use others servers for their url's..

Go register a cheap 4 letter domain name and use it...

James

10-11-2009, 01:19 PM	#1
Ken Strong Marxist (Groucho) War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle, WA, USA. Posts: 4,626 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 754 Thanked 1,485 Times in 703 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	a.gd down -- watch out if you're using short-url services... I should know better, but I've been using a.gd to shorten a lot of the URLs for my products, and those I promote as an affiliate. Yesterday I got an email from someone on my list letting me know that some of my URLs were broken. I went to the a.gd site and there's some weird error code about broken tables, and every single one of my URLs is gone from my account. Hopefully this is temporary, but it's been two days now. I realize now that every single time someone clicks on one of those links, it has to be forwarded through the service's servers before it gets to the appropriate site, and so my whole business is dependent on this free service being up and running. I won't make that mistake again -- I'm going to run everything through a "recommends" directory on one of my own domains from now on. Just a heads up to anyone else who might be using any of these services.
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10-11-2009, 01:41 PM	#2
tecHead Info Philanthropist War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,789 Thanks: 383 Thanked 349 Times in 176 Posts Contact Info	Re: a.gd down -- watch out if you're using short-url services... tsk tsk tsk... you should know better here's an open source one you can run yourself.. full control urlShort - Open Source URL Shortener Hope this helps PLP, tecHead
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10-11-2009, 01:41 PM	#3
cadoutsource HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Park Forest Illinois Posts: 186 Thanks: 43 Thanked 23 Times in 23 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: a.gd down -- watch out if you're using short-url services... Yikes! This is also an eye opener to me as well.
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10-11-2009, 01:53 PM	#6
Stallion HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: , , . Posts: 254 Thanks: 103 Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts	Re: a.gd down -- watch out if you're using short-url services... I don't know why people use services like this. I don't get it. Considering it is so easy to just make a php file. <?php header('Location: youraffiliatelink'); ?>

10-11-2009, 02:29 PM	#8
waken Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 52 Thanked 59 Times in 49 Posts	Re: a.gd down -- watch out if you're using short-url services... Yeah.. I had the same experience with Offto.net too when Jon sold it to another guy. But today, it seem to work. Anyway, I'm not dare to risk again ..
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10-11-2009, 02:44 PM	#9
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a	Re: a.gd down -- watch out if you're using short-url services... Ken, This is why I created my own using my own domain.. Course you could always use the .htaccess without much trouble too. I never did understand why so many want to use others servers for their url's.. Go register a cheap 4 letter domain name and use it... James
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a