How to Cloak Affiliate Links for Google/Facebook USA

AFFHUB is here! Today we will talk about affiliate link cloaking. What is it? 

Firstly, it is something that every media buyer should be familiar with. Let’s say it’s URL masking. That is, the link to the destination website is displayed under a different name. First, it makes the link shorter and more attractive. Second, and perhaps most importantly, masking helps avoid restrictions imposed by the moderation of various platforms. It’s no secret that in affiliate marketing, websites often face bans and other unpleasantries that prevent them from promoting offers.

In this article, we’ll talk in more detail about how to cloak affiliate links, what taffiliate link cloaking tools, how to avoid affiliate link bans, and much more.

How does link masking work?

Link masking is done by redirecting the URL. For example, we have a fictitious URL that will direct users to a specific page. This is often used to circumvent moderation restrictions. You need to advertise an offer, but it is banned. In this case, the same link is created, which, at first glance, does not raise any doubts. 

Why should you mask affiliate links?

Masking affiliate links has both pros and cons. Now we will talk in more detail about why you should do this if you work in affiliate marketing.

• Increased trust

We mentioned this above. Not all offers pass verification and, let’s say, are allowed to be advertised. For example, cloaking links for Facebook ads. This is not surprising, since FB moderation is really strict and can block even a regular offer that does not contain a single hint of “gray area.” 

Also, due to the prevalence of viruses, phishing, and similar scams, users do not trust long, confusing links. Masking helps make links short, understandable, and more attractive. Such links automatically inspire more trust on the part of the user. 

• Improved management of affiliate links

This makes it easier to track your affiliate links. For example, you’ve collected a whole bunch of them, and then you sit there looking for the page you need. Long links are difficult to read. This makes it especially difficult when you need to check something quickly. Therefore, masking allows you to clearly and simply name each of them so that they don’t get lost. 

• Tracking click data

You will also be able to track clicks and conversions. In essence, you get access to additional analytical parameters. Thanks to them, you can improve your workflow and track its overall effectiveness.

• Reaching a wider audience

Again, it’s about user trust. By using a masked link, you can create a nice URL that is easy to remember and notice. It will look more attractive thanks to the brand or product name.

This format encourages users to share the link on social media, which allows you to expand your reach and attract a larger audience.

How to cloak affiliate links?   

Now let’s talk about the practical part. How to avoid affiliate link banks? Hide them. And how do you hide affiliate links? Read below.

There are safe affiliate marketing practices. Links are hidden using various services. That’s why we have a selection of such tools.

Affiliate link cloaking tools   

ClickMagic

One of the most popular services for masking affiliate links. It provides the ability to track metrics across multiple platforms. It supports postback URLs and advanced analytics. Thanks to API integration with third-party networks, ClickMagic transforms from a simple link tracker into a full-fledged affiliate sales monitoring tool.

(However, it does not have a plugin for WordPress).

Thirsty Affiliates

Another very popular service available for WordPress. The plugin is famous for its simplicity. It is easy to install and does not require any complex settings. An additional advantage is full and convenient integration with the visual editor, which makes working with it even more comfortable.

Simple URLs

A free plugin that allows you to easily create, organize, and track outgoing links. With its help, you can generate masked URLs, making them shorter, neater, and easier to distribute. The plugin also simplifies the management of numerous links, provides basic traffic statistics, and helps keep affiliate or advertising URLs in order.

Easy Affiliate Links

A versatile plugin with an extended set of features. It is fully compatible with both the Classic Editor and the Gutenberg Block Editor. In addition, the tool allows you to track both masked and regular links, giving you complete control over all activity related to your links.

Pretty Links

This is a popular free plugin for hiding links, which also has a premium version with advanced features. Its installation is as simple as possible and does not require any special skills. The plugin offers a useful set of tools for creating redirects, structuring links, and basic click tracking.

Unfortunately, however, full link masking is only available in the premium version.  But even without a subscription, it allows webmasters to conveniently manage URLs.

WooCommerce Cloak Affiliate Links

Easy to use and, most importantly, free. Its features include a “Disallow” function that blocks bots from accessing external links on your site. The main drawback is the complete lack of analytics and click tracking tools.

URL Shortener Pro

This plugin is designed with marketers in mind. It allows you to generate short, shareable links and provides instant user redirection. The main drawback is that it does not have a built-in sidebar widget, so you have to open the plugin interface every time you want to work with links.

Amazon Auto Links

Amazon is one of the few companies that sets fairly strict rules for its partners and has clear requirements for the use of affiliate links. If a significant part of your profit comes from the Amazon affiliate program, you should pay attention to the Amazon Auto Links plugin, which will help you work with such links as correctly and conveniently as possible.

In summary

Cloaking affiliate links is a skill that every media buyer should have. First and foremost, it is about increasing trust on the part of both users and moderators. Long and confusing links do not inspire confidence in users, and many find them strange and fraudulent.

As for moderation, websites often use cloaking links for Facebook ads. Affiliate marketing often advertises gray offers that Facebook simply does not allow. This also applies to other advertising platforms.

Cloaking links using various services also helps to better track the activity associated with them. For example, you can track clicks and cost per click, effectiveness, and so on.

We can also add management to this list. As we mentioned, when you need to quickly find the right link in your library, and they are all long and chaotic, this task becomes increasingly difficult. So masking not only helps links pass verification and avoid bans, but also helps you directly as a buyer. 

There are various services, both paid and free, that help with this. As we have mentioned more than once, such services provide the ability not only to hide links, but also to track other important metrics.