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Clickbank vendors - why would anyone NOT do this?

by Chris Thompson
15 replies
This week I installed HopGuard from Sam Stephens. For those unfamiliar, this $47 program goes on your server and allows your affiliates to create their own cloaked / encrypted affiliate link to your sales page.

Benefits:

1) the affiliate link points to YOUR URL, so I suspect you get more Google pagerank from this.

2) because of the above, your affiliates won't use links that look like obvious affiliate links anymore

3) You can create multiple sales pages and let your affiliates choose which suit them best.

Using this tool would make me seem like a better product vendor that cares about affiliates (the truth), so it could attract me more affiliates.

If, over the next year, this generates me even a few more sales (given that I pay 75% commission), it will have paid for itself.

I think it was a good investment. Not sure why everyone on CB is not using this product.
#clickbank #vendors
  • Profile picture of the author Max Ramocsai
    Thank you for the recommendation because I honestly did not know such an option existed. I will most likely be purchasing it in the near future now but before I do I'd like to ask you a few questions.

    First of all, I'm not too experienced with scripts. Will is work if I am using WordPress?

    Also, what will the cloaked url look like?
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  • Profile picture of the author Kris Turner
    I'll need something like this soon, and I'm still trying to decide between this and EasyClickMate. Would love to hear from someone with experience of both!
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  • Profile picture of the author stevenh512
    I haven't used it personally, but if HopGuard is what Sam is using for his own DLGuard affiliate program (I'm assuming it is), then I think it's great and it's something every CB merchant should use.

    My only problem with your description is allowing them to build their affiliate link from the "sales page." As an affiliate, I absolutely will not promote a product that promotes its own affiliate program on the sales page (especially a CB product), too many lost commissions that way. Ideally, you should have a separate "Affiliate Tools" page where they can build their link.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Thompson
      Originally Posted by stevenh512 View Post

      My only problem with your description is allowing them to build their affiliate link from the "sales page." As an affiliate, I absolutely will not promote a product that promotes its own affiliate program on the sales page (especially a CB product), too many lost commissions that way. Ideally, you should have a separate "Affiliate Tools" page where they can build their link.
      Steve - the link building tool goes on ANY PHP page you like. By default it seems that it does not work with WordPress because the "pages" are not PHP. But there is a very easy fix. I simply create my affiliate page in WP, then I copy all of the necessary elements into text editor and save it as .php and then inject the line of code from HopGuard. It's very simple.

      My live example (not pretty but works) Earn 75% Commission When You Promote “Talking To Toddlers” | Talking to Toddlers
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    I use hopguard for some of my products. I like it when I'm selling multiple products through one clickbank account. The only problem is that your affiliates can't use clickbanks tracking - TID when they use the hopguard links. Hopefully Sam will be adding that soon.
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  • Profile picture of the author stevenh512
    You know, there's a plugin for Wordpress to allow you to use PHP in your posts and pages. Might be easier than the way you're doing it.

    I know it'll work on any page, was just suggesting not to use it on your sales page (the way you originally described it) because that turns a lot of affiliates off. Why would I promote something, if the customers I'm sending can just create their own affiliate link right there on the sales page and steal my commission? lol

    The way you're doing it on the example page you posted (a separate page for affiliates) is exactly what I was talking about.. and if I was in that niche I'd definitely promote your product as long as the "affiliate" page isn't linked from the sales page.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Thompson
      Originally Posted by stevenh512 View Post

      I know it'll work on any page, was just suggesting not to use it on your sales page (the way you originally described it) because that turns a lot of affiliates off. Why would I promote something, if the customers I'm sending can just create their own affiliate link right there on the sales page and steal my commission? lol

      The way you're doing it on the example page you posted (a separate page for affiliates) is exactly what I was talking about.. and if I was in that niche I'd definitely promote your product as long as the "affiliate" page isn't linked from the sales page.
      Steve - we are on the same page. Totally agree with a separate page. I never suggested putting this tool on the sales page. What I wrote was, "For those unfamiliar, this $47 program goes on your server and allows your affiliates to create their own cloaked / encrypted affiliate link to your sales page." This means I was suggesting using the tool so affiliates could create links TO your page, not ON your page. I think that's where the misunderstanding lies. Either way, we agree!

      I had no idea I could run PHP code inside of WordPress. Can you share the pluggin info? I'd love to have this capability. You are right. Way easier.
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      • Profile picture of the author stevenh512
        Originally Posted by Chris Thompson View Post

        This means I was suggesting using the tool so affiliates could create links TO your page, not ON your page.
        Yeah, my mistake.. lol.. now that I reread what you posted, I see what you meant. Must have read your original post on one of my "slow" days.

        I had no idea I could run PHP code inside of WordPress. Can you share the pluggin info? I'd love to have this capability.
        I'm sure there are a few plugins to do this, but the most popular one is Exec-PHP. I've never had reason to use it myself, but I know it's gotten pretty good reviews and I think I recall a few other Warriors saying they've used it. You can get it free from the Wordpress plugin repository here:
        WordPress › Exec-PHP WordPress Plugins

        You can also find the plugin and plenty of documentation for it on the author's page here:
        http://bluesome.net/post/2005/08/18/50/
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  • Profile picture of the author ExtremeIM
    That is actually an interesting idea on ways to offer affiliates a better way to promote on their ends!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Thompson
    I don't think a database is required for HopGuard. I know you need one for DLGuard, but it seems HopGuard uses a basic encryption system to convert affiliate nicknames into gibberish-looking strings at the end of your domain. So it probably relies on a basic PHP program and no database. Very easy to use!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Thompson
    ProductCreator - the affiliate links take the form of yourdomain.com/hg/?a=xxxx

    You can check out a live example here: TalkingToToddlers.com/affiliates.php

    Just enter whatever real or fake CB ID you want and it spits out a nice link. I don't think it comes across as an affiliate link to a normal visitor.

    You can use TinyURL, etc, ...but this product gives you some Google Pagerank, I think. Plus it gives you some statistics, etc.

    I'd say just try it out ... comes with a return policy as per usual so you can't really go wrong.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Thompson
    Originally Posted by ProductCreator View Post

    Thanks for the example Chris. But to me, the "?=" makes it look a lot like an affiliate link.

    Interestingly, this could easily be fixed with an .htaccess file with a few lines of code.

    That way, your affiliates could have e.g.:

    yourdomain.com/affiliateid
    or
    yourdomain.com/affiliateid.htm
    or
    yourdomain.com/affiliateid.html

    You get the picture.
    Yes I think that is a great idea, also you could just manually create PHP redirects for the affiliate. But I think the key point here is that all of these .htaccess and php redirects involve YOUR time, and are not automated solutions where the affiliate can create their own link. But either way, I think we all agree that using the basic hoplink format is NOT GOOD. It looks weird and there are much better solutions. HopGuard is what I chose, and I recommend it because Sam Stephens has been amazing at supporting every question I've ever thrown at him. Unbelievable. Bottom line is everyone should use SOME alternative to basic hoplinks, and they are all either free or under $50. No brainer.
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