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Do Uncloacked Affiliate Links Harm SEO?

by kurosaki4d
6 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi Everybody,

In order for me to track my affiliate earnings better from various sources, I have to add UTM parameters to my links that will change dynamically depending on the referring site.

The problem with using these new custom links, is I have to remove the cloaking and put the regular affiliate links instead.
  1. Old links: https://mydomain.com/visit/product
  2. New links: https://aff.track?id=1234&source=facebook

Now, if I do that, is that considered to be in any way harmful or risky to the SEO of my sites?

I want to be absolutely sure about this before I make any changes.

Any valuable insights on this topic will be welcome. Thanks.
#affiliate #harm #links #seo #uncloacked
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  • Profile picture of the author ahadu jhon
    No, uncloaked affiliate links do not directly harm SEO.
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  • Profile picture of the author rootanna507
    When properly marked, affiliate links have no effect on SEO, either positively or adversely.
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    You might end up with someone hijacking your links, i.e., making sales that other people get paid for.


    Originally Posted by kurosaki4d View Post

    Hi Everybody,

    In order for me to track my affiliate earnings better from various sources, I have to add UTM parameters to my links that will change dynamically depending on the referring site.

    The problem with using these new custom links, is I have to remove the cloaking and put the regular affiliate links instead.
    1. Old links: https://mydomain.com/visit/product
    2. New links: https://aff.track?id=1234&source=facebook

    Now, if I do that, is that considered to be in any way harmful or risky to the SEO of my sites?

    I want to be absolutely sure about this before I make any changes.

    Any valuable insights on this topic will be welcome. Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author kurosaki4d
      I hear that often, but I can't see it. How can someone hijack my links technically? Can you tell me how it works so I'd know what I'm potentially dealing with?

      Much appreciated
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      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        Not a hijacker. But I understand they can inject code that gets things to happen differently than what you set them up to. Like adding cookies that show on the product owner as having come later than yours, so they get the credit for the sale. Or just stuffing cookies.


        If I were an affiliate link hijacker, I'd be stuffing cookies. Why not get paid multiple times at once for work kurosaki4d did now since I do not know that he'll be around tomorrow or, at least, able to get me on 1 sale I didn't even have to make, I'd stuff. What's wrong with getting 17 payouts all at once?


        The product owner will notice (maybe not right away) that you don't have any 1 sale, there's always 17 and will block you. So, you, honest, hardworking kurosaki4d get penalized, the hacker finds someone else to hack, and life goes on, a bit worse for you, much better for the hijacker.



        Because the hijacker probably lives in a country where the average person makes under $300 a month and 17 payouts equals that.



        Originally Posted by kurosaki4d View Post

        I hear that often, but I can't see it. How can someone hijack my links technically? Can you tell me how it works so I'd know what I'm potentially dealing with?

        Much appreciated
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  • Profile picture of the author AdvantagePerks
    I don't think that this will hurt SEO, but it might hurt the conversion. For certain, not many people like to purchase from affiliate links.
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  • Profile picture of the author Charles122
    Uncloaked affiliate links typically do not directly harm SEO. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

    User Experience: Uncloaked affiliate links may appear long, complex, and unfamiliar to users. This can potentially discourage users from clicking on the links, leading to lower click-through rates and potentially affecting your conversion rates.

    Trust and Credibility: Some users may be wary of clicking on uncloaked affiliate links as they may not recognize or trust the destination URL. By cloaking affiliate links, you can make them appear more trustworthy and familiar to users.

    Link Appearance: Search engines, such as Google, may analyze the nature of your links, including affiliate links. While there is no direct penalty for using affiliate links, search engines prioritize user experience and quality content. Excessive use of affiliate links or low-quality affiliate content could potentially impact your website's overall SEO.
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