Attention Clickbank affiliates: you're probably tired or aware of losing commissions from link theft (research shows it can be up to 40%!), but how can you hide an affiliate link without making it look like you're trying to hide it? For example, hiding a Clickbank affiliate link with TinyURL makes people wonder what they're hiding, and it if the site doesn't use cookies to tell who an affiliate is it could even leave the hop link on the end of the URL when it redirects! You'll need to have these first before you "shrink your link": A Clickbank account and affiliate link that you want hidden A LeadsLeap membership (I'll explain why you'll need it later) A URL redirector that doesn't contain the words "URL", "shortener" or anything that involves mentioning the link. I'll tell you about a really good URL redirector that even lets you add a custom ending to the url (e.g. xxxx.com/productiamselling). 1) Obtain your affiliate link Clickbank's HopShield hides the commissions but still makes the URL look really ugly, here's an example: http://43sd-5d42549f-3075.clickbank.net (not a real affiliate link, but that's how they look when they're generated by the HopShield). T his link hides the vendor and the affiliate but it is a huge turnoff for customers as it looks nothing like the product page URL. So say that you have obtained your affiliate link and are ready to cloak it. Here's what you do next: 2) Join LeadsLeap and play around with the URL cloaker/redirector LeadsLeap works like a manual traffic exchange, but like all manula traffic exchanges, the traffic is terrible quality with a very low conversion rate to a sale (or business signup, even if it's a "free to join" business). The LeadsLeap URL cloaker/redirector is a great tool though. This tool allows you to not only hide your affiliate link but send you to a link of your choice! So instead of sending them to the product page with your hoplink on the end, you can send them to the product page without your affiliate link on the end and still get credited for it! Once you have cloaked and redirected the URL, you'll end up with a link like this: leadsleap.com/go/24831 It'll take a few seconds longer with a URL redirector but it'll be worth it when it's saving you the commissions being lost. Although this link still looks nothing like the product page, that's when you need a URL redirector. 3) Go to http://bit.ly and convert your URL into a bit.ly/xxxx link, use the custom ending for better affiliate performance This is where you make your URL realistic. You can now make a custom ending to your URL (e.g. bit.ly/buyflowers). The reason why I've chosen bit.ly is because it's very underused compared to TinyURL.com so it's easier to choose the custom ending you want. You can also make a free account that takes less than a few minutes to do, and your URLs will be tracked. If you don't want to make a new account with bit.ly then that's fine, as LeadsLeap will track clicks too. NOTE: The LeadsLeap URL redirector does not work with some sales pages that use popups when you try and close the page. I don't know why, but it flashes the popup page when the LeadsLeap URL redirects to the link you chose to send it to. This doesn't happen with every product page though, it's just a small problem I've had. Well I hope I've helped somewhat. You can also use this strategy with any other affiliate program, there's no limit I guess. Note that LeadsLeap runs on referral structures too, and although I've not included my affiliate link just send me a PM if you want to join as one of my referrals. Not compulsory. Thanks for reading, Seb
Wow , that's awfully complicated way to hide your affiliate link and there are far more easier ways to do it plus you are relying on two other websites to be up and running 24/7 for your hoplink to be functional, if even one of them experiences downtime then your hoplink is stuffed. The fact is you could still do all that and your average webmaster, marketer will still know how to overwrite the cookie and use their own affiliate link if they want to. The average surfer who knows nothing however wouldn't care if its a normal hoplink (because they know no better) or if it's your super duper hidden affiliate link. Still it's a good contribution and some people might take advantage of it.
Or you could use a PHP redirect on the page. Do not use tinyurl or sites like that as they will from what I hear replace your links with their ID. You can also get a tinyurl clone script and make your own site for your use.
Where have you read this, I've used tinyurl without any problems before and have never heard of them replacing links with their ID?
I heard about it on the blackhat SEO forums. I have never had any experience with it myself so I do not know. I do know a tinyurl script such as this one for free: http://www.adesblog.com/2007/04/21/get-shorty-free-script-similar-to-tinyurl/ would make sure your links stay yours.