Links in PDF documents

[magwoi]

Hello Everyone,

What is the best way of putting affiliate links in PDF files to ensure you get good clickthrough? I assume that those long URLs with tracking numbers and affiliate codes are not effective. Is it better to use tinyurl, redirects or something else?

If it is redirects, which type of redirects are the best ones?

Is it better to use the actual URL for the link or just the appropriate Anchor text?

Thanks
Mag

[Richard N Adams]

Mag,

In a PDF, why not use actual text as per a website and then hyperlink it to your affiliate link?

Using a meta refresh will allow you to maintain control over the link, track clicks if desired etc but also keeps the URL looking reasonably friendly.

i.e. rather than http://www.merchant.com/affiliate/go.php?af=1234567 you could use http://www.yourdomain.com/filename

Or if you are really serious about promoting a certain program, register a seperate domain to forward it through, so you link to Yourdomain2.com - Domain name registration Resources and Information.This website is for sale! which then redirects to your affiliate link.

All the best,
Richard

[Colin Evans]

Always use a redirect on a domain you control (redirects like tinyurl are domains you cannot control). The reason is if the affiliate program changes (or stops) you can substitute a different URL in the redirect, that way your readers will always be sent to a relevant website (i.e. the link in the PDF will always point to your redirect, but you can change where the redirect links to).

Which brings us to a second point: Because affiliate products come and go, try not to use a domain in the PDF link text (or if you do, follow Richard's advice, i.e. http://www.yourdomain.com/filename). You can use link text like "Click here"...

[Zack Lim]

I agree with you, Colin.

I personally will cloak my affiliate link to be http://www.yourdomain.com/filename as it will looks better and more professional.

We should always have control over our own business

Zack