Protecting Your Commissions

by Alex Ang on 22/08/08 at 1:00 am

Thieves are a problem out in the brick and mortar world for business owners as well as online business owners. Out in the brick and mortar world, thieves will take away money and merchandise and it isn’t any different online.

The real world merchants employ locks and alarms to deter thieves. Internet business owners need to employ anti-theft software package to protect their commissions. Here are some things you are able to do to protect yourself and your commissions:

1. Use Meta Refresh: A Meta refresh is a simple bit of HTML code which automatically redirects your visitor to another page (your affiliate URL). It provides a neat way of presenting affiliate links in newsletters. It probably helps reduce commission bypassing and commission hijacking. A big advantage of using Meta refreshes is that if merchants change their affiliate links, you can alter links on dozens of pages quickly and easily by changing only one file.

One problem is that some search engines don’t like Meta refreshes because they are often used for unsavory purposes. So if you apply this technique, use it with caution.

2. Use a URL redirection service. You can use free services or buy a unique domain name for each affiliate program you join. URL redirection makes affiliate links less visible, so this will reduce some commission thefts.

3. Use a web-based ad tracking service. The ad tracking link initially hides the affiliate link, reducing thefts.

4. Use an ad tracking script. Good ad tracking scripts hide the affiliate link as well as being useful for tracking. It has the advantage that it does not promote somebody else’s domain.

5. Use JavaScript redirect. Because this initially hides the affiliate link, it should reduce commission thefts.

Be aware that thievery is a problem for online businesses and take the inevitable measures to protect your commissions.