Link Cloaking Best Practices

Link cloaking transforms ugly affiliate URLs into clean, branded links. When done right, it improves tracking, user experience, and click-through rates while maintaining legal compliance.

This guide covers how to implement link cloaking properly.

What is Link Cloaking?

The Basics

Before cloaking:

https://casino.com/aff?ref=12345&sub=abc123&click=xyz789

After cloaking:

https://yoursite.com/go/casino-name

What it does:

• Hides complex tracking parameters
• Creates memorable, branded links
• Enables easier link management
• Provides click tracking

Why Cloak Links

User experience:

• Clean URLs look more trustworthy
• Easier to share and remember
• Less intimidating to click

Management:

• Update destination without changing published links
• Track clicks across all platforms
• Organize links by category

Protection:

• Hide affiliate ID from scrapers
• Prevent commission theft
• Maintain link integrity

Link Cloaking Methods

Method 1: WordPress Plugins

Best for: WordPress sites

Popular options:

ThirstyAffiliates

• Easy setup
• Click tracking
• Category organization
• Geolocation redirects (pro)
• Auto-linking (pro)

Pretty Links

• Simple interface
• Basic tracking
• URL shortening
• Split testing (pro)

Implementation:

1. Install plugin
2. Create link (original URL → cloaked URL)
3. Use cloaked URL in content
4. Monitor clicks in dashboard

Method 2: Server Redirects

Best for: Technical users, non-WordPress sites

Using .htaccess (Apache):

Redirect 301 /go/casino https://casino.com/aff?ref=12345

Using nginx:

location /go/casino {
    return 301 https://casino.com/aff?ref=12345;
}

Pros:

• Fast (server-level)
• No plugin overhead
• Full control

Cons:

• Requires server access
• Manual management
• No built-in tracking

Method 3: Third-Party Services

Best for: Multi-site operations, advanced tracking

Options:

ClickMeter

• Advanced tracking
• Conversion monitoring
• Multi-user access
• API available

Bitly (basic use)

• Simple URL shortening
• Basic analytics
• Free tier available

Rebrandly

• Custom branded domains
• Analytics
• Team features

Setting Up Link Cloaking

Step 1: Choose Your Structure

Common patterns:

yoursite.com/go/casino-name
yoursite.com/recommends/casino-name
yoursite.com/visit/casino-name
yoursite.com/link/casino-name

Best practice:

• Use consistent prefix (/go/, /visit/, etc.)
• Descriptive slug (casino name)
• Keep it short
• Make it memorable

Step 2: Organize by Category

Create categories:

• Casinos
• Sportsbooks
• Poker rooms
• Tools/Services

Example structure:

/go/casinos/stake
/go/casinos/bcgame
/go/sports/draftkings

Step 3: Track Everything

What to track:

• Total clicks
• Unique clicks
• Click source (which page)
• Date/time
• Geographic location

Why it matters:

• Know what converts
• Identify top content
• Optimize placement
• Detect issues

Step 4: Test Your Links

Before publishing:

• Click the link yourself
• Verify correct destination
• Check mobile functionality
• Test from different locations

Regular maintenance:

• Monthly link audits
• Check for broken links
• Verify tracking works
• Update expired offers

Best Practices

Do's

Transparency:

• Disclose affiliate relationship
• Don't mislead about destination
• Be honest with users

Consistency:

• Use same structure site-wide
• Document your system
• Train team members

Performance:

• Use 301 redirects for SEO
• Fast redirect response
• Mobile-friendly implementation

Security:

• Secure your redirect system
• Monitor for abuse
• Regular security updates

Don'ts

Avoid:

• Hiding affiliate nature deceptively
• Using link cloaking to bypass platform rules
• Over-redirecting (too many hops)
• Letting cloaked links become outdated

Technical mistakes:

• Using 302 instead of 301 for permanent redirects
• Creating redirect chains (A→B→C→D)
• Not testing on mobile
• Ignoring page load impact

Compliance Considerations

FTC Requirements

You must still:

• Disclose affiliate relationships
• Make disclosure clear and conspicuous
• Not hide the commercial nature

Link cloaking doesn't eliminate disclosure requirements.

