Direct Linking Module for Affiliates

Is this correct?

[TimmyMagic]

Hi,

I'm currently looking for an affiliate program which uses direct linking to my site, i.e. no crazy URL's. I want this for help with link popularity. I also think it looks better.

I contacted a company who offer such a thing, and i asked them about it. Here is their response:

The private linking script must be uploaded to your sever. We will activate PL for your account so that all affiliate link point to private link script which sits on your server. When prospect click on affiliate link he is redirected to private linking script and right after that redirected to campaign URL (your home URL). Private linking doesn't cost anything for advanced package users.

Is this how all direct linking affiliate systems work, or does the redirecting make it inferior to other systems?

Regards,

Tim

[caveman]

I'm curious about member thoughts on this, and also, whether or not TimmyMagic should be thinking in terms of his affiliates contributing to his PR/site importance for purposes of SEO, which is, I think, his intent in wanting direct linking.

[eljefe3]

If you are serious about having an affiliate program, then you shouldn't worry too much about crazy strings at the end of the URL. if however you are looking for link popularity, don't expect good affiliate marketers to link to you and sell their products.

[TimmyMagic]

eljefe,

I see what you're saying. However, i've been looking at my main competitors affiliate program. They have excellent link popularity and their affiliates link to them like this:

www.widgets.com/products.htm?101

It looks nice and clean and also helps with their search engine ranking.

Tim