How to Hide Affiliate Links? Link Masking and Cloaking Explained.
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Affiliate Link Masking and Cloaking
Wikipedia defines Cloaking as
"Cloaking is a black hat search engine optimization (SEO) technique in which the content presented to the search engine spider is different to that presented to the users' browser."
The Cloaking and masking we are referring to here is not related to any black hat techniques. I am referring to masking technique used to mask your affiliate link.
Why should I mask my affiliate link?
As an affiliate you may be promoting many Click bank products or products for various merchants. Some of the merchants usually take care of the affiliates by redirecting the user to a product page and hiding the affiliate ID. But with merchants like Clickbank, usually the affiliate id is visible to the visitors and there is always a possibility that the user may just remove the affiliate id to buy the product. You will lose a sale and of course your commission.
The primary purpose for link cloaking & masking is to make the ugly affiliate URL to short one and in turn increase your click through & conversion rate.
Some of benefits of URL cloaking and masking are:
1. Reduce commision theft
2. Increase click through
3. Tracking
4. Split Testing
"Cloaking is a black hat search engine optimization (SEO) technique in which the content presented to the search engine spider is different to that presented to the users' browser."
The Cloaking and masking we are referring to here is not related to any black hat techniques. I am referring to masking technique used to mask your affiliate link.
Why should I mask my affiliate link?
As an affiliate you may be promoting many Click bank products or products for various merchants. Some of the merchants usually take care of the affiliates by redirecting the user to a product page and hiding the affiliate ID. But with merchants like Clickbank, usually the affiliate id is visible to the visitors and there is always a possibility that the user may just remove the affiliate id to buy the product. You will lose a sale and of course your commission.
The primary purpose for link cloaking & masking is to make the ugly affiliate URL to short one and in turn increase your click through & conversion rate.
Some of benefits of URL cloaking and masking are:
1. Reduce commision theft
2. Increase click through
3. Tracking
4. Split Testing
Whats in Store...
Is Affiliate Link Masking Important to you?
Are you aware of Affiliate Commision Theft?
Let me know if you feel masking and cloaking your affiliate links is important? Do you feel that having affiliate ID's in the URL wil hamper your Sales? Would you buy from a site with someone's a site with affiliate ID embedded in the URL?
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Various Link Masking Techniques
Some of the link masking techniques
In my search for the perfect link masking techniques, I tried almost all ways of hiding my affiliate URL's. Below are some of the techniques:1. PHP Redirect:
This technique is used to create a page redirect using PHP. You usually create a PHP file (e.g. productname.php) on the server using following code:
header ('Location: http://ww.example.com?affiliatedid=1');
Alternatively you can create a file productname.php & add the following code:
<?php
echo "<html><head>";
echo "<meta http-equiv='refresh' content='0;url=http://www.youraffiliatelink.com'>";
echo "</head></html>";
?>
Then you instead on referring to the Affiliate URL directly, you will call the the productname.php. This redirects the visitors to the Affiliate URL & your URL looks neat.
2. HTML Redirection:
In case your server does not support PHP, you may want to use the HTML redirection technique. You will have to create a html file named productname.html and add the following code:
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Example Product</TITLE>
<SCRIPT>window.status=" ";</SCRIPT>
<META http-equiv="Refresh" content="0;url=http://www.exaple.com?affid=123">
</HEAD><BODY>
Loading page...<br><br>If this page does not load within 5 seconds please <a href="http://www.exaple.com?affid=123">click here</a>
</BODY></HTML>
3. IFrame Links
Please be aware that the iFrame technique is frowned upon by almost all the merchants including clickbank as well as google for adwords. This information has been provided only for your knowledge.
In this technique, you create a html or a php page with two iframes. The first iframe has the source to your affiliate url and has a width & height of 1 pixel. The second irame contains the actual product URL without your affiliate id.
Code:
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<SCRIPT>window.status=" ";</SCRIPT>
<META http-equiv="Refresh" content="0;url=http://www.example.com/productname?affid=123">
</HEAD><BODY>
Loading page...<br><br>If this page does not load within 5 seconds please <a href="http://www.example.com/productname">click here</a>
<IFRAME src="http://www.example.com/productname?affid=123" width="1" height="1"></IFRAME>
</BODY></HTML>
OR
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<SCRIPT>window.status=" ";</SCRIPT>
</HEAD><BODY>
<IFRAME src="http://www.example.com/productname?affid=1234"></IFRAME>
</BODY></HTML>
4. Using URL shortening service.
You can use the URL free shortening services like tinyurl.com to shorted the affiliate url. Your affiliate link http://www.example.com/productname?affid=123 will look like http://tinyurl.com/xyzabcpqr
5. Free URL masking services
There are many Free URL masking services available which can also be used to mask your URL. Your search for free URL masking on your favorite search engines will show you lot of such services.
