Yes it is reliable. It's good if you have a lot of affiliate links to mask. If you only have a few your better off buying domains that people will remember and look professional though.
Yes, it's reliable as some readers are annoyed when they notice that it is an affiliate link. However, it cannot help if you are applying SEO.
It seems that you're reading the wrong marketing books There are better shortening services that provide also ad tracking. For free ...
It would be better if you could support your argument with some more info....for all of us to benefit from... Even I have been using tinyurl to avoid people from shying away, just because it is an affiliate link....But I am equally sure, there would be a lot better option available than this. Regards, RightMan
I use tinyurl all the time and I know many top marketers use it as well. However, I'm aware that they are many more free ones around, like hotshorturl.com
I agree. If you are marketing a small number of niche products, it's really simple to buy a nice domain name (try to stick with .com if you can) and re-direct it to your affiliate link. Be sure to enable masking when you set up your re-direct. Companies like GoDaddy make the process simple, and provide step by step instructions.
Sure You may want to start by reading this: http://www.ezineads.info/more-reviews/forget-about-tinyurl
The shortest distance between two lines is a straight point. Every time you introduce a redirect to the path you take introduce another possibility for a break.
I prefer to buy a domain and redirect. It looks more professional than obviously hiding the domain. The downside of url shortening is that people may still shy away from it for fear that it is some kind of install or spy ware. (Why would they be hiding the url ?) For me the $10 is worth the peace of mind of knowing for sure. As far as the (1) Aff link in my sig, why would I try and hide that from webmasters, you all know it's my link, would a domain shortener make you more apt to click it ? Either you'll check it out, or you won't. After all this is a forum full of webmasters who all have affiliate products and links
I hate tinyurls no offence to any one that uses them because I used to it just seems that it looks very unprofessional although its great to start out with, I tend to stick with domain forwarding.
Why not use a simple .htaccess redirect instead? Tinyurls look like you are trying to hide something. More information: http://www.webweaver.nu/html-tips/web-redirection.shtml
You could even get a .info name for $1.99 from GoDaddy if you wanted a sepereate domain, but did not want to spend $10 for a domain for redirecting. A .com is definitely the best way to go, but hey we all have budgets.
Apart from the fact that it's widely recognized as a way of hiding affiliate links, it's good. Try using your own by making a PHP file with a redirect or something.
..and people definitely are not clicking links that look like they are hiding something. I think it used to be a great idea, but as web surfers become more savvy, the more honest and professional you can look, the better. I too hate to see "tiny url" . I have always thought it was stupid to have a URL that has no value SEO wise, or any chance of being remembered for branding or type in traffic. Also with so many of them around the web, if you hover over a few of them, a novice will think that they all go to the same site, since there is no personalization with them at all. It seems like more work than just applying a link masking plug in, or spending (as was mentioned) $1.99 for a .info domain. If I was the average surfer, and I hover over a link and once again see "tiny url" I would not click it since it is not what is portrayed in the text and I have no idea what a "Tiny URL" is, or where it will take me. JMO
I think it's good, but sometimes the link malfunctions and doesn't work after a very long period of time has gone buy. A better Idea might to buy a couple of domain names and set them up to redirect clickers to your affiliate site.
Just read the terms of each because some aren't allowing and thus it won't be consider a sale even if you have sent them some sale.