Cloak Affiliate Links or Not?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by andrej, Oct 30, 2012.

  1. #1
    I wonder if I should cloak the affiliate links on my website or not? Some people say yes, others say no. Can my website get penalized by Google if I have there 2 affiliate links that are not cloaked? - e.g. http://www.company.com/track/myaffid/ad1 - Or should my links look rather like http://www.mywebsite.com/go/company/ ?

    I was doing some research and I found out that all the websites that are on top positions on Google have their affiliate links cloaked (redirected). So if they are all on the top, I should rather cloak my affiliate links, too, shouldn't I?

    Now my question is how should I cloak my affiliate links to look like e.g. http://www.mywebsite.com/go/company/ (if mywebsite.com is my website). Should I use the htaccess file or just create folders "go" and "company" and create an index.htm file with the redirect code and place it into the "company" folder? And then link the affiliate link to /go/company/ ?
     
    andrej, Oct 30, 2012 IP
  2. war_machine

    war_machine Active Member

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    #2
    That is not true. I am looking at one guy who has his website on page one of Google for a very competitive keyword and his website has links that are not cloaked.


    This makes no difference.
     
    war_machine, Oct 30, 2012 IP
  3. andersonsjohn

    andersonsjohn Banned

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    #3
    I sometimes cloak my links, especially on my personal blog... But sometimes I simply forget to, and have seen no real difference! It's pretty much a personal choice, since most of the traffic that converts is paid traffic.
     
    andersonsjohn, Oct 30, 2012 IP
  4. ProSence

    ProSence Greenhorn

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    #4
    Yes, it won't affect your ranking whether you clock or don't clock.
     
    ProSence, Oct 30, 2012 IP
  5. adhyatma3010

    adhyatma3010 Member

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    #5
    cloack link never affct your website ranking :)
     
    adhyatma3010, Oct 30, 2012 IP
  6. TRIVIAL WORKS

    TRIVIAL WORKS Peon

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    #6
    This is true, I am agree with you
     
    TRIVIAL WORKS, Oct 31, 2012 IP
  7. johnhayden11

    johnhayden11 Peon

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    #7
    yes . its true . i am also Agree With You Dear friend because ia also Got Clocking Effects on My Website Keywords Ranking In before 1 year.
     
    johnhayden11, Oct 31, 2012 IP
  8. andrej

    andrej Notable Member

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    #8
    Thank you for your replies. Which Wordpress plugin would you recommend me to cloak my affiliate links if I want to make them look like /go/company/ ?
     
    andrej, Oct 31, 2012 IP