A few days ago while attempting to cloak a link I was trying to promote, I discovered that my link cloaker program was no longer functioning.
How frustrating!
This is the second link cloaker program I have use and the second one that has quit working.
I have all these links and they all lead nowhere!
This program was actually a free program but the last one I bought. I guess it does not matter if you pay for the program or not, it can still cease to work.
In both cases I contacted the person who created the product.
In the case of the paid product, the creator had decided not to support this particular program anymore.
With the free product the creator did not have much interest in figuring out just what was wrong.
Either way my links all lead nowhere.
Solution
I finally decided that I needed to figure out how to cloak my own links and store them on my own hosing. That way I would have control over my links and I would not end up with the same problem again. At least hopefully not.
In the following video I show you how to cloak your affiliate links and store them on your website.
This is the code I mentioned in the video:
<?php
header(“location: Put_Link_To_Be_Cloaked_Here“);
?>
What About You?
What do you use to cloak links?
Do you have a better way of cloaking them yourself than I have shown here? I am really not very technical so if you know of a better way we would all be interested.
Maybe you have no need to cloak links. If so, leave a comment anyway. I always love comments and love hearing from everyone.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Dee Ann,
It’s been awhile since I dropped a line, hope you’re doing well.
Love your post. I do have some cloaking software but of late have been using PrettyLink, more for easy statistics. I will copy your code you’ve put up here though, as that looks to be the easiest method. And, as you said, sites/plugins & the such can disappear, while your links are still out there.
Thanks Dee Ann
Take Care
Julie
Julie recently posted…The Pests of the Net Hacking at LinkedIn Accounts
Julie,
The one thing that I don’t like about this method is there are no statistics. I did find information on adding statistics to this but never figured out just how to use it.
I guess I am going for links staying up and no statistics at this point.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Does Your Theme Make The Grade?
Hi Dee Anne
Hope you are ok, it’s nice to see you back, I know what you mean about life getting in the way….it happened to me last summer and it is not good!
I love your method for link cloaking, you made it look very easy so I am going to try using your code and see what happens.
Thanks for sharing
Pauline
Pauline recently posted…Guest Blogging
Pauline,
I am fine. It just seems that I never get the time to be online that I want.
I am glad you like my link cloaking. I like it because I have control over my links.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Ways To Stay On Track For The New Year
Hi DeeAnn
That’s a fab way of cloaking your links without having to use a plugin or software.
I would do it like that, if I could get some stats with it too!
I use Randy Smiths Link Supercharger and I’ve also got the Pretty Link plugin on some sites aswell.
How are you, been a while since I’ve seen you about.
Dawn
Dawn,
The one draw back of this method is there are no statistics but I think it is better than links not working because some decides not to support their product anymore.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
I feel your pain Dee Ann… That happened to me too many times so I have been cloaking my links like what you just showed for years.
I know that Pretty Link will do the same and I used that for a time but I hate having a plug-in I don’t need. I wouldn’t be surprised when they decide late on to not support that one either. It’s just the way it goes.
Great job with the video.
~Adrienne
Adrienne,
I have used Pretty Link in the past and I choose not to use them again because I hate putting a plugin on for something like this and the fear that they will also quit supporting their product.
This works great and I was able to design it go that all of my old links now work but through this link cloaker so that was great for me.
Have a great day and thanks for commenting.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
Interesting, you taught me something new today. I hadn’t really thought about this but I can see why it could be a huge problem when some service you’re using goes out of business and takes your links with it. It’s always a lot better to control your own content in this case links) rather than relying on someone else. Very cool tip here and simple enough to do. Thanks for sharing, I’ll be bookmarking this!
Carol Lynn recently posted…How To Write An Email Newsletter (That People Will Read)
Carol,
It is very frustrating when developers decide to go out of business or stop supporting their products.
I think this happens on the internet more than other places. I finally went in search of something I can control. It is so much simpler that way.
Glad you liked it.
Thanks for the comment and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
HI Dee Ann
You have nicely explained that in the video. Nothing better than having complete control of links.
Thanks for the share.
Sapna
Sapna,
I also like having control of my links. It is so frustrating when links do not work.
Glad you liked the video.
Thanks for the comment.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
Hi Dee Ann
I did take the short cut and used a service to cloak and lost it because that service became unavailable. Yikes!
There are no short cuts! Here you have shown us how to do it where it is easy to follow without using an external program.
Thanks so much for the tutorial!
Donna
Donna,
Glad you liked the tutorial.
I really hate it when I am using a product that someone decides not to support anymore. It is so frustrating.
I really like this as I have full control and there is nothing for anyone else to support.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
Nice article. I didn’t know anything about hiding links so this was a great blog for me. Thanks so much. I really had no clue.
Barbara Charles recently posted…Unique Reasons To Use Facebook Groups?
Barbara,
You really do not need to hide links unless you are doing some affiliate marketing. Then you want to hide your affiliate links so other people do not steal your commissions.
If you are not affiliate marketing you really have no need for a link cloaker but now you know where to find a way to cloak links if the need arises.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
Nice to see you after long Dee Ann
This surely is wonderful, and I liked that you managed to have your own code for the same, which the other plugins that we use don’t have.
I was using PrettyLink long back, but then such plugins only add more to the blog, especially when you might not need them.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Harleena Singh recently posted…How to Change Your Life with Knowledge
Harleena,
It is good to be back. I really had a hard time getting back to getting everything done after my surgery last summer. I have also had several family emergencies which always seem to take a huge chunk out of my online work.
I also used Pretty Links in the past but like you I am trying to keep my plugins to a minimum.
I really like this way of doing it. There are no plugins and no one else to decide to stop supporting their product.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
Hi Dee Ann
I use Pretty Link as well but you can never be sure how long a plugin is going to be supported can you?
I also have some software called Affiliate Cloner which I’ve used for years and that works very well.
Thanks for sharing how to do it this way though. It will come in handy.
Tim Bonner recently posted…HostGator Is My Web Host Of Choice
Tim,
The problem with plugins is I am finding that the ones I have used for a long time are all of a sudden not supported anymore. I also try to keep my plugins to a minimum as they tend to slow the load time of blogs way down.
You will have this in case your Affiliate Cloner starts not to work. It may work forever though.
At least you have a backup this way.
Thanks for commenting and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…The Secret To Great Blog Post Topics
This is a great idea. I use Thirsty Affiliates, and so far I haven’t had any problems, but I understand what you mean when they stop working. I can’t say that has happened to me yet, but I will keep this in mind for sure. Thank you for taking the time to record this and I bookmarked it for later use. Great video.
Sonia recently posted…Blogger Spotlight: Bren Lee, My Girly Parts & Pibbles & Me
Sonia,
Unfortunately developers tend to stop supporting some products after a time. I don’t know that it will happen to you but that is what happened to me.
At least this is something you can use if it does happen to you.
Glad you liked the video.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
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Hi Dee Ann, I don’t use affiliate links, but I know the frustration when an app you paid for isn’t supported anymore! I’m glad you got it worked out. Sometimes necessity is the mother of invention!
Carolyn recently posted…Pebble Watch – A Smartwatch with Potential
Carolyn,
It really does not matter what piece of software it is that someone quits supporting, I think it is irritating.
Sometimes it is best to just work it out on your own and not worry about what someone else is going to do.
Thanks for your thoughts and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Right-Click-Copy Enable or Disable?