Platform Rules

Check each platform:

• Some social platforms flag redirects
• Email providers may filter
• Some affiliate programs have policies

Know the rules before using cloaked links on:

• Twitter/X
• Facebook
• Email newsletters
• Other platforms

Affiliate Program Terms

Some programs:

• Require specific link formats
• Prohibit link cloaking
• Have tracking requirements

Always: Check affiliate program terms before cloaking their links.

Advanced Techniques

Geo-Targeting

What it does: Redirect users to different destinations based on location.

Use case:

• Different casino for US vs EU visitors
• Localized landing pages
• Compliance with geographic restrictions

Tools:

• ThirstyAffiliates Pro
• ClickMeter
• Custom scripts

Split Testing

What it does: Send portions of traffic to different destinations.

Use case:

• Test which casino converts better
• Compare landing pages
• Optimize offers

Implementation:

• Pretty Links Pro
• Third-party tools
• Custom solutions

Dynamic Parameters

What it does: Pass tracking information through cloaked links.

Example:

yoursite.com/go/casino?source=homepage
→ Adds source parameter to destination URL

Use case:

• Track which content drives conversions
• Pass sub-affiliate IDs
• Custom attribution (see UTM tracking guide)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Broken Links

Problem: Affiliate program changes URL, your links break

Solution:

• Regular link audits
• Monitor for 404 errors
• Update promptly when notified

Mistake 2: No Tracking

Problem: Using cloaking but not tracking clicks

Solution:

• Enable tracking in your tool
• Regular reporting review
• Act on data

Mistake 3: Poor Organization

Problem: Hundreds of links with no system

Solution:

• Categories from the start
• Consistent naming
• Documentation
• Regular cleanup

Mistake 4: SEO Issues

Problem: Using 302 redirects or creating chains

Solution:

• Use 301 redirects
• Direct routes (no chains)
• Proper canonical handling

Mistake 5: Mobile Neglect

Problem: Links don't work properly on mobile

Solution:

• Test on multiple devices
• Check mobile redirect behavior
• Monitor mobile click rates

Tools Comparison

Tool	Cost	Best For	Key Features
ThirstyAffiliates	Free/$79+/yr	WordPress	Easy, good features
Pretty Links	Free/$99+/yr	WordPress	Simple, clean
ClickMeter	$29+/mo	Any platform	Advanced tracking
Rebrandly	Free/$29+/mo	Branded domains	Custom domains
Manual (.htaccess)	Free	Technical users	Full control

Implementation Checklist

Initial Setup

• Choose link cloaking method
• Define URL structure
• Set up categories
• Configure tracking
• Test implementation

Per-Link Setup

• Create cloaked link
• Assign to category
• Test destination
• Add to content
• Verify tracking

Ongoing Maintenance

• Monthly link audit
• Check for broken links
• Review click data
• Update expired offers
• Remove obsolete links

Conclusion

Link cloaking is a basic but important technique for affiliate marketing:

Benefits:

• Cleaner URLs improve CTR
• Centralized management saves time
• Better tracking informs decisions
• Protection from common issues

Key principles:

• Stay compliant with disclosure rules
• Use proper redirect types (301)
• Track everything
• Maintain regularly

Implementation:

1. Choose appropriate tool for your setup
2. Create consistent structure
3. Organize from the start
4. Enable tracking
5. Audit regularly

Done right, link cloaking improves both user experience and your ability to optimize performance.

For more on tracking and compliance, see our analytics tools guide and compliance checklist. Programs like PureOdds provide clean tracking links that work well with cloaking solutions. Neglecting proper link management is one of the common mistakes affiliates make.