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cloaking affliate links

by warrenski
14 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi

I recently watched a video showing how to cloak affiliate links.

To do this you had to do it through the domain name of your website.

Is this the only way to do it ?

Could you cloak an affliate link, say on a post you make somewhere, without needing a domain name ?

Thanks,
W
#affliate #cloaking #links
  • Profile picture of the author Marketing Cheetah
    Yes you can use some reliable url shortening service. I like bit.ly
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    • Profile picture of the author warrenski
      Thanks guys,

      Anchor text being down the bottom like a footnote ? like some of the warriors have here

      Yeah, ive seen bit.ly links out there, they still look a bit messy to me but at least they are shorter
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Marketing Cheetah View Post

        I like bit.ly
        Originally Posted by warrenski View Post

        Yeah, ive seen bit.ly links out there, they still look a bit messy to me but at least they are shorter
        I'd stay away from that one, for sure.

        The best URL shortening service to track click-throughs and conceal affiliate links is any one that you own and control yourself.

        To put it mildly, it's not sensible at all to rely on the continued availability, goodwill, reliability and changeable terms of service of any third-party URL-shortening service.

        There were a few hundred Warriors here last year who would have told you the same (and in fact did) when all their Tinyurl links suddenly disappeared overnight.

        And if anyone tells you that "bit.ly's not going anywhere", and "has good customer service", just invite them to read this recent post on Ben Metcalfe's blog: The .ly domain space to be considered unsafe | :Ben Metcalfe Blog.

        For $5 you can go to Fiverr and have someone install your own cloaker/tracker on your own hosting, even if you don't know how to do it yourself. Be in control of your own business and not dependent on unnecessary third-party services you can't control!
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        • Profile picture of the author Marketing Cheetah
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          I'd stay away from that one, for sure.

          The best URL shortening service to track click-throughs and conceal affiliate links is any one that you own and control yourself.

          To put it mildly, it's not sensible at all to rely on the continued availability, goodwill, reliability and changeable terms of service of any third-party URL-shortening service.

          There were a few hundred Warriors here last year who would have told you the same (and in fact did) when all their Tinyurl links suddenly disappeared overnight.

          And if anyone tells you that "bit.ly's not going anywhere", and "has good customer service", just invite them to read this recent post on Ben Metcalfe's blog: The .ly domain space to be considered unsafe | :Ben Metcalfe Blog.

          For $5 you can go to Fiverr and have someone install your own cloaker/tracker on your own hosting, even if you don't know how to do it yourself. Be in control of your own business and not dependent on unnecessary third-party services you can't control!
          Alexa, this is the 4th post I have read by you today (previous were on ezinearticles and article marketing) and really I have to say that you every time come up with a logic and explanation. Thanks
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        • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
          How long term is this project?

          if it is very short term, or this stage is short term for you to test things, you can use bit.ly or tiny url. They both have tracking.

          Is it recommendable for long term? no.

          Can you use them with an autoresponder? some don´t like it.

          Can they delete that link in a article directory now or later? yes.

          Are they accepting these links? so far it looks like, not sure for how long.

          Can the short url services change policies or vanish? yes.

          If you don´t have a domain and you are just playing around, it is a way out. Risky, but a way out.

          As soon as you can get a domain, at least one, and put some hosting on it, then you can start using your own redirects whether it is via cpanel or subdirectories. There are also some scripts around.

          Sandra
          Signature
          Coloring book niche? I have a proposal for you.
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          • Profile picture of the author warrenski
            Hi

            Its short term at the moment. In the future I plan to get some domains

            I expect these will be niche related ones though.

            Can you create cloaked affliate links through your domain for a different niche or should the cloaked affliate links you create with one niche domain relate to that niche domain ? (in case you get referrals to another niche
            which might confuse your customers ?)

            Thanks,
            W
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            • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
              Originally Posted by warrenski View Post

              Hi

              Its short term at the moment. In the future I plan to get some domains

              I expect these will be niche related ones though.

              Can you create cloaked affliate links through your domain for a different niche or should the cloaked affliate links you create with one niche domain relate to that niche domain ? (in case you get referrals to another niche
              which might confuse your customers ?)

              Thanks,
              W
              yes, you can have a generic domain. I use danthra.com, which is my test/service/always messed up site. If you have a niche related domain where you have a website, or blog, then it is better to use it.

              it all depends on how hard you are hitting the niche.
              Signature
              Coloring book niche? I have a proposal for you.
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              • Profile picture of the author myob
                A real simple cloaking technique is to use a php redirect:

                Code:
                <?php ="http://youraffiliatelink.com";
header ("Location: ");
exit();
?>
                Replace your affiliate link with "youraffiliatelink", then save as name.php, again replace "name" with whatever page name you choose.
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                • Profile picture of the author warrenski
                  Hey

                  I'm not sure how to do that.

                  I have a vague idea what you mean but have never done anything with php before.

                  Say you had an affilaite link in the descripton box of a youtube video, how would you do it ?

                  Thanks,
                  W
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                  • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
                    Originally Posted by warrenski View Post

                    Hey

                    I'm not sure how to do that.

                    I have a vague idea what you mean but have never done anything with php before.

                    Say you had an affilaite link in the descripton box of a youtube video, how would you do it ?

                    Thanks,
                    W
                    This code:

                    Originally Posted by myob View Post


                    Code:
                    <?php ="http://youraffiliatelink.com";
header ("Location: ");
exit();
?>
                    is one of the redirect methods you can apply after you have your own domain.

                    Sandra
                    Signature
                    Coloring book niche? I have a proposal for you.
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                  • Profile picture of the author MarketingTorch
                    Originally Posted by warrenski View Post

                    Hey

                    I'm not sure how to do that.

                    I have a vague idea what you mean but have never done anything with php before.

                    Say you had an affilaite link in the descripton box of a youtube video, how would you do it ?

                    Thanks,
                    W
                    Just get one of the excellent WordPress link cloaking plugins. I recently installed the registered version of CloakPiG (from BlogPig.com) on a couple different sites to test it out; one using the standard version of WordPress and one with the MultiSite network feature activated. Works great in both scenarios. Has the ability to create custom links like the php-redirect someone else mentioned, and also the ability to create dynamic links which is totally set and forget -- my favorite kind! :p

                    Also, as long as you keep the plugin working on your domain, the link will be good for wherever you want to use it, like email, forum post sigs or blog backlinks. Many possibilities. Have fun!
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                    • Profile picture of the author AllanWM
                      Originally Posted by MarketingTorch View Post

                      Just get one of the excellent WordPress link cloaking plugins. I recently installed the registered version of CloakPiG (from BlogPig.com) on a couple different sites to test it out; one using the standard version of WordPress and one with the MultiSite network feature activated. Works great in both scenarios. Has the ability to create custom links like the php-redirect someone else mentioned, and also the ability to create dynamic links which is totally set and forget -- my favorite kind! :p

                      Also, as long as you keep the plugin working on your domain, the link will be good for wherever you want to use it, like email, forum post sigs or blog backlinks. Many possibilities. Have fun!
                      I second the vote for CloakPig, it is an excellent piece of software with a wealth of features.
                      Signature
                      FINALLY! THE TRUTH...

                      Go Funnel Yourself!
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  • Profile picture of the author IcedSEO-CEO
    Banned
    If you are using wordpress, you can use gocodes plugin to cloak your affiliate links and I think Gocodes is a perfect suite
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    • Profile picture of the author warrenski
      Thanks, yeah i also plan on using Wordpress too
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