Cloak Affiliate Links From Your Own Domain
I would like to show you how you can cloak your affiliate links using a WordPress plugin or with a php script that you can upload to your server if you don’t use WordPress, or don’t want to install another plugin.
In the past I always used php redirects to cloak my links simply because I like to use as little plugins as possible. Pretty Link WordPress Plugin is an exception to my rule as it is a premium plugin that has many excellent features.
Watch My Video To Show You How
Features Of The WordPress Pretty Link Plugin
The Pretty Link plugin has many features, but without getting to technical these are the ones that make it :
- You can create links from your own domain URl
- Allows you to create a custom ‘slug’ for your URL. For example, this is my affiliate link to ‘Pretty Link’. https://websitedesignsaustralia.com/prettylink
- You can view the amount of clicks you receive on your links in your dashboard
- Organize your links into ‘Groups’ or categories
- Use your links anywhere on the Internet and still be able to track your links! If you post to Facebook and someone clicks your link it still shows as a hit on your link. No more guessing. I like to create some links with “fb” in them too, so that I only use the links on Facebook. It’s a great way to split test your campaigns.
- Make your links “nofollow” which is very important if you are an affiliate marketer and more!
How To Create A PHP Affiliate Link Redirect
If you do not want to use a plugin or do not have a WordPress website you can create your own PHP redirect. As mentioned in the video this is the script you would use.
<?php header(“Location: https://prettylinkpro.com?aff=susan”); ?>
Replace my affiliate link with any link of your own. Paste that PHP code into your text pad and save as a PHP. (Save the file for example like this: prettylink.php)
Once you have saved the file upload it to the “public_html” of your website. I like to create a folder to store all my phps in.
If you have any questions, please ask me in the comment section below…and if you like my tutorial I would love you to share with your friends. 😉
Click Image to Pretty Link!
Disclaimer – I am an affiliate for Pretty Link, however, there is a free version, which is perfect for most website owners!
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Hey Susan,
Great tutorial video!!! You are faster than speeding bullet when it comes to updating your website. So many updates here. This is wonderful. I actually added this too on my Pocket just for my own reference.
Finally, I get to hear your voice. I love your Australian accent!!! 🙂 Do you know Olivia Newton-John? We have one of her DVD. My husband & I both love her and her Australian accent. She featured her concert there in Sydney, Australia. It’s beautiful there. I wanna go to Australia someday and experience HEAVEN. 😉
Angela
Thank you Angela! Yes, I do know of Olivia, but I don’t know her personally. She certainly has a beautiful voice…I wish I could sing like her!
Hey Susan,
Lovely information and thanks for sharing. I don’t use Pretty Link on my main site but yes for my secondary site.
Looks good and gonna share this on several sites for ya.
Have a great weekend!
Hi Reginald,
It certainly is an excellent plugin. I use it on all my affiliate sites and if any of my clients promote affiliate programs, I install it on their websites too.
Thank you again for visiting…it is lovely to meet you and thank you for sharing!
Hi Susan,
Presently, my blog does not have any means of monetization because I’m focused on creating quality content and increasing traffic.
However, I’m thinking of going the way of affiliate marketing and your post just solved an headache I’ve been having all this while. Most affiliate merchants e.g. clickbak and shareasale, their URLS looks messy and clustered.
Thanks for sharing this important and well appreciated post.
James
Affiliate links certainly do look messy. Plus, this type of cloaking not only looks better to your visitors, but you can make them nofollow, so you are not giving precious link juice off your pages to an affiliate program!
The more outbound links off your page, devalues your page. So it is a win-win by doing it this way.
Thank you James for your excellent comments.
Hey Susan,
Thanks for that!
Hi Mark,
That’s a great question, although I worry more about the affiliate company I am promoting being down, rather than my own WordPress websites.
As with anything Internet, there are no guarantees, however I have never had an issue or concern.
Even if the Pretty Link plugin were to no longer exist, I would simply do a php redirect of the links I had created…the only difference would be the stats would not be displayed in my dashboard anymore…which would be a pity…I love that feature! 😉