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Link redirection, tracking tool?

by Rolliesworld
8 replies
What would be a good tool (self hosted, service) to redirect, track and manage your (affiliate) links, that is not limited to outbound links placed on WP based sites (via a plugin) but good also on HTML sites/pages and links from external sites to your main domain? I am thinking that using a centralized link management, perhaps off of one dedicated domain, might be more efficient than using a script or plugin on each site. Also tracking conversions would be great - how?
But is using a dedicated link domain that has no resemblance to the underlying domain it is linking out from, likely to result in lower CTR as people may be hesitant? Example: a link http://xyzrecommends.com/productname (dedicated domain with redirect) placed on your main domain http://xyzsite.com rather than http://xyzsite.com/productname (redirect from same domain)?

Thanks...
#affiliate #link #redirect #redirection #script #tool #track #tracking
  • Profile picture of the author poweruphosting
    If you are using wordpress then you can use a free plugin called WordPress › Affiliate Link Cloaking « WordPress Plugins

    I have been using that and it works like a charm, and barely takes 2 minutes to setup.

    Here is a list of other plugins I found while googling : http://www.wpqueen.com/wordpress-plu...dont-use-them/
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    • Profile picture of the author Rolliesworld
      Thanks for the reply...I was actually looking for a script or hosted solution that allows tracking of links from and to both WP and non-WP (HTML) based sites, one that allows a centralized link management to avoid multiple handling for each site and set up 301 redirect links and track them, coming from external pages (i.e. web 2.0 properties, article directories, social media, banner ads, etc) and linking to landing pages. It should also be able to do AB Split testing.



      Originally Posted by poweruphosting View Post

      If you are using wordpress then you can use a free plugin called WordPress › Affiliate Link Cloaking « WordPress Plugins

      I have been using that and it works like a charm, and barely takes 2 minutes to setup.

      Here is a list of other plugins I found while googling : WordPress Affiliate Link Cloaker Plugins - I don't use them!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dann Vicker
    I've been using the pretty links plugin on wordpress for this and it works pretty good.
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    Looking for high quality solo ad traffic? 200-2000 clicks available/day. Testimonials here. PM me

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  • Profile picture of the author Sharyn Sheldon
    I think that's what Linktrackr does, since it's web-based and not installed on your domain.

    I haven't used it myself, since I just use the Redirection plugin on each WP site. But it looks like a full-service solution. Paid, of course.
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    - Sharyn Sheldon

    [BRAND NEW PLR] Shoestring Budget Startup - Ready-to-Go, Customizable Course and Complete Sales Funnel

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    • Profile picture of the author Rolliesworld
      Thanks, Sharyn. Linktrackr is a service I came across also recently. Looks like a great solution. I wonder if there is a self hosted script with similar number of features.


      Originally Posted by srsheldon View Post

      I think that's what Linktrackr does, since it's web-based and not installed on your domain.

      I haven't used it myself, since I just use the Redirection plugin on each WP site. But it looks like a full-service solution. Paid, of course.
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      • Profile picture of the author Sharyn Sheldon
        There's always something out there, right? I'd be a little nervous of self-hosted scripts unless they have a solid reputation and are continuously updated. After being burned once from a WP plugin that messed up a site of mine, I'm very wary of pretty much everything!
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        - Sharyn Sheldon

        [BRAND NEW PLR] Shoestring Budget Startup - Ready-to-Go, Customizable Course and Complete Sales Funnel

        FREE Content Planning Template Finally...an easy way to make sure your content is working for you

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        • Profile picture of the author Rolliesworld
          Maybe it was simply a plugin conflict, Sharyn so not necessarily an issue with that particular plugin, just not working well with others? I haven't heard many issues with self hosted scripts (non WP based ones) during my limited research, but that's why I am trying to get some feedback from as many users as possible to see what's out there and proven to work well.

          Some scripts I have heard of before are PowerLinkGenerator (old, a M.Filsaime product), easyredirectscript.com , GhostURL - Affiliate Link Cloaker - Ghost URL (WP-Plugin and HTML script versions avail.).
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  • Profile picture of the author Nolimit2it
    Rollie, I use both PowerLinkGenereator & BestDamnRedirect which both are self hosted and seem to do what you are looking for. I find both work well but I'm not fond of how BDR has the interim redirect to a web page before moving the visitor to the actual linked page and I'm not sure how to turn that off. Both give me the type of redirection cloaked URL I like but both also do not give any details other than how many times the redirected URL has been clicked. I would love to find one that gives me details stats on where/when/who the URL was clicked.

    BDR has a ton of other features, of which I seldom use and also find confusing.

    If you find something that does what these two do AND tracks the URL clicks in a more detailed fashion I would be VERY interested.
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    Daryl Austman
    Greymouse Web Design & Local Marketing Services - GreymouseServices.com
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