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Link Cloaking

by virginiad
14 replies
I need some information about cloaking affiliate links. I have heard that sometimes it works against you because you don't get credit for the sale. Is that true? Are there times that link cloaking is not a good thing to do? Are there other times (non-affiliate links) when it is useful?

Also, is link cloaking the same thing as using a shortened url (ie tinyurl.com)?

Thanks for your help.
#cloaking #link
  • Profile picture of the author BurgerBoy
    Originally Posted by virginiad View Post

    I need some information about cloaking affiliate links. I have heard that sometimes it works against you because you don't get credit for the sale. Is that true? Are there times that link cloaking is not a good thing to do? Are there other times (non-affiliate links) when it is useful?

    Also, is link cloaking the same thing as using a shortened url (ie tinyurl.com)?

    Thanks for your help.
    You will get credit for the sales (I use link cloaking) and yes tinyurl is link cloaking.
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  • Profile picture of the author virginiad
    Thanks for the info. Is there any time that link cloaking is not advisable? I forget where I heard that...I read a lot of stuff...
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  • Profile picture of the author AdamSlade88
    The best method for cloaking affiliate links is to buy a domain name and forward or redirect that domain name to your affiliate link. That way it looks professional and it doesnt look like your part of an affiliate program. just make sure the domain name you choose somehow relates to your affiliate link. I wouldnt recommend using tinyurl though. Hope that helps
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    • Profile picture of the author SimpleCash
      I use tinyurl and it seems to work great. So I recommend using it
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  • Profile picture of the author BurgerBoy
    You can redirect affiliate links on your own domain using a php redirect.

    Go here and read post #6 http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...iate-link.html

    I explain how to do a php redirect in it.
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    One argument against using a url-shortening service (like bit.ly or tinyurl and others) and for using a simple redirect script on your own domain is that you never know when/if the outside service will be running, close up shop, lose url information, etc. Best, if you can, to keep things 'in-house' where you have control.
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  • Profile picture of the author Hackbridge
    I have a cloaking software I give away for free. If you want it PM me.

    Brian
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    All right. If you have WordPress and want a simple link-cloaking plugin, I just wrote and released one. No bells and whistles, just simple redirects. Download it here: http://ilikewordpress.com/simple-link-cloaker/
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  • Profile picture of the author Lillian
    thank you so much for the wp link cloaker
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  • Profile picture of the author dclozen
    I don't cloak my links I re-direct them. the result is the same but the whole affiliate like is transmitted instead of a cloaked link. It seems a little safer. At least my mentor says it is.
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    • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
      Originally Posted by dclozen View Post

      I don't cloak my links I re-direct them. the result is the same but the whole affiliate like is transmitted instead of a cloaked link. It seems a little safer. At least my mentor says it is.
      A little difference in terms, I think.

      I suppose in its purest form, a 'cloaked' link is one that the href is simply obfuscated by javascript so that what appears in the status bar is not where the link is directed. This is easily overcome by looking at the page source code.

      The plugin I wrote, and most of the 'link cloaker' scripts and techniques work as you describe - a redirection in some form or fashion. I don't know about it being "safer" (depends on what you mean by that) but redirection does make it a little more difficult to discover the underlying affiliate link.

      It can still be done, but most people don't go to the trouble to do it and then clear their cookies.
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      • Profile picture of the author edhan
        So far I have been using Clickbank link cloaker that allows you to make either a redirect cloaking or remain on your existing site. I normally choose it to remain on my site but displaying the product I am promoting. I do believe it is using the frame cloaking to allow the display in my site.

        I will test and make sure that it works for clickbank as you can see if the affiliate is your own affliate link when purchase.

        Better test and be sure otherwise you may lose your credit. So far it works very well for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author JaredKels
    You will definitely get credit for each sale!
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  • Profile picture of the author kettlewell
    Clickbank TOS is fairly clear that it is OK to redirect a link , but not to frame it.

    I suspect that this is were the semantics of "cloaked" links is coming from. Both are cloaked links (in my book anyhow), but one is OK for most affiliate programs, while the other (framed) solution is not OK with most affiliate programs...
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