Which url shortener is better for cloaking affiliate links?

by Jorge Vidaurre

Posted: 12 years ago 62 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hello

I was browsing some youtube videos and one them had in the video description a google shortened url when i clicked on it it led me to a page where it says the link had been disabled for spam.

I would like to shorten my affiliate link however I don't want it to get blocked by google.

Which url shorteners are better for cloaking affiliate links?

Thank you for the opportunity to connect with you all.

#affiliate #cloaking #links #shortener #url

sonicadam123 12 years ago

I wouldnt recommend using any really.

They're used a lot by spammers, which is most uncool.

So a lot are being blacklisted by various major spam databases like spamhaus.

Here's a post that you might find useful from Aweber - Are Blacklisted Link Shorteners Getting Your Emails Blocked?
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5594984].message }}
Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by 568129

Which url shorteners are better for cloaking affiliate links?

Any one that you own and control yourself.

In other words, something like "Prettylink" is good, and so is using a .info domain-name which you own and control as a redirection.

The important mistake to avoid is to let your business be dependent on the continued longevity, reliability and terms of service of a completely unnecessary third-party service. That's all "downside only".

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...han-other.html
- [ 3 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5594995].message }}
- Jorge Vidaurre 12 years ago
  
  is bitly a good url shortener?
  
  Thanks
  
  2 replies
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595128].message }}
  
  Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by 568129
  
  is bitly a good url shortener?
  
  Anyone potentially interested in bit.ly might find this rather chilling reading: The .ly domain space to be considered unsafe | :Ben Metcalfe Blog
  
  As already mentioned above, the important mistake to avoid is to let your business be dependent on the continued longevity, reliability and terms of service of a completely unnecessary third-party service. That's all "downside only".
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595158].message }}
  
  Jorge Vidaurre 12 years ago
  
  i don't have a wordpress blog so I believe I can't use wordpress right? so if bit.ly is not recommended, which url shortener would be better?
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595282].message }}
  
  Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by 568129
  
  shorturl is better than bit.ly?
  
  It doesn't really matter whether it's better or worse. Both are a mistake.
  
  Shorturl isn't a link-cloaker, anyway.
  
  As already mentioned above, the important mistake to avoid is to let your business be dependent on the continued longevity, reliability and terms of service of a completely unnecessary third-party service. That's all "downside only".
  
  http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...han-other.html
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595399].message }}
  
  skibbz 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Jorge Vidaurre
  
  is bitly a good url shortener?
  
  bitly is one of the most popular url shorteners but i cant vouch for its reputation with regards to cloaking
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8379477].message }}
aaaa33030 12 years ago

shorturl . com shortens the link but it doesn't cloak it
- Thanks
Signature
Perpetual Income 365
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595079].message }}

sbucciarel

Banned 12 years ago

I use Pretty Links. It's redirection from your own domain, so it isn't on the block lists that others are.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595092].message }}

yestyle

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I use Pretty Links. It's redirection from your own domain, so it isn't on the block lists that others are.

I agree to sbucciarel, I also use this method in my affiliate pages.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378593].message }}

icandi

11 years ago

I agree, prettylinks as the best option and even if no wordpress, it's worth setting one up even on a sub-domain just for this purpose, better than using any off the numerous bit.ly type offerings...

Originally Posted by yestyle

I agree to sbucciarel, I also use this method in my affiliate pages.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378629].message }}

Marian

11 years ago

Originally Posted by icandi

I agree, prettylinks as the best option and even if no wordpress, it's worth setting one up even on a sub-domain just for this purpose, better than using any off the numerous bit.ly type offerings...

If on WordPress there are much better options/plugins to do the cloaking and tracking I guess.

Marian

Thanks

Signature

7 Figure Affiliate Email Secrets

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378901].message }}

itsohsoeazy 12 years ago

you can also use a php redirect script.

<?php
header( 'Location: http://www.yoursite.com/new_page.html' ) ;
?>
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595445].message }}
- saadi001 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by itsohsoeazy
  
  you can also use a php redirect script.
  
