Affiliate Link Management
With Pretty Link Lite
Managing affiliate links can be a lot of time, stress and headache for a blogger or internet marketer… but the right plugins can make a world of difference!
Affiliate Link Management Background
In part one of this series, we covered the importance of quality link management. We also looked at why masking or cloaking is essential to help protect your links. If you happened to miss it, you can find part one here. If you just joined me, I suggest starting from the beginning.
In part two we looked at some free tools, SEO Smart Links & GoCodes that are a ideal compromise for the beginner wanting to just get started. Sadly though GoCodes has some limitations once you have more than a few links. We discussed how SEO Smart Links is an important part of your blog SEO and should not be skipped regardless of the cloaking solution you decide upon.
Today I’m going to introduce you to a tool called Pretty Link plugin that has both a free and paid version available. Pretty Link has one neat feature, available in its free tools, that may inspire you to use it in combination with either the previous tools, or the comprehensive affiliate link management software you will learn about in part four of this series.
Both the Lite version and the Pro which we’ll cover in Part 4, not only replace but surpass GoCodes for a number of reasons. That means you will not need to keep GoCodes installed, once you add your links to one of these other utilities.
An Introduction to Pretty Link
Pretty Link is a WordPress plugin that offers a number of affiliate tools and is available, in its free version, through the WordPress search.
The Pretty Link plugin can be installed through Dashboard -> Plugins -> Add New -> Search -> Pretty Link (don’t miss the space in the name) -> Install -> Activate, then be sure to go to its Settings. The Settings link for Pretty Link is actually below the main settings group, so it is (or is nearly) the lowest entry on the left hand side.
On a minor technical note, Pretty Link and requires a “Custom” Permalink structure. Most likely you are already using a custom structure but you can check this in Dashboard -> Settings -> Permalinks.
Pretty Link Free Edition
This is just a few of the features of this plugin.
- Gives you the ability to create clean, simple URLs on your website that redirect to any other URL
- Generates random 2-3 character slugs for your URL or allows you to name a custom slug for your URL
- Tracks the Number of Hits per link
- Tracks the Number of Unique Hits per link
- Ability to rewrite these custom Parameters before forwarding to Target URL
- Select Temporary (307) or Permanent (301) redirection for your Pretty Links
- Create nofollow/noindex links
- Turn tracking on / off on each link
- Ability to search through links you’ve made to easily find them
Pretty Link Summary
PrettyLink Lite is a great place for bloggers to get started. It handles link management well including both making domain-based short URLs as well as redirecting affiliate links.
That said, it’s also a true blessing that the plugin “grows up” well and the upgrade to the premium brings all sorts of needed features with no downtime.
PrettyLink is really the standard among affiliate marketers that are not using code/script solutions. Its durability and stability has been well tested over time and even many of the most picky marketers recommend it.
It also comes from a developer who has been actively involved in the WordPress & GPL community for many years and has given a lot back to the community. This is the type of thing your looking for to help ensure a plugin is going to be around for a long while.
Thoughts? Comments? Recommendations? I cant wait to hear and reply to them! Be sure to share them below!
~ Kim ~
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Hi Kim,
Thanks for sharing these interesting tips!
I use Pretty Link plugin and I agree with you that it is a great plugin for someone who promotes affiliate products.
Not only enjoyed your article Kim, this was a great reminder! When my blog got hacked last November I had to remove several of the plugins and Pretty Pink was one of them and I haven’t reloaded it. I had the paid/upgraded version and kept meaning to find my receipt for the purchase so I wouldn’t have to buy it again and then it got buried or forgotten. Thanks!
Hey Kim, I actually use a free plugin called link cloaker which is fairly basic in that all it does is replace your keywords of choice with a cloaked link. The beauty of it is that it goes through all your posts replacing those words with a link to your affiliate.
It doesn’t track clicks or anything though. I’m going to wait for your next post to see what the pro version offers.
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I found the video to be interesting, but I think I need to watch the previous ones in order to better understand the whys behind what you’re doing with the pretty links. Thanks for the tips!
Excellent tutorial, Kim.
I’ve not been using “cloaking” because I got scared off by Google’s disdain for it. I guess your point here, is that cloaking affiliate links on your blog is not offensive to Google as it would be if you were doing it on a PPC spot.
I’m still a bit hesitant to employ, but Pretty Link seems like a really cool plugin to use in any event.
Hey Kim, Great tutorial that even I could understand. David and I have been discussing this all morning. Decided to bookmark this for later use. Were your ears ringing??? Coffee and Prettylinks
Hi Kim. I am very new to blogging and internet marketing and found your discussion on PrettyLink Lite very helpful. I realize that getting good backlinks to my new blog is the best way to get visitors. Thanks.
Ellie
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Seems to be a very interesting tool. I will give this one a try since there is a free version
Thanks Kim
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Thou i am not a marketer, I very much appreciate this tips! I would try to use this Pretty Link plugin.
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Great post Kim. There are so many things to learn to have a blog that is easy to manage. Thanks for the guidance when coming to plug-ins that are going to make my life easier.
I din’t read the previous part of this but still this seems like an interesting topic. please provide me the other part link.
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Hi Kim, it’s nice to be back.
By the way great post as always and I appreciate it very much. Glad to know about that Pretty Link Summary it is good for all newbies.
Welcome back Nicholle!
Kim
hi Kim, really interetsting. so am I right that this plugin is quite good as redirects for your affiliate and external links. But what it doesn’t do, is help us with automated internal linking??
Thanks,
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Hey Mandy, the free/Lite version will not cloak/mask (but will do redirects). It also will not do automated internal linking, correct. Be sure you see Part 4 and take a look at Pretty Link Pro.
Kim