Onsite php redirect, then to an affiliate? What'd going on?

Could someone explain what's going on behind the scenes here and why?

I was studying the site

(an online dating "info" site stuffed with affiliate links.)

On their review page for Match.com

the link TO match.com is actually this:


This page directly takes you to match.com. (as a redirect?) Once you're at match.com, your url is this:


Obviously the affiliate code is right there. Why didn't they just embed THAT code into their links, verses having the /recommends/match.php page?

What's going on with the /recommends/match.php page? It's ONLY a redirect? Somewhere they're embedding their affiliate code. Why did they do this? What's the advantage?

They are most likely using Power Link Generator or a similar product. PLG can set up a directory structure on your domain where your affiliate links have the format yourdomain.com/recommends/whatever.php.

The benefit of using programs such as this is that all clicks on the link are tracked. PLG records the click count as well as some information about the clicks. It also redirects to the real affiliate link while hiding that link on your domain.

GoTryThis is another such product that can hide affiliate links while providing tracking and information about the clicks.

hey biks,

well the file match.php is using a PHP redirect.
The process goes like this:

1. You create a folder "recommends" in your root directory and then a PHP file named Match.php (in the particular example)

2. In the "match.php" you enter the following code:

Thats it..

what this does is, whenever someone clicks on match.php link:
match.php executes a PHP redirect to <<AFFILIATE LINK>>

I hope that was useful.

Yeah, kinda looks like an amateur (not that I'm not, but ...) who is using a very simple .php file to do the redirect without any cloaking.

Probably doesn't know it isn't necessary since the link isn't cloaked.

Otherwise person is using a tracking software but isn't using the cloaking feature of the software, just using it to track clicks.

Doesn't make much sense which is why I think it's someone who doesn't really know what they're doing technically.

Thanks Nikhilg!

I may want to use that. (Once I start the affiliate marketing going.)

biks said:

Thanks Nikhilg!

I may want to use that. (Once I start the affiliate marketing going.)

Click to expand...

Follow the forum rules.. Always hit the thanks button rather than saying thanks..

anyways glad to help

"Obviously the affiliate code is right there. Why didn't they just embed THAT code into their links, verses having the /recommends/match.php page?"

Because it looks way nicer? People don't like seeing huge affiliate links

no this is basically to avoid affiliate-sales-stealing.

basically many visitors who are actually buyers, simply trim the affiliate part of the url, which results in loss of sales..