Link Cloaking is the popular method back in the old days to cheat the search engine for better web site ranking (Search Engine Optimization - Black hat way!).





It has been very discouraging since major search engine change their algorithm. Today affiliate marketing is very popular, different web site has been cross linking around, and the complexity will only increase! Visitor is some time uncomfortable to wired linking in the web site, especially affiliate link.



Affiliate link might look something like: xxxx.hop.xsoftware.clickbank.com. If the user notices the link all over the place, it would be messy and uncomfortable. For example: If my web site is selling 3 products, which will you think is nicer?

1. Link within my sub-directory (example only, link doesn't work)

• www.ultimate-iwealth.com/product1/



• www.ultimate-iwealth.com/product2/



• www.ultimate-iwealth.com/product3/

2. Link to affiliate site through clickbank redirect (example too only, link doesn't work)

• xxxx.merchant1.clickbank.com



• merchant2.clickbank.com/?mid=xxxx



• hop.merchant3.clickbank.com/?noid=xxxx

I am sure the answer is obviously the first one! Another reason for affiliate marketer to shorten, hide or encrypt their URL is to protect their commission from hijacking. If someone changes the clickbank link to their own id, they would hijack the affiliate commission into their own account. Affiliate marketer spend time and effort to research, gather and provide information for a living, no one want their commission to be hijack!  Some affiliate marketer (The beginner) will rely on link redirect services like tinyurl.com or www.shorturl.com to hide their affiliate link or by create a short URL, but both services will generate wired result link such as http://tinyurl/3drztf, although this will hide the affiliate URL, but will also introduce 2 problems.

• Looks like phishing link, some hackers do use link redirect service to hack other's computer.



• Not consistent to the product or web site they recommended.

Unless this affiliate marketer has an establish image (If so, I don't think they will use redirect service), the visitor will trust his web site and his recommendation without doubt.  Most of the affiliate marketer is using HTML redirect, JavaScript or PHP redirect. Most of this method will still post a treat because the visitor can still see the web address (URL) in the browser.



The best way to hide the url is to implement frame zero redirection. BUT still not yet! Because the visitor can also view the redirect page source code by pointing to the link and right click to save the redirect page! The address will be exposed eventually!



There are few link cloaking software around, most of them require paying some fees. I have created a FREE link cloaking software for my reader, see the introduction video and download at my web site. Utilize the link software to manage your web site with a more professional look and feel!