5 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
5 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Are My Links Being Stolen?

by Branlan17
4 replies
I am going to be cloaking soon but I just wanted to know about something...

I wasn't getting sales for a long while before they dropped off, then changed my hoplink to one with a tracking ID and a couple days later got a sale. Now no more sales... Now honestly, this could totally be due to low tracking volume BUT if I can click through my link to the order form and see my affiliate ID at the bottom does that mean the link is indeed working and not being stolen? I don't know what stealing links entails but I was just wondering if the link going correctly to an order page with my ID meant I'm in the clear?
#links #stolen
  • Profile picture of the author Branlan17
    Blah, so much to worry about in this business... Anyone have an idea?
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1427572].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Janet Sawyer
    Originally Posted by Branlan17 View Post

    I am going to be cloaking soon but I just wanted to know about something...

    I wasn't getting sales for a long while before they dropped off,
    So did you get any sales or not? really confusing that statement.

    Originally Posted by Branlan17 View Post

    then changed my hoplink to one with a tracking ID and a couple days later got a sale.
    That happens! you finally get to track a sale/order thanks to the TID from Clickbank.

    Originally Posted by Branlan17 View Post

    Now no more sales... Now honestly, this could totally be due to low tracking volume BUT if I can click through my link to the order form and see my affiliate ID at the bottom does that mean the link is indeed working and not being stolen?
    Hopefully yes, if your affiliate ID is showing on the order form, then you should get credited for the sale. That's how it's supposed to work.

    Originally Posted by Branlan17 View Post

    I don't know what stealing links entails but I was just wondering if the link going correctly to an order page with my ID meant I'm in the clear?
    Youre in the clear? well, to be honest, your'e on the page, so you should get credited with the sale.

    There have been so many Clickbank isn't working posts recently, and I can understand why you asking the above questions.

    Clickbank does work every now and again, but their analytics are a bit worrying. I'd much prefer it to be a "this day", "this week", etc, rather than the 14 day period that we are stuck with.

    Until they can over ride the cookie stuffers, I guess we are all stuffed so to speak.

    I'll stick with them, because the nice direct deposits are putting food on my table, and every little helps.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1427596].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author InternetMarketingIQ
    "Stolen Links" happen in 2 ways. First they are not usually "stolen" per say. What happens is an affiliate recognizes the link as an affiliate link. Clears their cache, then buys through their own link.

    The other way links are stolen is through malware and cookie stuffing. Programmers. I'm not sure that even cloaking will protect from this as the software is resident on the "infected" machine. I could be wrong about this. Been a long time since I bothered trying to program anything.

    There is also plenty of software "out there" that strips out affiliate cookies.

    Be sure however you choose to redirect your links that you test them after wards. Internet Explorers doesn't like redirected links and will sometimes strip out cookies depending on settings.

    I have noticed however in my own case that since I switched to the new Clickbank links the tracking doesn't seem to be as good. I do not know if this is me being critical without basis or the season or my sites.

    I did a trial the other day where I sent a masked link via GoDaddy direct to an Affiliate Offer and racked up about 500 hops for the day which appeared to all be tracked.
    Signature
    Internet Marketing IQâ„¢
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1427857].message }}

Trending Topics