How do sites hide their affiliate links?

**gh05** · 10-27-2009, 07:30 PM

e.g with my site i will find a merchant through an affiliate website and add then add the link to my site.

The link will look something like: http://theaffiliatenetwork.com/merchant

but when I'm looking at some sites, their affiliate links look more like this:

http://theirowndomainname/links/merchant which then redirects to the merchant.

Does this mean that they aren't using any affiliate network or is there a way to hide the affiliate network name in the link?

If it is the former...how do they go about getting these links???

Thanks!

Btw I'm looking for affiliate networks which have links to cashback sites but am struggling to find many at all!

**vangogh** · 10-27-2009, 07:44 PM

They link to a page which then uses .htaccess or a php (or other language) jump script to redirect you to the affiliate site. Here's a short post explaining why it's done.

**chrishirst** · 10-27-2009, 08:25 PM

http://www.webmaster-talk.com/html-f...liate-url.html

**itbuzz** · 10-28-2009, 03:16 PM

Yeah .htaccess can do this via url redirection.

**chrishirst** · 10-28-2009, 03:53 PM

NO htaccess can redirect URIs COMING IN TO YOUR SITE but it is NOT going to have any effect on links GOING OUT!!!

**gh05** · 11-03-2009, 04:38 PM

Hi,

Have read that other thread posted. It seems I can either edit htaccess or use a php script. One thing I've read is how search engines don't trust sites with affiliate links so I really want to make sure i get this right.

Is it more SEO friendly to edit htaccess or to use php scripts? I have four pages which each has around 6 affiliate links. Which is the best method?

Many Thanks,

GH

**chrishirst** · 11-03-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

I've read is how search engines don't trust sites with affiliate links

Don't ever read there again!

**gh05** · 11-03-2009, 07:43 PM

ha ok.

Anyway I've used a simple php script to redirect one of my links. i now link to a mydomain.com/links/affiliate1. Is there anything else i should do with my affiliate links? i've read something about adding 'nofollow'??

I really just want to make sure my site looks as professional as possible and make sure that it isn't penalised by search engines. I've read that google ebook on SEO and i know you shouldn't be thinking just about the search engine rankings but at the same time i don't want to get penalized or miss a trick that others may have if you see what i mean!

Thanks for your help.

**chrishirst** · 11-03-2009, 08:01 PM

You DON'T get penalised for affiliate links.