How do we get our name, not our URL on referrer's list?

[eelhandroll]

Hello all,

One of the sites that we send our readers to has a referrer list.

We show up on the list like this:
www.domainname.com

What can I do to our site so that it shows up like this:
Domain Name

Cheers

[wheel]

First, you'll need to install spyware on your visitor's computer. Then you'll need to use the spyware to hijack their browser.....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you'll find that it can't be done.

[eelhandroll]

install spyware? hijack their browser?

I'm a little confused...I'm sorry if my question was not clear.

Let's say I have a website called, "Cool Sports" and it's found at www.coolsports.com.

Now, let's say that ESPN has a section on their website that lists all the websites that are sending traffic to them. Maybe ESPN's section is called, "Top Referrers" and it might look something like this:

TOP REFERRERS:

-ABC News
-Disney
-Sports Talk
-www.coolsports.com
-Football Guys

What would we need to do to our site so that it shows as "Cool Sports" instead of "www.coolsports.com"? Do we have to do something to the HTML on each one of our pages?

Thanks!

[stapel]

The point of log files is to log what's happening on the host server as visitors' computers traverse the site making file calls. Allowing people to replace standard valid information (IP address, domain name, referring page, etc) with faked or munged information ("forget my domain name; instead, insert this ad", etc) would surely defeat the purpose of the log files. (And, yes, I would view replacing your domain name with other information of your choice to be advertising.)

As mentioned previously, to achieve this munging of information that is being sent to the host server by the file-calling computer -- if such munging is even possible -- you would likely have to infect that visitor's computer with some sort of spyware/malware that is designed to somehow overcome the basic structure and function of server calls and logging and instead cause the visitor's computer to send the server your advertising information.

Eliz.

[Staffa]

Have you tried sending an email to the site in question asking them to change the link to your site?

[wheel]

I'm sorry - I was being sarcastic/facetious/an idiot, something.

Realistically, what you're looking for can't be done. The 'Referer' field is sent to that other site by the user's browser, not by your site. Which mean's it's controlled by the user, not by you.

[eelhandroll]

Hmmm...gee, I feel kind of stupid and concerned at the same time...

So I shouldn't be sending my readers to a site like this (ESPN in the example above)? Is that site possibly adding spyware to my readers?

Staffa:
I was thinking about sending the site an email, but I thought it was a simple setting on my end..

[eelhandroll]

wheel:
No problem...I really hadn't thought this out..

[4string]

Are you saying you're unsure of the html?

It'd be:
<a href="http://yourdomain.com/">Domain Name</a>

That's how the html would look to have your link as you want.

[SincerelySandy]

Eelhandroll... You asked a question and have ended up still confused, but it's not your fault, don't feel stupid.

You can not change the way your link appears on someone elses website. There are only 2 basic ways you can change the appearance of someone elses website, one is to hack the site, the other is to hijack the browser of the person visiting the site. Neither of these is a practical or ethical solution.

The only solution for you is to contact the site owner and ask them if they would use your business name within the link text on the link they have to your site.

So I shouldn't be sending my readers to a site like this (ESPN in the example above)? Is that site possibly adding spyware to my readers?

No, you misunderstood, forget All about the spyware comments in this thread, just e-mail the owner of the site and ask very kindly if they will change it.

[eelhandroll]

SincerelySandy:
THANKS for clearing that up for me! I had it in the back of my mind all weekend...appreciate your help!