Issues with centrally hosting your own affiliate links?
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Can anyone see any issues centralising affiliate links across a network?
Example - many of us would use some kind of redirect from our sites like
abc.com/go/afflink1
bcd.com/go/afflink1using either htaccess, php or javascript to redirect to the affiliate site
But as your network of site grows - to change a link involves visiting 40 sites to change each of the files in the "go" folders.
Would there be any net effect from using an otherwise vacant domain to host the links - so they only need to be changed in one place?
Example
abc/go/afflink1 links to afflinks.com/1 which then redirects to affiliate site
bcd/go/afflink1 links to afflinks.com/1 which then redirects to affiliate siteSo all your links across the network for afflink1 would point to your afflinks.com/1
Any changes only require changes to one file afflinks.com/1
Assuming there is nothing else on afflinks.com - would there be any issues? Assume all links no followed and afflinks.com noindex.
AND.... our redirects have been in place for some years using javascript,php or .htaccess. What is the current best practice for redirecting affiliate links?
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All the methods you mention are valid as long as you nofollow them.
And if having one domain to redirect simplifies your work, then go for it.
Remember to always nofollow those links.
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