Cloaking Amazon/Ebay Affiliate links using bit.ly?

Intrepreneur · 10-20-2009, 04:56 PM

I use bit.ly quite a lot but have never asked for opinions on it.

What's the verdict on cloaking links.. Do it or don't do it?

10-20-2009, 05:21 PM

Do it but use your own server to do it ... Keep full control over your stuff and do not depend upon some other server when it comes to your sales..

James

Michael Silvester · 10-20-2009, 05:43 PM

Hi Mate,

Great advice from James.

If you use a service to cloak your links you are
totally stuffed if they close down or their links
dont work all of a sudden.

You always want to cover your ass from
"Murphy's Law"

The best thing to do is to cloak and host on
your own server.

You can do that for free with

Click-2-Cloak

Take Care,

Michael Silvester

Catalyst eMarketing · 10-20-2009, 06:09 PM

I agree with the guys. Cloak on your own server. Not only do you have control but yourcoolsite.com/keyword probably converts better than
bit.ly/gdoei5ro9

Additionally Amazon recently would not pay an affiliate who posted links on Twitter and it was speculated that at least part of the problem was that he was using a URL shortener. I think it was bit.ly.

I blogged the story back when this 1st happened. Just went and found the link for you.
No Precedence For Social Media – Amazon Hangs Us Out To Dry | Search Engine Journal

Also when it comes to link cloaking most affiliates I know use .htaccess.
Here's an article that explains how to do it.

Using .htaccess to Hide Affiliate Links | Click Consultants Affiliate Marketing Blog

Hope this helps and best of luck!

10-20-2009, 06:14 PM

If you are wanting a short url to use the go register a similar name to yours and use it. For example I own arpd.info because I am fixing to use it as my short url for some upgrades I have going on for AP...

So try to find a 3 or 4 letter domain (even if it is .info) that matches your site and direct everything through the short domain name.

James

10-20-2009, 04:56 PM	#1
Intrepreneur I.C.Hope War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 2,515 Thanks: 446 Thanked 227 Times in 181 Posts Contact Info	Cloaking Amazon/Ebay Affiliate links using bit.ly? I use bit.ly quite a lot but have never asked for opinions on it. What's the verdict on cloaking links.. Do it or don't do it?
	I want a good keyword researcher, not for min sites but for tech articles. Hit me up if you've got those skillz!

10-20-2009, 05:21 PM	#2
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cloaking Amazon/Ebay Affiliate links using bit.ly? Do it but use your own server to do it ... Keep full control over your stuff and do not depend upon some other server when it comes to your sales.. James
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a

10-20-2009, 05:43 PM	#3
Michael Silvester says you need to become a War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Australia. Posts: 2,671 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 355 Thanked 208 Times in 113 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Cloaking Amazon/Ebay Affiliate links using bit.ly? Hi Mate, Great advice from James. If you use a service to cloak your links you are totally stuffed if they close down or their links dont work all of a sudden. You always want to cover your ass from "Murphy's Law" The best thing to do is to cloak and host on your own server. You can do that for free with Click-2-Cloak Take Care, Michael Silvester

10-20-2009, 06:09 PM	#4
Catalyst eMarketing GooglePlaces Optimization War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 759 Thanks: 52 Thanked 176 Times in 98 Posts Social Networking	Re: Cloaking Amazon/Ebay Affiliate links using bit.ly? I agree with the guys. Cloak on your own server. Not only do you have control but yourcoolsite.com/keyword probably converts better than bit.ly/gdoei5ro9 Additionally Amazon recently would not pay an affiliate who posted links on Twitter and it was speculated that at least part of the problem was that he was using a URL shortener. I think it was bit.ly. I blogged the story back when this 1st happened. Just went and found the link for you. No Precedence For Social Media – Amazon Hangs Us Out To Dry \| Search Engine Journal Also when it comes to link cloaking most affiliates I know use .htaccess. Here's an article that explains how to do it. Using .htaccess to Hide Affiliate Links \| Click Consultants Affiliate Marketing Blog Hope this helps and best of luck!
	Linda Buquet :: Google Places Optimization Specialist :: Catalyst eMarketing Google Places Optimization :: ADVANCED GOOGLE PLACES TRAINING Available Google Places Optimization & Local SEO BLOG :: Latest Google Places News and Tips BEST Google Places Software & FREE Local SEO Tools

10-20-2009, 06:14 PM	#5
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cloaking Amazon/Ebay Affiliate links using bit.ly? If you are wanting a short url to use the go register a similar name to yours and use it. For example I own arpd.info because I am fixing to use it as my short url for some upgrades I have going on for AP... So try to find a 3 or 4 letter domain (even if it is .info) that matches your site and direct everything through the short domain name. James
TheRichJerksNet Guest Posts: n/a