Mouseovers to hide referral code - Yes or No?

nottslad · 2006-05-25, 09:24 PM

I noticed a lot of webmasters hide the referral code in their affiliate links so that it just shows the name of the site and omits the referral ID from the destination url displayed.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Good idea or bad?

My own thoughts are if you have a lot of referral links on the page using this method will bloat your code which may be detrimental to search engine positions. I'm not sure how many surfers pay attention to the detination url anyway.

Has anyone conducted any tests on performance of one over the other?

Surfn · 2006-05-26, 03:43 AM

When done correctly that out perform regular links by a small margin. Surfers don't really pay attention to where anymore but if you have one of those huge codes that coverers the bottom of their browser more likely than not the won't buy.

tickler · 2006-05-26, 09:43 AM

You can always try sending them to a simple php redirect, or FPA page.

Something like:
www.mydomain.com/hot-teen-slut-site/

Daily Fapper · 2006-05-26, 02:49 PM

I really don't bother. My feeling is that most surfers don't care, and those that do are usually set up to find out when browser location shennagins are going on anyway. They'll percieve this as hostile, and you'll lose a possible sale.

Plus, there's the fact that I hate it when I swap my 'smut dealer' and 'smut surfer' hats.

Steve_NCH · 2006-06-01, 12:23 AM

I think most surfers don't know what a referrer code is and pay very little attention to the status bar anyway. It's not worth the effort IMHO.

Grinch · 2006-06-01, 11:28 PM

this might sound like a dumb question, but when I see 'no mouse overs', does that mean no promotional text, like "check this out" or just no links?

sorry, but I'm still learning what I can and can't do.

Thanks

Grinch

Maj. Stress · 2006-06-02, 12:10 AM

Grinch,
A mouseover is a bit of code put in your anchor text that will display whatever text you want on the bottom of some browser windows.
a href="yourlinkcodegoeshere" onMouseover="window.status='text to be displayed when the link is moused over'; return true" onMouseout="window.status=' '; return true"
It is different than text that displays on your page. My own feeling is that mouseovers are a waste of time and coding on a page.

As far as text links on your page, lots of good text that is reletive to your site is encouraged by search engines and link list owners. It will be your best friend when it comes to sales.

webslave · 2006-06-02, 02:52 AM

When I first began in this biz, years ago, mouseovers were a wonderful thing. I am a born again newbie and appreciate your input, Maj. Stress.

virgohippy · 2006-06-02, 02:13 PM

I used to use 'em when I had no traffic. Now I don't even bother, cuz I'm too busy trying to get traffic.

MadMax · 2006-06-03, 02:43 PM

I use mouseovers when building sites, primarily because I feel it makes the surfing experience just a shade better. The small percentage of surfers who don't like clicking on links with big ref codes still have credit cards, and I can't think of a single LL that doesn't allow them as long as the destination site is still shown.

2006-05-25, 09:24 PM	#1
nottslad Lord help me, I'm just not that bright Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mexico Posts: 107	Mouseovers to hide referral code - Yes or No? I noticed a lot of webmasters hide the referral code in their affiliate links so that it just shows the name of the site and omits the referral ID from the destination url displayed. What are peoples thoughts on this? Good idea or bad? My own thoughts are if you have a lot of referral links on the page using this method will bloat your code which may be detrimental to search engine positions. I'm not sure how many surfers pay attention to the detination url anyway. Has anyone conducted any tests on performance of one over the other?

2006-05-26, 03:43 AM	#2
Surfn If you don’t take a chance the Angels won’t dance Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Earth on occasion Posts: 8,812	When done correctly that out perform regular links by a small margin. Surfers don't really pay attention to where anymore but if you have one of those huge codes that coverers the bottom of their browser more likely than not the won't buy. __________________ Surfn's Links Are you a partner?

2006-05-26, 09:43 AM	#3
tickler If there is nobody out there, that's a lot of real estate going to waste! Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,177	You can always try sending them to a simple php redirect, or FPA page. Something like: www.mydomain.com/hot-teen-slut-site/ __________________ Latina Twins, Solo, NN, Hardcore Latin Teen Cash

2006-06-01, 12:23 AM	#5
Steve_NCH If something goes wrong at the plant, blame the guy who can't speak English Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 38	I think most surfers don't know what a referrer code is and pay very little attention to the status bar anyway. It's not worth the effort IMHO. __________________ $25 per FREE join!

2006-06-01, 11:28 PM	#6
Grinch Aw, Dad, you've done a lot of great things, but you're a very old man, and old people are useless Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 27	newbie question this might sound like a dumb question, but when I see 'no mouse overs', does that mean no promotional text, like "check this out" or just no links? sorry, but I'm still learning what I can and can't do. Thanks Grinch

2006-05-26, 02:49 PM	#4
Daily Fapper Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 8	I really don't bother. My feeling is that most surfers don't care, and those that do are usually set up to find out when browser location shennagins are going on anyway. They'll percieve this as hostile, and you'll lose a possible sale. Plus, there's the fact that I hate it when I swap my 'smut dealer' and 'smut surfer' hats.

2006-06-02, 12:10 AM	#7
Maj. Stress Progress rarely comes in buckets, it normally comes in teaspoons Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dark Side Of Naboo Posts: 1,289	Grinch, A mouseover is a bit of code put in your anchor text that will display whatever text you want on the bottom of some browser windows. a href="yourlinkcodegoeshere" onMouseover="window.status='text to be displayed when the link is moused over'; return true" onMouseout="window.status=' '; return true" It is different than text that displays on your page. My own feeling is that mouseovers are a waste of time and coding on a page. As far as text links on your page, lots of good text that is reletive to your site is encouraged by search engines and link list owners. It will be your best friend when it comes to sales. Last edited by Maj. Stress; 2006-06-02 at 12:12 AM..

2006-06-02, 02:52 AM	#8
webslave Are you sure you're an accredited and honored pornographer? Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 69	When I first began in this biz, years ago, mouseovers were a wonderful thing. I am a born again newbie and appreciate your input, Maj. Stress. __________________ what the fuck?

2006-06-02, 02:13 PM	#9
virgohippy Madness is like gravity. All it takes is a little... push. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,679	I used to use 'em when I had no traffic. Now I don't even bother, cuz I'm too busy trying to get traffic. __________________ ~Warm and Fuzzy.

2006-06-03, 02:43 PM	#10
MadMax "Without evil there can be no good, so it must be good to be evil sometimes" ~ Satan Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Motor City, baby, where carjacking was invented! Now GIMME THOSE SHOES! Posts: 2,385	I use mouseovers when building sites, primarily because I feel it makes the surfing experience just a shade better. The small percentage of surfers who don't like clicking on links with big ref codes still have credit cards, and I can't think of a single LL that doesn't allow them as long as the destination site is still shown.