Need idiots guide for using htaccess for aff redirects

Hey Teesd,

.htaccess is the quickest and "smoothest" way to redirect links, because it redirects without actually serving up any webpages on your site. The only drawback with this method is that your can't track your redirected visitor "hits" with it (because it never serves up an actual webpage from your end when it redirects). So if those stats are not important, then do an htaccess redirect. If those stats are important, then you'll need to do a conventional html or php redirect.

Here's how to do .htaccess redirects...

You can put as many redirects as you want in a single .htaccess file. Check your 'public_html' folder (via an FTP program), and see if there is an .htaccess file there. If not, create a new one (just create a blank .txt file on your desktop, and upload it to your 'public_html' folder via FTP, then rename it to .htaccess

Then put each redirect on a separate line in the .htaccess file, in the following format (NOTE: if an .htaccess file already existed, then just add your redirects to the lines below any code that already existed in the .htaccess file)...

Redirect 301 PathToRedirectFileOnYourWebsite/RedirectFile.html http://www.YourAffiliateLink.com

Then you would give your prospects this link --> PathToRedirectFileOnYourWebsite/RedirectFile.html
Which would redirect to --> http://www.YourAffiliateLink.com

Make sense?

Hi,

It's pretty easy to redirect any page to another site or page.

First open your .htaccess file.

Goto the bottom of the file and add your redirect line

In the first part of the redirect you must show the path to the page on your server, NOT the url.

redirect 301 /home/public_html/mypage.html http://www.thedestination.com/somepage.html

Save your .htaccess and upload it back to your server.

When a user goes to http://www.yoursite.com/mypage.html they will be redirected to the new url.

It's easy to forget sometimes.

Lesson #1 from the School of Hard Knocks: before you start messing around with your .htaccess file, be certain you have a good working copy that you can upload in case of disaster!

A misplaced comma, missing slash, or a misspelled word can cause your entire site to disappear behind the dreaded "500 - Server Error" message page. If that does happen, you need to have a good copy of the file that you can immediately upload to your server.

I agree Steve, good advice.

Sometimes people don't realise they need to have a backup just incase something goes dreadfully wrong.

Teesd,

If one exists, the file should be on your server. Sometimes it could be hidden though. Use your ftp program and right click your server after logging in and select "Show hidden files" If it's there it will show up.

If not there, then just create one from an ordinary text doc. Upload it to your server and rename it .htaccess.

Here is a typical .htaccess file tutorial
301 Redirect - How to create Redirects

PM me if you need any help.

If anyone is interested, I created a tiny little app which will create an HTML file with about 13 different types of redirect links including ASP, CGI, PHP, Java, CFM, etc...

You can download it here: Redirect Link Generator (direct download link)

Rest assured that there is NO ad ware, spy ware, call homes, splash pages, registration screens or any of that. Just a simple download, run, and use type of application.

A browser window will appear when the software is finished as this is how you will see the page with the created redirect codes.

This is a Windows based app so you must have Windows or I am sure it would work on Parallels if you are so inclined to try.