How to Convert Your
Affiliate Link or Banner Code into a Text HyperLink
It is no secret
that in affiliate marketing text links generally convert significantly better
than banner links. Also, when it comes to text links, it is easy for an
affiliate to split-test different text variations (improving conversions) on
their end without getting the merchant involved in the process at all.
But what do you
do if a merchant has an extensive banner inventory (leading to various sections
of their website), but very basic text links (with only one lander —
their homepage)? Or what if the merchant has a graphic coupon link, but
you would much rather have a text link for that coupon instead?
Sadly, it
frequently takes quite a bit of time (and patience) to get a reply from a
merchant, but when you
need that text link, you normally need it now, and not whenever the affiliate manager sees
your email, and/or finds the time to react to it.
The truth of
the matter is that you actually donÕt
have to wait on the manager,
but can easily convert pretty much any link into a text link within seconds by
grabbing the affiliate code from inside the existing linkÕs code, and stripping
it of everything but the URL code itself. Below you may see how to do it
on two different affiliate networks: ShareASale, and Commission Junction
— with banners and coupon graphic. The principle is simple (itÕs all
about a basic understanding of the HTML code youÕre working with), and can be
applied virtually with any affiliate network-based or in-house based
affiliate program.
ShareASale (banner to text link)
Go to the merchantÕs banner selection
Click the [Get this Banner's HTML Code] link
under the banner link that lands where you want your text link to land
There you will see a code (with your
affiliate ID already embedded into it) which will look something like this: <a target=Ó_blankÓ
href=Óhttp://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1234567&u=123456&m=12345&urllink=&afftrack=Ó><img
src=Óhttp://www.shareasale.com/image/12345/88×31.gifÓ border=Ó0²></a>
Strip the above code of everything but the
link: http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1234567&u=123456&m=12345&urllink=&afftrack= (where Òb=Ó stands for the banner ID, Òu=Ó for
your own affiliate ID, while Òm=Ó for the merchant ID)
Use the above-quoted URL with any text link you want. Yes, you can word your text link whichever
way you want, and as long as you link through the URL retrieved via the
above-described way (either from a banner, or from a coupon with an image, or
any other type of link), everything will track perfectly
Commission
Junction (coupon creative to
text link)
Pull links ÒBy PromotionÓ and choose ÒCouponsÓ
Click the ÒGet HTMLÓ link in the far right hand
column corresponding to the coupon lander you want to link to
In the ÒCodeÓ window youÕll see a code that
will look something like this: <a
href=Óhttp://www.tkqlhce.com/click-1234567-12345678² target=Ó_topÓ>Use Coupon Code FREESHIP and
Receive Free Shipping fromÉ</a><img
src=Óhttp://www.awltovhc.com/image-1234567-12345678² width=Ó1² height=Ó1² border=Ó0²/>
Strip it of everything but the link: http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-1234567-12345678
Use the URL as you please
LinkShare has a
ÒDeep LinkingÓ tool (retrievable via the ÒLinksÓ tab), AvantLink has a ÒCustom
Link ToolÓ (retrievable via the ÒToolsÓ menu link), Google Affiliate Network
has a ÒBuild Your Own LinkÓ option (you can pull it up by clicking the
ÒActionsÓ button next to the advertiser of choice)É These often make things
even easier. My above ShareASale example is an example only, as ShareASale too
has a similar tool which can be used by going to the ÒCreate a Custom Link to a
PageÓ link under the ÒGet LinksÓ menu. But in many cases tools like this wonÕt
be available, and understanding basic things like the structure of the code
youÕre using for affiliate links will help you become more flexible and
competitive than those affiliates that donÕt bother looking into the details
(however simple they may be – even for the understanding by non-technical
people).
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