  <?php
  header( 'Location: http://www.yoursite.com/new_page.html' ) ;
  ?>
  
  How about that solution? Just create a file like shortlink.php with above code in the root of your domain. Then simple call
  
  example.com/shortlink.php
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8340814].message }}
FreeMeal 12 years ago

I used bit.ly to shorten an aff link and put it in a pdf the other night. When I clicked on it in the pdf I was taken to a warning page stating that the link may be malicious (it wasn't btw). I resaved the pdf, this time without the bitly link (just the plain aff link) and it worked completely fine. Never seen that happen before so maybe things are changing?
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5595526].message }}
aaaa33030 12 years ago

For cloaking links you can try traffic-eruption . com where you can generate viral traffic and advertise at the same time
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
Perpetual Income 365
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5596011].message }}
- Jorge Vidaurre 12 years ago
  
  i dont have wordpress i need wordpress to use pretty link right? short url displays a banner at the bottom of the page where you redirect. For this reason tinyurl or bit.ly are probably better.how do i set up my own link shortener?
  
  thanks
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5597093].message }}
Randall Magwood 12 years ago

Use your own website to disguise your links into something that looks legit. But if you can't resist the temptation... go with TinyURL.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
==>> Free book reveals make money with affiliate marketing
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5597154].message }}
- Boogie40 12 years ago
  
  I have used tinyurl on several sites but not lately.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5597589].message }}

Jorge Vidaurre

12 years ago

i like that tinyurl has no advertising and redirects straight to your link however it has no tracking though.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5599318].message }}

Joseph G Spiteri 12 years ago

I use easy redirect script by warrior Jason Fladlien it works great and i have had no problems with it at all
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5599363].message }}

Alexa Smith

Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by 568129

i like that tinyurl has no advertising and redirects straight to your link

How do you like the fact that sometimes it just disappears and goes under and everyone loses their links and it has to be rescued from the administrator/liquidator?

Is there a way of convincing you that the important mistake to avoid is to let your business be dependent on the continued longevity, reliability and terms of service of a completely unnecessary third-party service?

Or are all the people here telling you this over and over again in different threads just wasting our time? Just wondering ... please don't take me the wrong way, but you really do seem absolutely determined (and not in only one thread), in spite of the ready availability of better, safer alternatives, to put the security of your business into the hands of an unnecessary third party service you can neither control nor influence. Why is that?

[ 2 ] Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5599393].message }}

seosynergy 12 years ago

tiny url.

However it is better not to use any of the short URLs. This is mostly looked up as spam by the user base.
- Thanks
Signature

Don't Miss Your Chance to Ge most Powerful backlinks from a PR3+ Domain. PM me for Details.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5599410].message }}

barbling

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Is there a way of convincing you that the important mistake to avoid is to let your business be dependent on the continued longevity, reliability and terms of service of a completely unnecessary third-party service?...

Cloaking links is easy to do - I wrote about it over at

Both ways can be done easily.

More ideas are at:

http://www.fmsseo.com/310/how-to-cloak-your-affiliate-links-3-ways-to-prevent-commission-hijacking/
How To: Cloak your Affiliate Links for Free in Under 3 Seconds « Rory Hansen – Web and mobile app development, affiliate marketing, making money online, and entrepreneurship

Hope that helps!

[ 3 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

==> My Latest! <<
==> Zero Cost MMO eClass! <<

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5599475].message }}

Web Hand 12 years ago

Originally Posted by barbling

Cloaking links is easy to do.
Both ways can be done easily.

Thanks, Barb! This is just what I was looking for this morning (said Shawn). . .
- Thanks
Signature

"Words have weight." ~ Stephen King

* * * THE SMARTER WRITER'S OPTION * * *
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6813586].message }}

ActivePresent 12 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5599483].message }}
- Valter B 12 years ago
  
  You can use redirect script or create your own url shortener:
  businessmindhacks . com/post/building-your-own-tinyurl-in-less-than-1-hour-using-wordpress
  If you are lazy to that than go to clicky . me
  
  (remove spaces)
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5599803].message }}
ryanmilligan Banned 12 years ago

Just do a redirect from your own site.

For example: www.yoursite.com/x-y-z-offer/

On the page post a redirect script (Just google it to find one)
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5600287].message }}
RichardDean 12 years ago

Best to use your own from your own domain, Search WSO section I have seen some scripts that you install on your own server. One I think I remember is best damn redirect by warrior Richard Wing.

It was a WSO not too long ago so might not be too deep in the system.

Hope that helps
Richard
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

5 Minute Mobile Sites... My Next WSO Comming Soon.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5600780].message }}
- Danny McConnell 12 years ago
  
  You could always throw a wordpress installation on your blog alongside your main site, or on a subdomain, and use pretty links.
  
  Dan
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5600827].message }}
AnneE 12 years ago

I asked this question a short while ago and all I got was everyone telling me to make sure I owned the site doing the redirecting.

