How do you hide an affiliate link ?

So lets say I sign up at a site as an affiliate and they generate one of those ugly long urls as my affiliate link, is there a way to simplify what the user has to retype to use my link ? A redirect of some sort or something ?

 

Using a php script or enclose the links in java.

I prefer the php method.

php method.

1. Put php code in new directory.
2. exclude directory in robots.txt
3. make php page nofollow.


php code example:

<?PHP
$m = $_GET['m'];
switch ($m) {
case "goo":
$link = "www.google.com";
break;
case "evil":
$link = "www.msn.com";
break;

}

header("Location: $link"); // Jump to the hidden affiliate URL above

exit();
?>

then when you want to link to msn, you use the link

<a h r e f="var/jump.php?m=evil" target="_blank">Evil MSN</a>

obviously change the h r e f to its real form. var is the directory where your script is, jump.php the script.

Thinks that it.

 

I just create a new php file with a relevant name.

<?php

	header("HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently"); 
	header("Location: http://URL.com");
        exit();

?>

Code (markup):

 

you guys should put in lamen terms or refer a software product

 

ROFL....

erm try using Tracking202.com, it's a PPC affiliate tracking software. Free to use. Will create redirect links that mask your affiliate links and you can use it for landing pages, your website, or for PPC, and it gives you lots of other features.

 

Whew thanks for slowing this down, those first 2 posts were all Greek to me

This Tracking202 thing sounds like the idiot proof way that even I might not be able to screw up

 

Agree 100%, stay away from 3rd party.

 

There are plenty of servers and backup center to handle the load. Although it's just simple redirect request, Tracking202 offers more than just that. It provides other services too. If you were interested in those tracking services and stuff, it would be worthwhile to check out. But I do see where you guys are getting at.

 

i made a couple of posts on coffeeblack.co.uk about affiliate link cloaking. i found some other good resorces around it which i linked to aswell.

 

I use javascript codes for hiding

 

Say your affiliate link goes to Amazon.com

Create a file called Amazon.php
Copy the code above into the file
Change URL.com to your affiliate link
Change the link on your webpage to point to your new file - Amazon.php

DONE!

Visitors think they are going to a page on your website, but instead they go to Amazon.