Which of these is the best to hide affiliate links??

13 replies
Obviously the first and most common way is to use a site like tinyurl but I'm pretty sure most people avoid these links because they could easily be pointing to a porn site. Also, using this way is like adding a voice-over that says '$$ This is an affiliate link $$'.

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The second way is to redirect a user via a simple line of PHP - Basically, create a .php file and put this line of code inside in:

Code:
<?php header("location: http://www.AFFILIATE-LINK-HERE.com"); ?>
Then you just name the PHP file what you want your link to be called, for example: Magic-Tricks.php. So now when you create the new affiliate link on your website you just type in:
Code:
<a href="http://www.WEBSITE.com/Magic-Tricks.php">Link</a>
and it will get sent to the php file you created and then get redirect to the affiliate website.

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The third way is to hide/change the destination of the link in the browsers status bar. To do this, this is how you write your link:
Code:
<a onclick="parent.location.href='http://www.AFFILIATE-LINK-HERE.com' ;
return event.returnValue=false" href=http://www.LINK-TO-DISPLAY.com>anchor</a>
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Another way is to change your HTACCESS file so that when any link to a paticular directory is clicked the htaccess file will redirect to the affiliate link. For example:
If you wrote a link to a fake directory/file on your website to such as:
Code:
http://www.YOUR-WEBSITE.com/fake-directory/
This would be what people saw in the status bar if they hovered over it. Now in the htaccess file, just add this line of code and the above link will always get directed to your affiliate link:

Code:
redirect 301 /fake-directory http://www.AFFILIATE-LINK.com
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I think theres another way too, something to do with iframes but I'm not sure about this. Anyway, could someone tell me which is the best way to hide affiliate links? Either from my list above or any other way you know of. Also, its important that it can't have a negative effect on SEO.
#affiliate #hide #links
  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    If a customer that knows a little about clickbank finds out on the order page that they are buying from an affiliate, they may not buy.

    For people who have no idea how to find this, it won't matter if you promote the link that Cb gives you or if you use a hidden PHP script.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mary Wilhite
      Originally Posted by talfighel View Post

      If a customer that knows a little about clickbank finds out on the order page that they are buying from an affiliate, they may not buy.

      For people who have no idea how to find this, it won't matter if you promote the link that Cb gives you or if you use a hidden PHP script.
      However, there are some sites where a CB aff link is not allowed so better
      cloak that link just to be sure.

      Don't use external link shortening services as much as possible
      when there are other options. It's so easy for people
      to report your link as possible spam and you'll lose the
      traffic and possible sales from those links.
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      • Profile picture of the author Chrystallee
        i am using the htaccess method. I think it's easier than creating .php files especially if you have a lot of affiliate links to quote!
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        Just here to learn and earn.

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      • Profile picture of the author collegequest
        Didn't anyone try co.cc domains for affiliate links?? You can easily redirect these domains to your affiliate links. domains are free of cost so definitely you get a new way to promote your affiliate network without adding any extra cost.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by collegequest View Post

          Didn't anyone try co.cc domains for affiliate links?? You can easily redirect these domains to your affiliate links. domains are free of cost so definitely you get a new way to promote your affiliate network without adding any extra cost.
          You can, but for the sake of $1 it looks a lot more professional just to use a .info domain-name, rather than a co.cc.

          co.cc is only a subdomain, really. The domain-name is co.cc and you're getting a subdomain on that domain, free of charge.

          co.cc isn't a domain extension like co.uk. The "co" is actually the name of the domain.
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        • Profile picture of the author Mary Wilhite
          Originally Posted by collegequest View Post

          Didn't anyone try co.cc domains for affiliate links?? You can easily redirect these domains to your affiliate links. domains are free of cost so definitely you get a new way to promote your affiliate network without adding any extra cost.
          Be careful with this one. I think it was just a few months
          ago when all co.cc subdomains were de-listed in Google search
          because they were slapped.

          I don't know if there are still co.cc sites in Google aside from
          the domain itself (co.cc)

          Here's the news article back then:

          Google Takes Down Over 11 Million CO.CC Sites
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            Originally Posted by Mary Wilhite View Post

            I think it was just a few months ago when all co.cc subdomains were de-listed in Google search because they were slapped.
            Yes, this is correct. The co.cc domain, together with all its subdomains, has been de-indexed by Google.

            (However, this doesn't relate to its use as a forwarding device. One wouldn't be doing SEO for those, anyway, I think?)
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            • Profile picture of the author sitehero
              Also, the T K domains are free as well so I guess this could be an alternative.
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            • Profile picture of the author Mary Wilhite
              Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

              Yes, this is correct. The co.cc domain, together with all its subdomains, has been de-indexed by Google.

              (However, this doesn't relate to its use as a forwarding device. One wouldn't be doing SEO for those, anyway, I think?)
              Yes Alexa but there's a possibility that in the long run other sites (ads, articles, etc.) where those links are posted will consider co.cc subdomains as spam and stop forwarding traffic.
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              • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
                Banned
                Originally Posted by Mary Wilhite View Post

                Yes Alexa but there's a possibility that in the long run other sites (ads, articles, etc.) where those links are posted will consider co.cc subdomains as spam and stop forwarding traffic.
                Ooh, do you think so? I hadn't thought about that at all.

                I use them (.info's in my case) only from my own site: I wouldn't ever want to put an affiliate-link on a site I don't own, because I want to generate all the traffic (and SEO) for my own sites.

                But a good point for anyone doing "direct linking" - and thank you!
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  • Profile picture of the author anthony2
    you can use a tool like gotrythis
    the software tool will allow you
    to cloak your affiliate links with ease.

    you could also check all your links in one area
    split test
    redirect links on the fly
    see clicks etc

    GoTryTHIS - Control and track all your marketing and affiliate links, in one place, live. (not aff link)
    Signature
    "I Leveled The Playing Field And Removed Every Roadblock
    To Helping You Make Maximum Profits In Minimum Time"
    Click Here Now To Find Out How!
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  • Profile picture of the author user name 666
    On forums I often times report users who post shortened links (they look spammy) - like you said it makes it obvious that the person has something to hide unless its on Twitter or some site which only allows so much space for typing a message.

    There are many ways of redirecting, most of which are fine - I've heard that a meta redirect in the head tag may cause Google to index your site .

    The problem with redirection in general is that it will still probably make it obvious to many users that you're getting paid to advertise their product. Maybe your landing page should have some information in general, then go over the product a little bit, and just encourage them to click the link for that affiliate product without sounding too much like a salesman.

    There is JavsScript you can use to use so that you can hide what URL a link will actually go to from the status bar when the user hovers over it.
    here is a web page I found explaining that:
    How To Hide Affiliate Link With Javascript | Dave Wooding

    there's other sites which talk about it also and different ways to approach it.
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