| One of the most important components to your | | | | |
| entire affiliate empire is the links you use | | | | Another problem with naked links is that some |
| to get those sales. These links can be | | | | of them just look bad. You have probably seen |
| slapped on for the whole world to see, or | | | | affiliate links that are long and convoluted, |
| they can be cloaked so that it glaringly | | | | with a never ending stream of numbers and |
| obvious that they are affiliate links. Most | | | | letters. That is just unattractive. It also |
| wise old affiliate sages believe that | | | | may make internet newbies wonder what the |
| cloaking the links is the best overall | | | | heck that thing is and whether it contains a |
| practice. | | | | virus or the plague. If you don't want to |
| | | | cloak the link altogether you might think |
| Affiliate marketing isn't new. People have | | | | about shortening it to make it look a little |
| been utilizing affiliate links for years, so | | | | more attractive. |
| many readers will know an affiliate link a | | | | |
| mile away. Some won't, of course, but many | | | | There are those out there, however, who |
| will. This means that an uncloaked link with | | | | recommend keeping the link as is, no matter |
| your affiliate number out in the open for all | | | | what the thing looks like, to avoid any |
| to see is too easily manipulated if the buyer | | | | appearance of dishonesty. This may go well |
| should decide they don't want you to have the | | | | with your own affiliate philosophy, or you |
| sale. They may also decide they feel like | | | | may have difficulty with the technical |
| giving the sale to themselves rather than | | | | aspects. Either way, there are still sales |
| you, and get their own affiliate link to use. | | | | out there to be made, but you can anticipate |
| And, there are a lot of marketers out there | | | | losing a few to link changers. When trying to |
| that make joining their affiliate network | | | | decide whether to cloak, you should take a |
| easy in order to take advantage of sales like | | | | look at your page and try to see what other |
| that. I could name a few sites that do, but I | | | | people see. Does the link look easy and |
| won't. Suffice it to say that if the buy link | | | | non-threatening? How hard would it be to just |
| is right next to the become an affiliate | | | | cut out the affiliate number? What is the |
| link, they probably anticipate lots of buyers | | | | content like on the rest of the page? If the |
| joining to get a commission on their own | | | | page is all about honesty and trust, do you |
| sale. With a cloaked link, the buyer may not | | | | really want to then cloak the link? The links |
| realize that the sale is going to someone | | | | should fit in with the style and content of |
| else, or how easy it is to switch the | | | | your page. Cloaked or naked, as long as the |
| numbers. If you have a high number of sales | | | | link flows well on the page and will invite |
| and only two or three people a month try to | | | | readers to click, there will still be sales |
| switch the link, it is still worth it to | | | | made. |
| cloak. | | | | |