Blanking the referrer for email campaigns?

Let's say I am only allowed to promote a specific offer via email. If I run the ad on a website and blank the referrer, would an AM be able to tell whether or not it came from email?

The only reason I ask is because using http://www.stardrifter.org/cgi-bin/ref.cgi and emailing the link to myself at my gmail account, it shows no referrer when I click it.

I guess what I'm basically asking is if a link from an email normally doesn't show a referrer, as indicated in my tests?

It depends what you recipient is using. If he/she uses webmail, succh as gmail/hotmail/aol/..., it should show the webmail as referrer but if he/she uses desktop application, such as Outlook or Thunderbird for example, it will be blank.

vps server + postfix .. look into reg. expressions for the headers.

:cheers:

neablas said:

vps server + postfix .. look into reg. expressions for the headers.

:cheers:

Click to expand...

I don't understand how modifying headers would accomplish anything. This is something on the client's end. It's not like I could modify their headers. Even so, what would that do? Could you elaborate?

Well if the users uses a web-bases email service it could show a referrer but if the user downloads the email to an email client (EG: Outlook Express) then I doubt it will show a referrer.

But the referrer can be hidden in the headers in an unconventional way... but most people won't go to the trouble of doing that...

If the affiliate manager asks, just tell them you are sending them through one of your sites for tracking purposes before redirecting to their site through the affiliate link. Then tell them you are blanking the referrer so they cannot steal your lists email addresses if they are leaked through the referrer. I'm not sure how many webmail providers still show email addresses in the URL's but I know a lot used to. Or just set your own referrer where you send your visitors to by framing the offer and tell your affiliate manager you are framing their offer so you can get a second chance if the user doesn't like the offer and clicks away. Most affiliate managers shouldn't have a problem with either one of those methods especially if the commission is based on a sale. If they are pay per lead offers then you may want to check their terms first.