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...han-other.html

Funny how threads take on a life of their own even when they are the same question that's been asked a bunch before. While some of the posts to this thread are similar to the other, the responses are much more varied.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
You may be surprised that this unconventional way to learn Spanish works
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5601263].message }}
- Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by AnneE
  
  I asked this question a short while ago and all I got was everyone telling me to make sure I owned the site doing the redirecting.
  
  That was on a Tuesday, though. There are different Warriors online on a Saturday (I'm not altogether joking, either).
  
  Originally Posted by AnneE
  
  Funny how threads take on a life of their own even when they are the same question that's been asked a bunch before.
  
  It's true. It's most unpredictable. I often look at an OP and find myself thinking "I bet this one runs and runs" and then find it still unresponded to the next day; and sometimes I imagine there'll be little interest and/or even a deletion, and find it well into its second page a few hours later. It really is very difficult to predict!
  
  This one perhaps had a slightly artificial run and more bumps than expected because of the combination of my (and others'!) futile persistence at repeating that third-party url-shorteners are extremely unwise and the OP's apparent reluctance - both here and in another thread - to listen to that perspective or to take any notice of it - I really wasn't expecting to make five posts in the thread.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5601296].message }}
Jonathan92 12 years ago

I much prefer gocodes, a wordpress plugin for cloaking and tracking clicks.
- Thanks
Signature
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5602736].message }}
YasirYar 12 years ago

URL shorteners are a waste of time and effort. FB has already banned .ly and probably will ban the rest. Google is also out to kill them, so think again if you want to use them.
- Thanks
Signature

>>>Get your websites ACTUALLY ranked by checking these out: Quantum SEO Labs, Home Page Link Building & SERP Ability. Want to get rid of negative listings? Check out Reputation Enhancer.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5603234].message }}
PAH Tim 12 years ago

I've personally used TinyURL in the past, but I like the idea of using a simple redirect script to create my own. It isn't very hard to create your own redirect script and as Alexa said, why rely on a third-party when you don't have too?
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5603253].message }}
KnightOnboard 11 years ago

It is really unnecessary to use a third party tool to cloak your affiliate link if you can make it in house thru PHP script or the barbling method stated on her website. You need to have more control over your business.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8341075].message }}
- jthenry55 11 years ago
  
  So I'm new to this.
  Are you saying URL shortening is not good at all and should not be done and you should just use cloaking?
  
  Can you do cloaking if you don't have your own website?
  
  I was trying to promote clickbank affiliate links on twitter using bitly and the links just all say WARNING! and I tweeted a bunch before I actually tested my link before i realized it was doing that.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Will work for knowledge
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378018].message }}
samjaynz 11 years ago

If you're using affiliate links it's much better to register some cheap domain names and created proper redirects from there. Then you never have to worry about checking up on your links in case they get deleted or blocked.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378128].message }}
Help Me Candi Banned 11 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378378].message }}
- homebizoutlook 11 years ago
  
  My favorite is x.co
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  PPC Domination
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378383].message }}
VivekThakur 11 years ago

I am using bitly.
its good
- Thanks
- 2 replies
Signature

Enjoy Life.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378838].message }}
- CyberAlien 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by VivekThakur
  
  I am using bitly.
  its good
  
  What are you using it for? Email marketing, video links, articles, etc.? I've seen tons of complaints about bit.ly links causing emails to hit the spam folder and a lot of websites have stopped allowing shortened URLs from there.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378923].message }}
- UMS 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by VivekThakur
  
  I am using bitly.
  its good
  
  Definitely good for losing all your affiliate links and having your earnings drop to zero.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  SECockpit - Get the world's most POWERFUL Keyword Research Tool for ONLY $1
  
  Grab a LIFETIME Discount off Elegant Themes
  
  Grab a LIFETIME 40% Discount off The Best Spinner
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8379134].message }}
leoj888 11 years ago

you can use bitly,but they disable some links sometimes
the safest way to do this is get your own domain,then set redirect to your destination link
- Thanks
Signature

Now Looking for 6 serious partners only to team up to build $5000/month income In next 90-120 days!
Will show you more detail if you interested,thanks!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8378940].message }}
FreedomFighterClub 11 years ago

Hey friends, I like socialmediabar as you can customise your URL. MrG Freedom Fighter
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8379291].message }}
waynewalters 11 years ago

I like using pretty links or buying a 5-letter domain name and adding affiliate links there using pretty links or redirect.
- Thanks
Signature

Skateboarding every damn day
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8379451].message }}
tyronne78 8 years ago

I use a service called Ninja Affiliate.
- Thanks
Signature
Visit my blog for FREE direct response marketing tips & tricks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10800784].message }}
Vortex 8 years ago

I use a product called "Elf Links" on my websites. It's pretty good as the links produced don't even show up when people use the "View Source" functions of the browser. It basically hides the links from Google when it crawls your site, so you don't get penalised for having affiliate links.

