How do I make a link work once?

yours2u · 08-21-2009, 09:03 AM

Hi All
I want to send out an email to customers with a link to a download page but I only want the link to work once or twice so the customer can't just pass the email on. Any ideas how?
Thanks

nontemplates · 08-21-2009, 09:31 AM

Not possible within an email. All you can do is password protect the site the link sends them to or you can deactivate the site after a visit or two. However since I am presuming you are sending out multiple emails the only solution is to password protect the page linked to and track IP addresses so multiple people do not use the same passwword username combo.

Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter · 08-21-2009, 09:34 AM

Easiest way is to use php to write a cookie on the visitor's machine when they visit. Then you can know whether or not they have visited before and hide your page accordingly. Pretty simple to do for anyone who knows a little php.

Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter · 08-21-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter

Easiest way is to use php to write a cookie on the visitor's machine when they visit. Then you can know whether or not they have visited before and hide your page accordingly. Pretty simple to do for anyone who knows a little php.

You know, my brain isn't working well enough. That won't work if they pass the link on.

My bad.

Here's another solution:

Append a unique "string" to each link--could be the user's email. Use PHP to read the email in the link and compare it to a database of all the emails who should have access. When someone visits your page the email in the link is compared to the database. If they've already been there then they don't get access.

nontemplates · 08-21-2009, 11:22 AM

Good solution. Never thought of that. DO they have scripts presently for that or is it a custom solution?

HomeBizNizz · 08-21-2009, 01:41 PM

Then they click the link, it will be counted the hits
and therefore block it after x numbers of tries.
You need a unique id per link too.
Or something...?

CMartin · 08-22-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yours2u

I want to send out an email to customers with a link to a download page but I only want the link to work once or twice so the customer can't just pass the email on. Any ideas how?
Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter

Append a unique "string" to each link--could be the user's email. Use PHP to read the email in the link and compare it to a database of all the emails who should have access. When someone visits your page the email in the link is compared to the database. If they've already been there then they don't get access.

Kevin's solution will work, but you must implement it for the page and/or the link(s) you have in the page to download the product(s). So, if you have direct links to the product(s) without any kind of protection, users can easily share those links. But then, they can always share the downloaded product(s)

Carlos

d101 · 08-28-2009, 05:46 PM

... complex with files and folders, either the file or the access protection would need to be changed dynamically by a script.

but: what if the link would not point to the file ... but to an application that pulls it from a protected location ... ... ... ;-)

i have developed a solution that does this.

Each request is checked and validated. It works for images, movies and documents.

it can be either required to log in, which tracks the visit aka download to the qualified user ... the link can be set to just expire after x calls .... or a certain date.

.... better even: We do want the link to get passed around ... so when the next visitor comes around, the software automatically asks the visitor to qualify, either by opting in ... or paying.

P.S. check out my channel on youtube.com/supersecretsoftware and look for "protected content videonote" ....

d101 · 08-28-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yours2u

... with a link to a download page ...

In my previous answer, i supposed you would be interested in protecting the actual file that is offered for download, rather than just the page.

Trained pirates are used to look up the source code or activity window to pass the direct link around. (... even most ´superstar marketers' do not protect their files well enough)

The Amazon S3 has a protection system in place too, but a bit complex to handle.

hope this helps

08-21-2009, 09:03 AM	#1
yours2u 2 sugars please War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: United Kingdom. Posts: 155 Thanks: 7 Thanked 58 Times in 9 Posts Contact Info	How do I make a link work once? Hi All I want to send out an email to customers with a link to a download page but I only want the link to work once or twice so the customer can't just pass the email on. Any ideas how? Thanks
	How many IM's to change a light bulb? Add your answer - this must be solved!

08-21-2009, 09:31 AM	#2
nontemplates HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 214 Thanks: 10 Thanked 22 Times in 19 Posts	Re: How do I make a link work once? Not possible within an email. All you can do is password protect the site the link sends them to or you can deactivate the site after a visit or two. However since I am presuming you are sending out multiple emails the only solution is to password protect the page linked to and track IP addresses so multiple people do not use the same passwword username combo.

08-21-2009, 09:34 AM	#3
Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter Full Frontal Lobe Nudity War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 912 Thanks: 519 Thanked 492 Times in 205 Posts Social Networking	Re: How do I make a link work once? Easiest way is to use php to write a cookie on the visitor's machine when they visit. Then you can know whether or not they have visited before and hide your page accordingly. Pretty simple to do for anyone who knows a little php.
	The Miracle Squeeze Page: Scientifically Proven to Convert 84.1% of Visitors into Subscribers Works for Anybody, Any niche - It's so simple you'll wonder why everyone isn't using it Click Here Now to Download It!

08-21-2009, 11:22 AM	#5
nontemplates HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 214 Thanks: 10 Thanked 22 Times in 19 Posts	Re: How do I make a link work once? Good solution. Never thought of that. DO they have scripts presently for that or is it a custom solution?

08-21-2009, 01:41 PM	#6
HomeBizNizz A rat after money... War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Inside a cheese... Posts: 598 Thanks: 363 Thanked 54 Times in 47 Posts	Re: How do I make a link work once? Then they click the link, it will be counted the hits and therefore block it after x numbers of tries. You need a unique id per link too. Or something...?
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08-28-2009, 05:46 PM	#8
d101 Detlev Eller War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Republic of San Marino (RSM) Posts: 41 Thanks: 22 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking	Re: How do I make a link work once? ... complex with files and folders, either the file or the access protection would need to be changed dynamically by a script. but: what if the link would not point to the file ... but to an application that pulls it from a protected location ... ... ... ;-) i have developed a solution that does this. Each request is checked and validated. It works for images, movies and documents. it can be either required to log in, which tracks the visit aka download to the qualified user ... the link can be set to just expire after x calls .... or a certain date. .... better even: We do want the link to get passed around ... so when the next visitor comes around, the software automatically asks the visitor to qualify, either by opting in ... or paying. P.S. check out my channel on youtube.com/supersecretsoftware and look for "protected content videonote" ....