seo'ing a url with a referrer variable attached

hi all,

i have a project where i may need to optimize for this url -

www.domain.com?aff=123

instead of the normal www.domain.com

so... i'm concerend about the effect on PR, but more importantly... the general effect on the SERP in general.

is this even doable?

the client wants to track SEO performance... but even if google "likes" these links, the first URL will probably still not have the variable attached.

let me know what you all think.

thanks!

 

There are several threads on these forums regarding dynamic versus static links. I would suggest you take a look at these. I believe they will answer your questions. IMHO.

If not, please feel free to post again.

 

If you want to change the way the url is displayed, -
Do some research regarding MOD_Rewrite (linux) or ISAPI_Rewrite (IIS)

With a URL like that, Googlebot should have no problem crawling the site though.

 

i'm sorry, maybe i didn't explain my self well enough. i understand mod_rewrite and use it already. however, the company wants to track the SEO campaign. so... all my link getting efforts will be to .com?aff=123, not .com

i guess my question is... am i shooting myself in the foot if i try to optimize for the following....

domain.com?aff=123

or

domain.com/123/

 

Yes, any variable like that is not going to track your results correctly. A 301 redirect from that may work, but it could also adversely effect your SEO tracking.

 

i'm thinking it's best to forget it for now... i don't feel comfortable with doing this... like at all.

 

Linking to and tracking domain.com/123/ should not be so difficult. I believe you can use either the DP Keyword tracker and the McDar tools to track the status of your results (other tools and/or by hand?). There are some limitations regarding who would give inbound links but, all in all, there are pretty much always some limitations.

Consider this, why would linking and tracking domain.com/123/ be considerably different than linking and tracking a specific page URL?

 

it could be different virginia seo, it's not so much that it must be one way or the other, but that it can't be www.domain.com

whether a variable attached to a string, a folder, a page etc...

is targetting 1 page feasable?

 

hey... when do you get signature with links permission anyways?

 

I assume you are tracking your results with some kind of affiliate tracking method! DO NOT DO IT! First of all. Does Google view the tag as a dynamic page? If yes then you might hit some duplicate content filter! Why not use a propper stats program like webtrends or if that is so difficult use a free tool like webstat.net it gives you the SE that gave you a referral as well as the keyword used. This will also assist you targetting the right keywords.

A 301 redirect looses the tag and will not work so I don't know what that will accomplish either.

 

There have already been answers to this in the FAQs. Having 12 posts already, you should be able to go to your User CP and find the Edit Signature option on the left side. Click it and make your update.

Happy posting!

 

thanks!