When you are advertising, especially as an affiliate marketer, too often I see people who write good ads, yet “give away the farm” by putting in the affiliate link given to them by the program administrator.
Yes, you must have an affiliate link BUT by showing it’s a hopclick (Clickbank) or the domain name, you will get the occasional person who circumvents all your hard work.
That’s why cloaking is popular, and has been for quite some time. But do you need to pay someone to cloak that link? Of course not! There are plenty of link shortening (free) services out there. A very popular one has been www.tinyurl.com.
Now I haven’t used tinyurl.com in a while (personally not ever), but I did just come across one (doing research for a client) that is unique (or at least unique to me).
This service is called tiny.cc
What makes this program different is, as you turn your long link or affiliate into a shorter one, pay close attention. There is a clickable link right underneath that IF YOU REMEMBER TO BOOKMARK it will actually record the number of times your link has been clicked on for you. In other words, not only is it free, but it tracks!
A word of caution is advised. Test it. If the back office of the program you’ve joined grants you access to at least the number of times your affiliate url has been clicked on, using the tiny.cc link, click it. Then check your back office stats (having checked them before you click) and make sure the number changes – you should have one more click – your own test. To make absolutely certain, have a friend also click it for you (the tiny.cc). Make sure it records with tiny.cc AND in your back office.
If you are still unsure whether the program owner will allow you to cloak the affiliate link, then submit a support ticket or call them on the phone. They most certainly should be able to tell you yeah or nay.
Til next time,
Theresa
Enjoy Online Advertising Variety at My Wizard Ads!
Great tool for cloaking and tracking! One of the best trackers I’ve seen. Thank you for the heads up!
Sincerely,
Terry
Theresa you are so very welcome
Thank you for coming by AND making use of free marketing just for expressing your opinion 
Thanks Theresa! I did as you said and bookmarked this. You always find the best and most useful tools!
.-= Barbara´s last blog .. =-.
THanks Theresa- I’ve used tinyurl but not tiny.cc
I think you just have to be sure the links don’t expire
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..TVI Express: Is It Hype? =-.
Regarding tiny.cc’s URL cloaking and tracking, when I visited their website they state that your URL doesn’t expire. Just thought you might like to know.
Sincerely,
Terry
Thank you Theresa!
I just checked my stats from the tiny.cc cloaker/tracker and see my hits increasing. That’s AWESOME! Any experienced marketer will tell you the more hits you receive the more sales you will make. lol … that’s business!
Sincerely,
Terry
Magic happens when you give with an open heart ~Terry Gorley~
Hi Theresa – that’s great! You do have a marvelous venture there and, let’s face it, the price is right
Best to you!
Thank you Theresa!
Marvelous ventures that are truly inexpensive and gives a person the ability to be part of an organization to Change the World are few and far between.
I love doing my part … even if its a small one. Each “small” accumulates and becomes BIG!
Be the change you want to see in the world
Sincerely,
Terry
Magic happens when you give with an open heart ~Terry Gorley~
I too have only used tinyurl.. will have to give this a whirl! Thank you!
tiny.cc had a glitch for several days, but is back.
Sincerely,
Terry
Magic happens when you give with an open heart ~Terry Gorley~