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what is link cloaking?

by zonkow
4 replies
What's the purpose of link cloaking?
Is it neccessary for Amazon affiliate links?
#cloaking #libk #link
  • Profile picture of the author erichammer
    Define "necessary." If by "necessary" you mean it won't work without it at all, then no, it's not "necessary." However, if you mean is it a good idea which will likely make you more money then yes, it's necessary. Basically, link cloaking means where you take a really long ugly link (can't post affiliate links here, but any Amazon link is a good example -- it runs on and on for something like two full lines of gobbldygook) and make it look elegant (i.e. mysite.com/recommends/product).

    This does two things. First, it hides the ugly and long link which sometimes scares off potential buyers (they may think it's a phishing link, which unfortunately is a real concern) and it also helps ensure that you'll get the sale because it doesn't give them the option to copy the link, extract your affiliate code and stick in their own (or none at all -- some people just have a thing about that).

    So bottom line, it's not "required" in the sense that your links will work without it. However, it is required in the sense that it makes your site much more elegant and more likely to make money for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author zonkow
    Also I remember reading somewhere that google hates cloaked links.
    Is that true?
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by zonkow View Post

      Also I remember reading somewhere that google hates cloaked links.
      Is that true?
      Like most of the things you read here about what Google likes or dislikes, I suspect one can't tell whether or not it's true (and neither can the people alleging it, by the way).

      However, cloaking your Amazon links will unquestionably increase the proportion of people clicking on them. As long as you don't use something silly like "tinyurl" or "bit.ly", obviously: that would reduce it!
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      • Profile picture of the author ronaldmd
        The purpose of link cloaking is to hide your affiliate link so people don't know if they click affiliate link. The reason is, most people don't click affiliate links. They don't like the idea of someone is making money from them.
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