It's a Wordpress Plugin though, so your site would need to be built on Wordpress - and also cannot use them on external sites like Youtube etc.

Not a problem though, as I just use normal urls on external sites, that then get redirected to my websites and then "Elf Links" takes over from there.
- Thanks
Signature
Attract As Much Traffic As Your Website Can Handle! Video Course - 75 Videos - over 11 hours of content
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10800809].message }}
quain88 8 years ago

buy a short name domain and use it as a shortener, thats what i do
- Thanks
Signature
Western Samar Telecommunications Inc
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10800953].message }}
Michael Meaney 8 years ago

I set up my own.

Also don't forget to add nofollow to your links so Google knows it's an advert... or something.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

--> NEW TRAFFIC METHODS <--
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10801205].message }}
- pawandave Banned 8 years ago
  
  Best way is to buy one general domain and use it for all link
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10802018].message }}
opti900 8 years ago

Try snagoffer. It's pretty sweet because it integrates with google analytics.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10874809].message }}
aizaku 8 years ago

i use google url shortener

-ike paz
- Thanks
Signature

>> 2018 Money Making Method Video Guides [NO OPTIN] <<
80% Of These Proven Guides Are Free... ]
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10874883].message }}
keshavjha 8 years ago

Please use clickmagick.
- Thanks
Signature

==>$100k in 90 days Step by Step ROBUST SYSTEM<==
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10874958].message }}
zdebx 8 years ago

In my opinion, the best way to do it, is to get a generic domain, something like "clickhere.com" and then use sub-folders to create product related names, where you will be re-directing your affiliate links with HTML or PHP, whatever you prefer.

So if the product was called Warrior Forum, then you would have "clickhere.com/warriorforum", which would re-direct the user via your affiliate link.

Simply look up html/php re-direct in Google to learn how to do it.

P.S. Obviously this is all assuming that you have a web host.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10875976].message }}
- Frank Donovan 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by zdebx
  
  P.S. Obviously this is all assuming that you have a web host.
  
  Who knows? The OP hasn't come back to this thread since February 2012.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10875998].message }}
  
  zdebx 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Frank Donovan
  
  Who knows? The OP hasn't come back to this thread since February 2012.
  
  lol, sometimes it's worth checking the dates on the posts before bothering to reply...
  
  I blame tyronne78 - he bumped a 3 year old thread in August
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10876114].message }}
  
  Frank Donovan 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by zdebx
  
  lol, sometimes it's worth checking the dates on the posts before bothering to reply...
  I blame tyronne78 - he bumped a 3 year old thread in August
  
  Well, your advice is still good for anyone else bothering to read the thread. Not that there's much evidence of that from most of the other posts.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10876153].message }}
amuro 8 years ago

I will recommend bit.ly and tinyurl.

Been using this for years and have no problems so far.
- Thanks
Signature
Get My FREE Course On Affiliate Marketing
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10876328].message }}
James Clifton 8 years ago

Most of the url cloakers out there are for Wordpress specifically, for example: https://prettylinkpro.com/
But a good independent shortener and cloaker is TinyURL.com - shorten that long URL into a tiny URL
- Thanks
Signature
Knowledge is Power. Knowledge is Wealth.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10876373].message }}
sachin5120 8 years ago

i use clickmeter
- Thanks
Signature
$10000/M secret Revealed Here Check It Out
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10876495].message }}
friedrich88 7 years ago

There is this open source repository on Github, that implements a distributed url.shortener. It seems that it misses a web interface anyway, it can be used by command line right now
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11116103].message }}
- friedrich88 7 years ago
  
  The repo is here: https://github.com/Balzu/url-shortener.
  Googling I also found a lot of discussions and repositories, it seems that url shortenig is still a hot topic!
  
  Also this repo should implement a distributed url shortener, but i didn't tested! https://github.com/shamaeia/url-shortener"
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11116104].message }}
  
  pawandave Banned 7 years ago
  
  Clickmeter is good but many more listed here is also doing well
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11116141].message }}