While looking through the rules, they say you can't use any redirects, or pages that are used to go back to the parent site. Wouldn't google go out of business if they actually made everyone follow the rules? Yet google tells you where to get the urls, and almost every url you get from an affiliate is some sort of redirect. Also, if google didn't want people using the same display url, they would put up a huge warning saying it against the rules, and ban you on the spot. But instead, they tell you someone else is using the display url and ranked higher. Which pretty much means you need to outbid (spend more money) than that person. Have to admit, clever way to do business on googles part. Where can I get my affiliate URL? Your affiliate company should provide you a unique URL to use as your ad's destination URL. If you have questions about the URL that your affiliate company provided you, or if the URL does not work, please contact that company directly. Redirect URLs: Ads that contain URLs that automatically redirect to the parent company. Bridge Pages: Ads for web pages that act as an intermediary, whose sole purpose is to link or redirect traffic to the parent company. Framing: Ads for web pages that replicate the look and feel of a parent site. Your site should not mirror (be similar or nearly identical in appearance to) your parent company's or any other advertiser's site.
Google does allow affiliate links. I think they recognise whether it's an affiliate link, or a simple redirect like tinyurl. This might help http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=45068&query=affiliate&topic=&type=f&onClick=
Who says?...Google allows redirects .. if you have destination Urls which redirect to another page.. it is fine... Not sure about Affiliate links though..
sem-consultant Read this http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=47166&query=redirect&topic=&type=f&onClick=
Its says that.. but try using Url of same domain which redirects to another page.. it does work.. on Google Adwords
ok, so even though google says no redirects.. but what they really mean is, the final landing page has to match the display url? Because I really want to use a redirect through my own url first. I know someone who does this for a living, but is on the other end of things. He's convinced that you can't use a display url of some other company other than your own. I just don't think he likes having to compete with his own affiliates. Although, they don't allow direct linking, so I don't see what his issue is. Plus he doesn't want my account banned before we start our own projects. EDIT: Your destination URL cannot ______________. link to a sign-up or check-out page link to a secure site x link to a website that is under construction utilize third-party tracking software link directly to your homepage Ok, so these so called redirects we use are really 3rd party tracking links?