Google and redirects

301, 302, javascript, what?

[sullen]

I've just been searching the site for info on the best redirects to use for Google. The answer seems to be 301 redirects, but I'm still not sure that a 301 would be correct in my situation.

(for an example of the threads I did find, look at [webmasterworld.com ])

Anyway my problem is this:

We have an affiliate scheme (run by a 3rd party) and, in order to set the cookie and track users, all links for this affiliate scheme go though a page which has no content, just the cookie script and a server side (302) redirect.

On checking my backlinks I can never find any using this particular affiliate scheme. I am not sure that Google is managing to pass on PR from these links. Also of course users are being doubly redirected, since its a 3rd party affiliate scheme. Don't know if that has anything to do with it.

So what would be my best option?

a) use a 301 redirect instead of a 302 (but its not really a Page permanently Moved situation - although I guess I would like Google to think that)

b) continue to use my 302 redirect

c) change it to a javascript redirect on load and include a normal link in the body of the page.

Anyone?

[sullen]

OK I've just had a look at some other sites that use the same affiliate company.

Looks like none of them have any affiliate links showing up in the backlinks either.

This company advises merchants to redirect users after setting a cookie as described above, but I guess it could be that the redirect from the affiliate server is the one causing the problems.

Does anyone have any experience of this kind of thing or any ideas generally?