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Why is clickbank giving long affiliate links?

by ShiningHero
13 replies
Hey guys, just wondering this, I noticed when you click promote in the marketplace it gives you a really long url with a random letters and numbers.

Why are they doing that when

http:// YourClickbankNickName.VendorName.hop.clickbank.net

works?

:confused:
(also wondering if the random generated ones expire?)
#affiliate #clickbank #giving #links #long
  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    They've simply made Hoplink Shield the default. As it says in the popup window that gives you the link:

    This HopLink has been encrypted by HopLink Shield. It represents an encrypted version of the traditional HopLink format of http://affiliate.vendor.hop.clickbank.net.
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  • Profile picture of the author imenterprise
    AS UMS said Clickbank made it to where the Hoplink Shield is default. It's used to protect your commissions. If anyone that knows anything about Clickbank sees the old version (the one you are talking about) then they could easily look up the vendor ID and find the product, while not giving you the commission.

    If you are looking at shortening the URL, it's better to set up URL redirects using your own domain name than use shortening services such as bit.ly or TinyURL. This way it looks more professional, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by imenterprise View Post

      it's better to set up URL redirects using your own domain name then use shortening services such as bit.ly or TinyURL. This way it looks more professional, etc.
      I agree. Also, anyone thinking of potentially using such a shortening service might wish at least to make themselves aware of some of the easily avoidable disasters involved in doing this, and this thread is as good a place as any, to start.
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      • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        You won't often see the words "bit.ly"/"tinyurl" used in the same context as the words "more professional".

        They're about as unprofessional as you can get. :p

        Anyone thinking of potentially using such a shortening service might wish at least to make themselves aware of some of the easily avoidable disasters involved in doing this, and this thread is as good a place as any, to start.
        I now use the MaxBlogPress Ninja Affiliate to cloak/track ALL my affiliate links. Makes them look totally professional and tracks the clicks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tony Dean
    All the spam email I get has got bit'ly or tinyurl.com in there, so really it shreaks of "spam"!
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  • Profile picture of the author imenterprise
    @Annie Just to be clear as it (at least to me) seems you are misunderstanding what I had stated... Using a TinyURL or bit.ly is LESS professional than using a redirect from your own domain name.

    @Tony In all reality, I have heard that in any instance that a TinyURL redirect that is used in an email, is automatically sent to the Spam/Junk folder unless if you have whitelisted the email address it is coming from. I have never tested this, but it is what I've heard.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by imenterprise View Post

      @Annie Just to be clear as it (at least to me) seems you are misunderstanding what I had stated... Using a TinyURL or bit.ly is LESS professional than using a redirect from your own domain name.
      Sorry, IMEnterprise, I misunderstood you, also.

      You said "then", instead of "than", which changed the meaning a lot!

      I have edited my post, now - thank you for mentioning this.
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      • Profile picture of the author imenterprise
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        Sorry, IMEnterprise, I misunderstood you, also.

        You said "then", instead of "than", which changed the meaning a lot!

        I have edited my post, now - thank you for mentioning this.
        Oops! Had just noticed the grammar error. Sorry, had been up for a little too long, with too little of sleep at that point (stupid insomnia! ). Will be extra careful in the future!
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        • Profile picture of the author ShiningHero
          Does that mean if one guy clicks two different affiliate links for the same product, regardless of the link he buys from, credit will go to the affiliate of the first link he clicked?
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          • Profile picture of the author imenterprise
            Originally Posted by warhero View Post

            Does that mean if one guy clicks two different affiliate links for the same product, regardless of the link he buys from, credit will go to the affiliate of the first link he clicked?
            No, it does not. If he clicks on a second affiliate link, that cookie will replace the old one. So if he was to purchase through that link, the second affiliate would be credited for the purchase.

            Also if the visitor left the site after clicking the second affiliate link, and happened to go back a few days later by (let's just say as an example) typing the URL in directly, then the second affiliate would still be credited... Unless if the visitor cleared out their cookies between visits.
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  • Profile picture of the author ShiningHero
    Guys, please explain how that actually protects anything? It redirects you to a url where hop=yournickname which could still be changed.

    Don't understand the point of this ???
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    • Profile picture of the author imenterprise
      Originally Posted by warhero View Post

      Guys, please explain how that actually protects anything? It redirects you to a url where hop=yournickname which could still be changed.

      Don't understand the point of this ???
      Yes, it can still be changed but it takes an extra step... When you click on an affiliate link and you go to a site where transactions are handled by Click bank the only way you can eliminate the affiliate commission is by leaving the site and clearing your cookies. Most people won't go that far for various reasons (Don't know how, don't want to risk losing saved passwords, etc.).
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