6. URL masking & cloaking products
If all the code seems to much for you, you can purchase a product which helps with URL cloaking & masking with minimal effort. The advantage of using such products also is that some products also help you track the clicks on your URL which can be beneficial with your analysis.
I have purchased a lot of products for finding the best URL cloaker. Below are the reviews for some of the products available in the market.
Top Cloaking and Masking Product Reviews
Reviews of the tops products helpful for URL masking and cloaking
Download Phantom CloakerType of software: Windows Application
Features:
1. Inbuilt FTP uploader which helps in uploading cloaked files directly from the software.
2. Customizable Templates: This feature is probably the unique of all softwares available.
3. Keyword Building: The software provides lot of other utilities including the keyword research & keyword suggestion.
4. SEO Tool: The phantom cloaker also provides excellent utility with respect to SEO by creating highly optimized pages enabling you to score high ranks.
Price:
1 Domain License: $49.95 - Unlimited Use
3 Domain License: $79.95 - Unlimited Use
5 Domain License: $99.95 - Unlimited Use
Full Domain License: $159.95 - Unlimited Use
Pros:
1. Excellent and intelligent software
2. Other features like SEO, Keyword Research & Suggestion
3. Inbuilt FTP tool to upload cloaked pages directly to web server.
4. User Friendly interface with 10 steps to generate highly optimized & cloaked pages.
5. Trial Download available to try before you buy.
Cons:
1. More than a cloaking tool. If you are looking for only a cloaking tool, you may find this too complicated.
2. Price bit high for unlimited domain license.
3. Does not support click tracking.
Download Phantom Cloaker
Amazing Cloaker Review
Download Amazing CloakerType of software: Windows Application
Features:
1. Embedded Cookie Creator
2. Click simulator to create and test a cookie
3. Cloaked links are not javascript based hence compatible with all browsers
4. Generate cloaked files in php, htm, html & asp format
5. Can generate both framed and non framed cloaked pages
6. Inbuilt FTP utility to upload cloaked pages
7. Cloak and link to any merchant page
Price:
$65 unlimited use
Pros:
1. Inbuilt FTP utility
2. Cloaked pages not dependent on javascript
3. Video Tutorials
Cons:
1. Does not support click tracking
Download Amazing Cloaker
Samurai Stealth Cloaker Review
Download Samurai Stealth CloakerType of software: PHP Script
Features:
1. Extremely easy to install since it is just one php file that will be uploaded to the server.
2. Link protection via encryption
3. Flexible cloaking options
4. Article cloaker script to avoid rejection of your articles in article directory due to affiliate scripts in your articles
5. Easy to move the cloaked affiliate links to different server or domain by copying only file.
Price:
Single Installation License: $57
Multiple Installation License: $67
Pros:
1. Single php file hence very easy to install
2. Unique Article cloaker script
3. Easy movement of cloaked links
4. Cloak and link to any merchant page
Cons:
1. Does not support click tracking
2. The utility is PHP based hence will need PHP on server
Download Samurai Stealth Cloaker
Ninja Link Cloaker Review
Download Ninja Link Cloaker
Type of software: PHP Script
Features:
1. Link protection via encryption
2. Pure and Simple Cloaking Tool
3. Cloak and link to any merchant page
Price:
$67 unlimited use
$97 Pro Package with Videos
Pros:
1. Simple cloaker utility
2. Free Upgrades
3. Free How to Videos
Cons:
1. Does not support click tracking
2. The utility is PHP based hence will need PHP on server
Download Ninja Link Cloaker
Type of software: PHP Script
Features:
1. Link protection via encryption
2. Pure and Simple Cloaking Tool
3. Cloak and link to any merchant page
Price:
$67 unlimited use
$97 Pro Package with Videos
Pros:
1. Simple cloaker utility
2. Free Upgrades
3. Free How to Videos
Cons:
1. Does not support click tracking
2. The utility is PHP based hence will need PHP on server
Download Ninja Link Cloaker
Great Stuff on Amazon
Recommended Reading
Interesting Videos
Link Cloaking
linkcloakingexplained.com This video shows how to cloak an affiliate link so you make more commissions ( a must-have for anyone doing affiliate marketing). Runs through the different methods available and the pros and cons.
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by shrkschn
Well I can say that though I may not be an expert here but I have done my home work well. Here I am attempting to provide you with all the useful info... (more)
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